Allow me to show you something.

This is a screenshot of the Borderverse Awards Season 2 spreadsheet. For each book, there's 1 column for each judge's scorecard and it's automatically added in the final row (thanks, Excel). The 3rd column is an average of each category that is also totaled. This is the column that everyone sees at the end and the column that determines the winner.

To help me out with this, I would appreciate you sending the scorecards in the order of the books, not in the order you ended up ranking them. I would also appreciate going through the criteria in order. The 2 advice sections and 1 review can be tagged on at the end.

I'm not going to hunt you down if you don't do this, but it's the little things people. Okay, now for some examples.

Here are some excellent reviews from last season!

Shadowed by emmelinerose1

No doubt about it, this book was obviously going to take the top spot once I took it all in. Aside from a cover, this book is simply amazing, and it seems like something that I would write, and I set my standards very high! Just criteria after criteria, these first three chapters demonstrate what every writer should aspire to embody. Your grammar is on point, and you immediately hook us into the story with compelling characters, backstory, and settings! No matter how hard I tried, I failed to find any errors in the book itself. On the other hand, this book deserves a truly amazing cover to match the amazing storytelling, so go and hunt for a killer graphic designer! All in all, this is very deserving of first place!

Shadowed is a book full of intrigue and cliffhangers that make you eager to read on. The author skillfully plants questions in your mind that won't let you rest until they're answered. Who is Rowan? The main protagonist, Rowan himself, doesn't know. His character is relatable in that he struggles to trust people while also wishing it were possible to do so. He's hiding behind lies and trying to bury the past, but can't help be curious about the unlocked secrets it holds. The world the author has created is vividly realistic and reminded me of the streets in the book "Ender's Shadow". The writing style holds a fresh cynicism that reflects Rowan's character splendidly. Shadowed is a story you won't be able to put down.

Whisper of Blade by MiyaHikari

The cover is gorgeous, haunting, and intriguing as hell. The blurb makes me want to know what happens; it sounds like there's some awesome action and plot. I found a few minor mistakes, but the grammar is perfect other than that. The plot is unique, well-paced, and leaves me wanting more. The characters are strong, well-written, and fleshed out. The author used dialogue, thoughts, and reactions to show the reader who the characters are. Excellent use of language, it's engaging. Some parts are confusing, with less explanation than is understandable as to what's actually happening (namely the prologue). In the first chapter, a lot of the dialogue is confusing because it uses so many terms that the reader hasn't learned the meaning of yet. Even if it is a bit confusing in the beginning, it's a very engaging read that leaves you craving more.

The Multiverser by KaraBlackBk

The Multiverser is an original work that truly transports the reader to a vivid alternate reality. The author has clearly spent a great amount of effort on their worldbuilding and on the special powers certain characters possess. I don't fully understand how everything works, but in a way that leaves me wanting to read on in full faith that the author will explain everything in due time. The use of tension and action had me on the edge of my seat and even the use of alternating first and third person pov was a choice that showed off the author's style and voice. Kayla is a unique, dynamic character whose every thought and action is intriguing. This book was a pleasure to read and I plan to continue.

While the cover gives the reader a feel for the book, it could be more elaborate and professional. The blurb might not make sense at first, but it becomes clearer as the pages turn. The MULTIVERSER also makes the reader understand the power Kayla holds, and the pros and cons can be seen vaguely by reading the title. Grammar issues are rarely called to mind here. Use of punctuation, parts of speech, capital letters etc are respected by the author although the use of third person and first person is not constant and that can cause a lot of confusion. It confused me a lot. Although I read four chapters I believe the plot has a clear path. It had an interesting pull to me. The predicament in which Kayla is in as the MULTIVERSER and Tyrell as a trained officer is bound to connect although we will have to wait and see. Kayla has a new feel, being detached to the world is something many teens can relate to. Depressed people also feel something like she does. I really like her character and hope it develops more. Tyrell is also a well built character with goals and reasons for having them. Although I fear he might be a tad bit stereotype, in my own opinion. The author's style of writing is commendable as it helps the reader build a solid image of the book in their heads. Most important, her style is consistent but she can still work on it. I personally like the construction of the book and would advise any one to read it.

(cover not found)

Wane by Henwin

Wane tugs at one's heartstrings with raw emotion and deep themes captured in its lines of verse. Beats are regular and the rhythm is maintained throughout. The tone is witty, despite the grim themes tackled by the poet—which makes the collection entertaining. The very first poem deals with the fiery emotion of anger. The many flavors of anger are brought out with a creative spin, such as "like smacking my head against the concrete edge of my neighbor's pool" and imagery, such as "sour like the tamarind paste". It ends on a bitter note as the poet concludes that anger always comes back. The second poem personifies death and takes a narrative form. Striking visual, auditory and olfactory images are packed into the lines, such as "black licorice smile", "vile, putrid wink"and the smell of his breath. An arachnid motif is creatively woven into the third poem, imbuing it with a spooky feeling. Overall, this collection is both deep and entertaining, with a unique style marked with wit. Feedback on the cover & blurb: The cover is striking and eccentric. It certainly conveys "wane" and "moon" amidst an overpowering darkness. The title and the artwork stand out, and the cover immediately captures attention. The blurb complements the eccentric vibe, though it conveys very little. It shrouds the content in mystery—which would work as an intentional quirk.

