- As an assessor, you are not required to read more than necessary to reach a fair conclusion as to the book’s quality. For example, you might be allocated a book that is littered with errors in the opening chapters! AIBA is not asking you to proofread the book, but it would help if you would note a few examples of the errors that justify your recommendation.
- You should only recommend a book for approval if you have read and assessed the complete book including the front and back page material. As stated on the Our Mission page of the website, our purpose is to Identify and honor self-published or independently-published books that meet the standard of books published by major mainstream publishers.
- If in your opinion, the book meets the standard of books published by major mainstream publishers, then please award it 4 or 5 stars and recommend it for approval. Should you assess a book with relatively few errors, you can still recommend approval, but approval will be withheld until the author has made the recommended changes. Please note the errors so that AIBA can advise the author.
Recent research has revealed that despite its common usage, mainstream publishers do not yet recognize the contraction of “all right” as a proper word. Also, “off of” should not be used in narrative.
- Some assessors prefer to post the assessment as a review under their own name on Amazon, GoodReads, and elsewhere.
Awesome Indies Book Awards’ assessors should primarily recommend books for approval that are well-written and engaging, and that have been edited to a professional standard.
In Brief:
Fiction
- • The book has been edited and proofread to a professional standard and is free from errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
- Recent research has revealed that despite its common usage, mainstream publishers do not yet recognize the contraction of “all right” as a proper word.
- Although often used in dialogue, the none-standard expression: “off of” should not be used in narrative.
- • The book is correctly formatted for fiction.
- • The cover looks professional.
- • The plot is well structured, well-paced, conceptually sound, and engaging.
- • The characters are well developed and their dialogue and interactions with others are believable.
- • The book is not overwritten or unnecessarily wordy; for instance; no obvious dumps of information, unnecessary repetition, or irrelevant scenes.
- • Changes in point of view are clear.
- • The prose is well-written and engaging.
Non-Fiction
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- Memoirs relating to a compelling or specific event in the author’s life, such as survival or recovery from a tragic event or illness, can be submitted for assessment, but in general, Awesome Indies Book Awards does not assess biographies, technical manuals, or other non-fiction material.
Assessments are anonymous so your name will not be disclosed to the author unless you choose to reveal it by making direct contact with the author to offer editing or proofreading services. If you offer such professional services to the writer, you must stress that the arrangement will be a private contract between you and the writer and does not guarantee that a subsequent assessor will recommend approval.
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