View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What question does Knight suggest the writer ask about 'what'?
(a) What is causing tension in the story?
(b) What is the story about?
(c) What is the significance of the villain?
(d) What is the character's motivation?

2. What does Knight say about mismatching mood and tone?
(a) It can only work when the mood is comical.
(b) It can only work when the mood and tone are still somewhat similar.
(c) It can never be effective.
(d) Sometimes it can be effective.

3. To sell his story, of what must a writer be aware?
(a) How to edit a book entirely on his own.
(b) How to talk to magazine editors.
(c) The market.
(d) Different literary agents and their priorities.

4. What genre was once the preeminent genre?
(a) Western.
(b) Romance.
(c) Historical non-fiction.
(d) Literary fiction.

5. What point in the book is the easiest for a writer to become "stuck"?
(a) Near the beginning.
(b) Before beginning.
(c) Near the end.
(d) After ending.

6. Through which viewpoint can the writer enter the mind of any character?
(a) First person limited.
(b) Limited omniscient.
(c) Omniscient.
(d) Third person limited.

7. If a reader already knows information that the writer is repeating, what does it become?
(a) Noise.
(b) Detail.
(c) Knowledge.
(d) Imagery.

8. What is consonance?
(a) Repetition of similar words.
(b) Repetition of final consonant sounds.
(c) Repetition of vowel sounds.
(d) Prose.

9. Knight gives an example that sometimes a new writer relies on what part of a character to create interest?
(a) Romance.
(b) Family.
(c) Personality.
(d) Profession.

10. What does Knight suggest is most important to consult when a writer hits a troublesome spot?
(a) A professional editor.
(b) His creative side.
(c) Another author.
(d) Dictionary or thesaurus.

11. What types of names should characters have?
(a) Nicknames in addition to believable names.
(b) Believable names.
(c) Strange names.
(d) Ordinary names.

12. Which point of view does Knight believe proves to be most awkward?
(a) Third.
(b) First.
(c) Second.
(d) Detached.

13. What must a writer resist the impulse to do in creating characters, according to Knight?
(a) Creating characters without motivation.
(b) Creating settings that are too complicated.
(c) Creating characters that are simply extensions of the author.
(d) Creating stereotypical characters.

14. If a writer has an idea but the phrasing is escaping him, what next course of action does Knight suggest should be next?
(a) Stop and take a break.
(b) Consult a thesaurus or rhyming dictionary.
(c) Continue and come back to this part later.
(d) Skip this part entirely.

15. What is the purpose of reviewing work after it is complete?
(a) Making sure the story is good.
(b) Finding a way to make the story shorter.
(c) Making sure that the idea shines through.
(d) Finding bits to change.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following does Knight suggest for finding good information about publishing requirements?

2. For thousands of years, what was the only acceptable viewpoint?

3. What question does Knight suggest the writer ask about 'why'?

4. Which of the following should a writer not do, according to Knight?

5. Through which viewpoint can the writer enter only one character's mind?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 531 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample