We will award in any of these categories as long as we get enough participation.

1)Best Standalone
2)Best Series Intro
3)Best Fantasy Series
4)Best YA Fantasy Series
5)Best SF Series Intro


Go (here) to choose a book to read. Use the rating system I have attached, and then post your review/rating in the Watchtower like (this). The judges read their assigned books per category and then post a review using the rating system in the Watchtower. Dec 31 is the last day to post your rating and then I will compile the winners for each category.

I generally prefer a three point system due to its simplicity.

Is there really a difference between 5 points and 3?

How about the categories?
Theme
Description
Characterization
Plot
Misc (Could include any other aspect that you thought it did well or poorly, such as impact on a new market or how it handled a tough issue to something negative like bad editing)

Should we include any others like:
beginnings and endings of chapters
dialogue
consistency

For categories, perhaps:

- Writing (Is it proficient and is the style effective?)
- Plot (Is it coherent and original?)
- Characterizations (Are they believable and well-developed?)
- Theme (Is it consistent, powerful, and Biblical?)
- Content (How does it deal with touchy subjects, if any, that may offend some Christian readers?)

I would add a style category which allows rating how well the author's overall use of words and language.

Today I worked on the categories and a rating system from -2 to +2.
Style is incorporated in the prose and setting categories. Let me know what you think or any tinkering you'd suggest. The file is attached below.

I like your rating system, but do you think any book will score a -2 anywhere? After all, the way these things are nominated should mean that nothing can get by with a -2, most likely. I might prefer a few more of those sort of bonus points like you hit at the end to allow for a more flexible judging system, but I like it a lot.

I know I will be giving some of the books up there a -2 on some aspects.

I don't expect many to get a -2, but there might be some, and in order to open this up to unknowns like at Splashdown Books, this rating system will widen the gap for a clearer winner. I was thinking though that many of the books will be a +1 or +2 in many categories. If they mess up in one area it will cost them - this could be a tight race.

I'm open for more bullet points such as do they end chapters with a twist?

I like it! I cleared some things up for me that I was confused about.

I'm assuming we'd start at 0, so could book's ratings technically go into the negatives?

I would say so yes.

Okay, sounds good!

Would it be too much to ask to provide samples from the text to show as examples to support our ratings? For example, if you give someone a +2 Characterization, copy a paragraph of that character's introduction or something to support your rating. For the content ratings, you can just summarize

While this is more work for our judges, it does provide a very valuable resource towards learning the craft. It also provides accountability so that we don't have flippant or inaccurate ratings. It could also provide for some interesting discussion on book evaluation and how we write.

If we agree to do this, then it would have to be done on each book reviewed.

I hate taking notes while reading. I absolutely dislike it. So, naturally, I am against being required to post evidence on our evaluations. However, I would be perfectly willing to do so in outstanding situations of either very poor or very excellent writing. Maybe only for +2 and -2 rating would evidence be necessary?

I agree with Reiyan; it would be difficult to come up with a specific example of 'average' writing, but giving an example of very poor or excellent writing would be easier. And it would help us pinpoint things we should or shouldn't do.

You don't have to take notes while you read. You can with a paperback place highlight tabs that will remind you after you've finished what you were thinking when you read it. This sort of addition will be, as I said, very valuable both to us as writers and to the group to provide examples of excellent, poor, and average writing. With any valuable lesson, it won't be easy, but with efficient execution (using notetabs or highlighting on your ereader) the small extra effort can produce greater reward.

How do you get from being a poor writer to a great one? You do so by studying craft and noticing the steps and small mistakes that when improved take you to the next step. I've read and heard countless authors suggesting reading books first for fun and then for craft. I'm trying to provide a fun system that encourages us to study the craft of writing Christian Fiction. That is why we're here, aren't we?

I looked back at the categories, and I think it will be easier actually to provide examples for the -1 and+1, if not just as easy as the -2 to +2.
For example: A -1 plot has convenient circumstances. All you have to do there is say, Bob needed a magic staff and it fell out of an eagle's talons right when he needed it. Such an event may have made such an impression that you'll remember it till the end and when you evaluate the book you can provide this example in a quick sentence. Having an action scene that really flowed tabbed for later reference is a great resource when trying to improve your own writing, and all it takes is reading with highlighter strips.

There may be times when it is hard to pinpoint why you give them such a rating. Just write the first honest thing that comes to mind. That should be sufficient. (edited to sound less pompous )

Once you do one or two like this it will seem easy and the benefits will outweigh the minor extra effort you put forth. If you plan on taking English classes in college, this will help prepare you.

The purpose isn't just to read for fun, but to grow as writers through observation, and to promote their writing through professional opinions. If we go and give everyone a four or a five because we "liked it" then this award idea isn't really going to help anyone.

I'm very thankful for all who have expressed interest in rating. Would you please just trust me on the benefits and give it a shot?

Okay, I'll go ahead and do it.

Thanks Princess, and I'm sorry about getting on a soapbox there for a bit. I've come down now and feel I could have summarized that post by saying:

I don't like to write or take notes while I'm reading fiction. However, a few post its and just an overall awareness of the categories will help us learn from these books. Is it too much to ask for a simple justification for each category you vote on? If you want to put samples as proof that would be great, but you are free to summarize. That way, you could very well write your reasons for each point after finishing the book without having to write anything during the read.

No problem.

I'll just go ahead and use samples. I'm thinking that summarizing would be more work. (Oh dear, now I'm starting to sound lazy...)

Looks like a good rating system to me...now I just need to decide what I'm judging

In looking over Niel of Erk's reviews, I'm sensing an absence of character analysis. Should we make a character category?

I noticed that, and I would appreciate a character category. Or a clearer inclusion of characters within plot.

We'll work on a character category that reflects how they grow or fail towards their character arc through the plot. I'll do that tomorrow. Anyone interested in helping can feel free to make a suggestion for designations between -2 and+2 and even bonus points related to character.

What about negative points? Just as we have bonus points, what about negative points for things that really upset us. For example, you put the book down and couldn't finish. Or, the author relied too much on genre tropes without making his work unique. I'm not sure, just putting that out there.

If there are bonus points there should definitely be anti-bonus points. It's a nifty idea and I like it. My support with Timotheus' idea.

I haven't thought of any negative bonus points, but if you think of one that isn't already covered in the rating system let me know. For example, I was recently upset about a very weak main character, but I didn't want to make a negative point because that was already shown in my rating on character.

I've updated the rating sheet. These are not exhaustive characteristics of each category and how to rate, but are more of a guide. For example, there were areas of prose that were not addressed in my rating system, but which affected how I rated, such as dialogue and scene breakdowns. I just took all that into account and decided which number best suited the author's prose.

I just wanted to let you all know I've edited the first post in this and the judges picking category threads to make it more clear as this project has evolved.

I read one book and put sticky tabs with notes like "no conflict" and "setting?" but in the end I remembered all the points I needed to fill out the rating system. You can see an example of my ratings (here). Please don't be overwhelmed by having to rate the book, just do your best and I'm sure it will be fine. The most important thing is reading it and being able in the end to rate it. So far Niel of Erk and I are the only ones to rate any books, and now he's gone. I need your help to make this happen. We have until December 31 to post ratings, but I'd like to make consistent dents in the reading list.

Thank you to all who participate!

Tim, is this project still going, or would you like me to archive this?

*archives *