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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Paying attention is a powerful antidote for what?
(a) Sleepless nights.
(b) Paranoia.
(c) The rational mind.
(d) A hangover.

2. What does Anne say that there is ecstasy in?
(a) Compassionate detachment.
(b) Wine and chocolate.
(c) Ripples in the water.
(d) Paying attention.

3. What does Anne warn about doing with your characters?
(a) Getting them to do something because it is convenient to the plot.
(b) Giving them only one page of description.
(c) Letting them speak in dialect.
(d) Placing them in an improper set.

4. What does Anne say perfectionism will block?
(a) Radio station KFKD and the distracting voices.
(b) The heart, mind, and spirit.
(c) Inventiveness, playfulness, and life force.
(d) Flow, form, and set design.

5. How else does Anne say you might you know you are done?
(a) You have done the best you can do, and have no more to give.
(b) Your editor tells you that you are done.
(c) Your check arrives in the mail.
(d) The plot has come together beautifully.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Anne's second suggestion about writing dialogue?

2. From where did Anne's Special Olympics article start to emerge?

3. In Anne's opinion, who writes bad first drafts?

4. How does Anne define perfectionism?

5. Aside from talking to people, what are other ways to gather ideas for set design?

Short Essay Questions

1. Readers need a sense that an important character, such as a narrator, is reliable. How does Anne suggest that writers accomplish this?

2. According to Anne, how are we able to see the underlying essence of a person?

3. Plot is the main part of your story. How does the plot best grow organically, according to Anne?

4. How does Anne suggest we can free ourselves from perfectionism?

5. In Part 2, The Writing Frame of Mind, Section 1, Looking Around, what is writing about, and how do we see the writer?

6. According to Anne, how does knowledge of a character develop?

7. How does Anne state dialogue affects a reader?

8. How does Anne warn against writing towards a climax or destination?

9. When Anne's students tell her they do not know where to start, she tells them to start with their childhood. How is this helpful?

10. Where does Anne find out something about false starts?

(see the answer keys)

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