Of course, a story worth telling looks different for different genres.

Fiction/Memoir:

• Story—Is the beginning interesting enough to grab the reader and is the ending satisfying (this is not the same as closure)? Is the plot credible or exciting (consider genre)? Do we want to keep turning pages to see what happens next?
• Voice—Does the work display a clear narrative voice?
• Conflict—Is there enough rising tension throughout the story/chapters to hold interest? Is the outcome of all conflicts predictable? Do actions and events have consequences?
• Pacing—Are we plodding along? Is there a saggy middle? Conversely, are we moving too fast?
• Showing versus telling—How much do we know because the author tells us so? Can readers draw their own conclusions?
• Characters—Do we care about these people? Are they differentiated, unique individuals? Is the protagonist sympathetic and compelling? Is the antagonist believable, or too weak, too evil, or not motivated enough to be convincing? Do they move through a plausible and satisfying character arc?
• POV—Are there errors or inconsistencies in point of view? Can we tell from whose POV we experience the story? Is this the most effective perspective to tell the story from? Is there head-hopping?
• Emotional tone—Do characters experience emotional peaks and valleys? Do scenes lack emotion or explode with melodrama?
• Setting—Does the setting add to the story? Do we have a sense of where events take place? Do descriptions take over to the detriment of other story elements?
• Specific to memoir—Does the author project honesty, authenticity, and critical self-awareness? How much distance has the author achieved from events?

Nonfiction:

• Purpose—What is the overall purpose or takeaway of the book and does it achieve these goals?
• Audience—Who are the readers, and why do they care about this topic?
• Structure—What is the overall structure? Are the chapters and sections organized in a way that is clear and compelling?
• Clarity—Are any passages unclear or confusing? Are the ideas presented clearly and are they logically developed?
• Credentials—What is the basis of the author’s expertise and is the author credible in the topic?
• Alignment—Is the book appropriate in tone, style, and format for its intended audience? Is it consistent in its approach? Is the length appropriate?
• Non-text elements—Are organizing strategies such as headings, subheadings, transitions, and quotes used effectively? Do tables, charts, or graphics support and clarify the text?
• Terminology—Does the book use a lot of jargon? Is the language appropriate to the intended audience?
• Data—Is the work complete or does it require further information? Are sources missing? Are they cited appropriately? What permissions or copyright concerns do we have, if any?