From what I’ve gathered talking to a few judges, they have a scoring rubric. Things like premise originality, technical skill (grammar, structure), character depth, and narrative drive. Each category gets points. So a manuscript with a fantastic concept but sloppy prose might lose to a perfectly executed one with a more familiar plot. It becomes a numbers game.
They also look for marketability. Does this feel like something a publisher could sell? Is the author’s bio or cover letter presenting someone who could promote a book? It’s not just art; it’s about spotting a potential product. The criteria blend creative merit with cold, commercial potential.
2026-08-08 01:32:02
4
Violet
Book Guide
Driver
The biggest one is often the simplest: does it follow the posted rules to the letter? Font, spacing, file type, anonymization. Fail that, and nothing else matters. Beyond that, it’s about a compelling hook in the first ten pages and a synopsis that proves the story holds together.
2026-08-08 18:20:56
3
Jack
Sharp Observer
Worker
Contests judge what gets a novel noticed, not just the novel itself. A polished first chapter and a solid synopsis that shows you know where your story is headed can matter more than the full manuscript in the early rounds. They’re looking for confidence in the pitch as much as the prose.
Formatting is a silent killer. I’ve seen guidelines ask for double-spaced Courier, specific margins, a word count in the header—ignore those details and your entry gets tossed before a judge reads a word. It’s brutal, but it’s their first filter for professionalism.
Theme adherence often separates the pack. If a contest specifies ‘debut literary fiction’ or ‘speculative thriller,’ sending a cozy mystery, no matter how good, is a waste of the entry fee. They’re curating a specific shelf, and your book needs to fit on it.
The opening pages need to establish voice immediately. Judges plough through stacks; a character with a distinct attitude or a situation with immediate, tangible stakes cuts through the noise. A slow-burn atmospheric start might work for readers, but in a contest, it’s a risk.
2026-08-09 04:31:49
1
Zane
Ending Guesser
Lawyer
Honestly, a lot of it feels like ticking boxes for gatekeepers. Word count is huge—if they want 80k-100k and you’re at 120k, you’re out. Genre purity, a ‘clean’ manuscript free of typos, a logline that fits on a tweet. It’s formulaic. Sometimes I wonder if truly weird, brilliant stuff gets filtered out because it doesn’t match the checklist they use to manage submissions volume.
2026-08-09 21:24:57
2
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