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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a story comprised of?

2. According to Knight, what does fiction require to be believable?

3. After stage four, what does the developing writer become?

4. What does the unconscious mind spawn?

5. Which book did Vonda McIntyre gain inspiration from for Dreamsnake?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe some of the traits of the genres that Knight mentions.

2. What are some of the elements of style?

3. What types of awkward repetition should writers avoid?

4. What does it mean for a writer to write only what he knows?

5. How can a writer create tension?

6. What is the writer's job, according to the author?

7. What debate does Knight struggle with?

8. According to Knight, what sparks an idea for a story?

9. What is Knight's goal throughout the book?

10. What is Knight's final and most important tip?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Knight describe a short story? What is the difference between a short story and a novel? Why is such a distinction significant?

Essay Topic 2

Knight tells writers to write what they know. What does this mean? Why should a writer only write what he or she knows? What does Knight suggest a writer do if he or she wants to write about a topic they don't know about?

Essay Topic 3

Knight places emphasis on the end of a story. Why? What does Knight suggest that all readers want in an ending? What makes a bad ending?

(see the answer keys)

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