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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What two qualities are needed to communicate effectively according to Anne?
(a) Respect and agressiveness.
(b) Good penmanship and excellent dialect.
(c) Compassion and high morals.
(d) Respect and compassion.

2. What advice did Anne's father give her brother when he was overwhelmed at writing a report on birds?
(a) "Woody Woodpecker is a great bird to write about."
(b) "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird."
(c) "Only write about California birds this time."
(d) "Take pictures of the birds in Bolinas."

3. What does the image of putting an octopus to bed describe?
(a) Solving problems in a final draft.
(b) Putting the nursing home residents to bed.
(c) Exactly what it says, putting an octopus to bed.
(d) Making all the voices quiet.

4. What is Anne's response when her students ask her for the best writing advice?
(a) She picks up a piece of paper and pantomimes writing on it.
(b) She twirls a flower in the air.
(c) She quotes a Buddhist disciple.
(d) She tells them to meditate.

5. What did Anne's father tell his students to read?
(a) A few poems and hardback books.
(b) Shakespeare.
(c) All the great books and plays they could get their hands on.
(d) Only Thurber.

6. When you start think there is one more thing you could do, what should you remind yourself?
(a) Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.
(b) The octopus is snoring, time to move on.
(c) Your characters have evolved, time to move on.
(d) Dr. Suess refuses to eat the broccoli.

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

8. Instead of writing towards a plot, what does Anne suggest?
(a) Writing towards a scene.
(b) Writing about birds.
(c) Writing about set design.
(d) Taking a break.

9. Who are the two authors that Anne says have written well about plot?
(a) Rosemary Wells and Doreen Cornin.
(b) E. M. Forester and John Gardner.
(c) John Gardner and Faulkner.
(d) Flannery O'Conner and Faulkner.

10. How does Anne tell her students to train the unconscious to kick in?
(a) Drink wine and eat chocolate, then write.
(b) Phone an off-putting friend, that will get your creative juices going.
(c) Listen to classical music.
(d) Sit down to write at approximately the same time every day.

11. What does Anne say writers want to happen to a reader as they read about a character?
(a) For the reader to have compassion for the character.
(b) Recognize how descriptive the character is.
(c) For the reader to be able to see what a wonderful writer has done with the character's dialect.
(d) Recognition of self within the character.

12. Where did Anne's father teach his class?
(a) San Quentin to the prisoners.
(b) On the street to hippies.
(c) Elementary school to children.
(d) The local community college to kids.

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

14. According to Anne, what is the way to "nail" a character?
(a) Plot.
(b) Set design.
(c) Dialogue.
(d) Hammers.

15. What do readers want to know about characters besides their superficial values?
(a) Their essence.
(b) Their hair color.
(c) How they smell.
(d) What they eat.

Short Answer Questions

1. When a character takes on a characteristic that you have no good experience in, what should you do?

2. How does plot fall together?

3. When Anne showed up at the Special Olympics to write an article, did she know what she was going to write?

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

5. What does Anne believe allows us to see the individual person?

(see the answer keys)

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