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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does the author define an idea?
(a) What the reader is intended to understand, but not necessarily learn.
(b) What the reader is intended to understand and/or learn.
(c) What the reader is not intended to understand and/or learn.
(d) What the reader is intended to learn, but not necessarily understand.

2. What does the author hope to give writers who read the book?
(a) A set of tools.
(b) A secret formula.
(c) A specific set of instructions.
(d) A popular method.

3. What will many experienced authors claim about their characters?
(a) They were inspired by history.
(b) They were completely invented for the story.
(c) They were taken from life.
(d) They were taken from other literary works.

4. How often are sources of inspiration altered?
(a) Sometimes.
(b) Very often.
(c) Hardly at all.
(d) Never.

5. Besides emotional, what type of attention from the reader is the goal of Chapter 7?
(a) Subconscious.
(b) Analytical.
(c) Intellectual.
(d) Inadvertent.

6. What do the readers and creators of a contemporary narrative believe about in-depth characterization?
(a) It is neither expected nor necessary.
(b) It is expected, but not necessary.
(c) It is necessary, but not expected.
(d) It is both expected and necessary.

7. How can emotion be elevated for a character by utilizing the natural world?
(a) By connecting the thoughts of an individual with the natural world.
(b) By connecting the thoughts of a group of people with the natural world.
(c) By connecting the experiences of a group of people with the natural world.
(d) By connecting the experiences of an individual with the natural world.

8. How many different aspects of creative writing are there?
(a) Five.
(b) Three.
(c) Two.
(d) Four.

9. What type of imperfections can be appealing to readers?
(a) Endearing.
(b) Uncontrollable.
(c) Unknown.
(d) Temporary.

10. According to the quote that ends Chapter 3, where does the author believe a writer can find wonderful stories?
(a) Very few landscapes on earth.
(b) No landscapes on earth.
(c) Most landscapes on earth.
(d) Any landscape on earth.

11. What balance must be met when creating an endearing character?
(a) The balance between a leader and a follower.
(b) The balance between loss and hope.
(c) The balance between right and wrong.
(d) The balance between victimization and courage.

12. When an idea is the primary focus, what is the role of the characters?
(a) Complex plot functionaries.
(b) They define the plot in some way.
(c) They define the plot completely.
(d) Simple plot functionaries.

13. In order to avoid being boring, what does a character have to be?
(a) Aggressive and mysterious.
(b) Passive and mysterious.
(c) Unfamiliar and idiosyncratic.
(d) Familiar and idiosyncratic.

14. What is milieu?
(a) The physical, historical, or social context.
(b) The mental, historical, or social context.
(c) The physical, cultural, or social context.
(d) The mental, cultural, or social context.

15. What two ideals is the author blending in Chapter 9?
(a) The selfish with the unselfish.
(b) The romantic with the realistic.
(c) The predictable with the unpredictable.
(d) The intelligent with the unintelligent.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many basic factors are there common to all forms of narrative writing?

2. What can cause a reader to become more engaged with a character?

3. How well do readers want to know characters in a book?

4. What does the contract between an author and a reader state?

5. What should a writer do when adding layers to a stereotyped character?

(see the answer keys)

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