Manuscript Analysis Guide
by Brenda Shannon Yee

For manuscript critiques, consider some or all of the following points during the reading. Be sure to first comment on what's working, and then offer your opinion of what might need improvement or attention. It's not necessary to remark on each aspect of every manuscript, but please mention what most captures your attention.

Plot	Is there a plot that contains conflict, or a problem for the main character to resolve? Does the plot keep me interested? Is there suspense? Is the plot appropriate to the age of the intended reader and/or audience? Does it move toward a satisfying conclusion?
Character	Am I interested in the main character(s) enough to continue reading to learn what happens to them? Characters have depth, seem real? Are they non-stereotypic, unique in some way? Do I understand their motivations? Can intended readers relate to the main characters?
Dialogue	Does the speech sound realistic and natural? Good rhythm? Do different characters have distinct dialogue?
Setting	Where appropriate, is the setting developed and does it contribute to the story?
Style	Is the writing style clear; I enjoy reading it? Is the language interesting and appropriate to the genre? Is the author's "voice" apparent?
Theme	Is there a theme that captures some aspect of human experience? Do the plot and characters support the intended theme? In books for the youngest audiences or nonfiction, a theme may not be present.
Overall	What is my impression of the work? What did I like best? What did I find most interesting? What aspects were less compelling?

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