Beautiful Thieves by alannaxgrey

The cover is beautiful and aesthetic, while the title is unique in a way that captures my attention. As for the blurb, I love how it is written in a rather poetic manner. It also successfully conveys a dark-ish vigilante and finding-a-new-family vibe that is portrayed throughout the cover, title and the chapters I read.The first three chapters do a good job building up Aurora's character and her relationship with the people around her. Everyone in the book, from Aurora to her classmate to everyone in her family, has a distinct personality with well-crafted, natural dialogues. Also, her mother makes me so, so furious! The third chapter ends with a cool twist, transiting readers into the real plot of the book. Overall, the pacing is good, the characters are believable, and the writing style is clear and easy to read. Definitely a book I will continue reading.

The title is good, but the cover doesn't really connect. It would be more effective if you sought out a design that gives the vibe of an action thriller, since someone is watching your main character, maybe a mysterious face? There are many amazing cover shops on wattpad, if you want, I can recommend a few. The second portion of the blurb that's focused on the character hooked me tremendously. The first half is unnecessary and long. I advise cutting it. The dialogue is punctuated properly, besides having a few instances of actions next to someone else's dialogue, everything was quite good. There were no visible errors that I could see. Aurora is a sheltered girl with a loving father and brothers, but an overbearing mother and annoying younger sister who ends up getting involved with some thieves. As someone who generally doesn't like high-school centered stories, I loved this one. The family dynamics and lead up to the inciting incident are very well done. The characters have to be my favorite part. Each one was unique and full of life. The dynamics were *chiefs kiss*. Honestly, the author has fleshed them out really well. There is lacking imagery in quite a few places, but when it's present it is well-done. I was quite immersed in the story and couldn't put it down. The voice is absolutely distinct. Overall, I loved it. It reminds me of the works of one of my favorite published authors, Ally Carter. This was a pleasant surprise and I will certainly be reading more of it after the awards in my free time.

Okay, I don't want to critique someone else's book in front of a studio audience, but I am more than happy to attack myself for your benefit! These are me rephrasing some notes that I've gotten about my book (which I'm planning on editing again soon).

I wouldn't recommend being negative the whole way through. If there's potential somewhere, point it out. And make sure you end the review with actionable things (aim for 3). Just vaguely saying "do better" doesn't help. I want people to feel like they can do something about their writing before entering another award. The point of advice is to build people up, not tear them down or shatter confidence.

This section will be PM'd to the participant if they say that they want it. So yes, that means that there's a chance that the advice you worked hard on might not even reach the participant. But here's the thing: sometimes people are not ready for criticism, and getting it unwarranted can do more harm than good. Exhibit A: me (ifykyk).

I save all advice I get, so people can come to me when they're ready, or they might go to you directly.

The Gate by Alana_Sinclair

Hi Alana! I am really intrigued by the premise you have here! It's definitely different than anything else I've seen on Wattpad, and has a lot of potential. However, I don't think this book really captured me, and there might be a few reasons why.

The biggest thing that broke immersion for me was Aurelie's character. She didn't feel like a real person to me, more like a walking, talking symbol. If having Aurelie represent the corrupted idea of innocence according to the family is what you're going for, that's fine, but remember that she's a person in the context of this story too! One of the biggest ways to do this is to age her down or age up her dialogue and actions. Another thing might be to have the parents actively "baby" her to make her actions make more sense and show how the family is a big red flag. Another suggestion could be having Lena outright explain this dynamic, although I don't think her character can see through the illusion of her "loving family" yet.

Another thing: dialogue tags! There were several issues with dialogue tags. I really like how realistic your dialogue feels, but there was a lot of mixing up commas and periods. I might recommend brushing up on that or running your whole book through Grammarly to see if it can catch any of your errors. This stuff is hard for me to handle too, but don't worry! It's a super easy fix.

I am really confused about how I'm supposed to feel about Lena's family right now. One second they seem great, the next, their logic feels super off. I think one of the issues with this is that Lena's perspective is super biased, and it seems like you're having trouble balancing your opinion with Lena's. Since you write 1st POV, getting in your character's shoes is super important, even if you don't agree with them! I would write a few fake diary entries of Lena and her opinion of her family and then take another look at your first few chapters. It might help make Lena's perspective feel a little more concrete.

I know that this may seem like a lot, but you are onto something! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Here's a quick list of things you can do before entering another award!

1. Run your book through Grammarly for correct dialogue tags.
2. Reevaluate Aurelie's character and adjust accordingly.
3. Improv some writing for early Lena's POV and then go back and solidify her perspective in the early chapters.