Books will be judged by the two co-founders of the awards and will be assessed based on the following categories. We will score each book and take the average score from each review to determine the first, second, and third place winners. Should any of the top scoring books tie, there will be a runoff where a third judge will read and score to determine the final placement.

Character Development - 25 Points

Are the characters properly developed/feel real?

Do the characters 'feel' authentic?

Do the character's interactions with each other feel realistic and authentic?

Plot Development/Sequencing - 25 Points

Does the plot continue to develop throughout the chapters?

Are events happening in a sequential order that makes the reading easy to follow, or is the story all over the place?

Does the plot pull the reader in and build attachment to the story?

Originality - 20 Points

Is the story idea original and captivating?

Is the plot something that we have seen a few different times on various platforms?

Grammar - 15 Points

Is appropriate grammar used?

Are sentences set up in the correct form?

Are there unnecessary tense shifts, or POV changes?

First Impression (Cover/Book Blurb) - 15 Points

Does the cover match the theme of the book?

Does the book blurb accurately sum up the story without being misleading or giving too much of the story away?