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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. How does the author define an idea?

2. What must a storyteller do when creating characters or events?

3. What will help a writer to maintain consistency?

4. How can emotion be elevated for a character by utilizing the natural world?

5. What is likely to cause an audience to connect with a character emotionally?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does a writer create a strong initial impression for a character?

2. Which traits will trigger dislike for a character?

3. How does character factor into a narrative and why is it often a complex process?

4. What is the contract that a writer makes with a reader, and when is it introduced?

5. What technique does the author recommend when first introducing a character?

6. How can writers find characters within themselves?

7. What is a helpful tip about keeping track of character names that the author provides at the end of Chapter 4?

8. Is it possible to use less characterization in a story?

9. What is the idea of a story, and how is it used?

10. What is the difference between "walk-ons" and minor characters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Exaggeration is one of the techniques discussed for adding interest to characters and events.

1) Describe what exaggeration is, when it is used, and how it is applied.

2) List some examples of the types of stories that exaggeration can be used in along with why it is effective in them.

3) Explain about the precautions that the author gives when using exaggeration in a story and why it needs to be logical or justified.

Essay Topic 2

Creating names for characters can give the reader clues about those characters' intentions and traits. Describe the selection process for names, what a writer should consider when naming their characters, how and why the names should vary, and what a name can represent. Also, explain the use of a list of characters and their traits along with how it can help writers maintain consistency in their work.

Essay Topic 3

The narrator is a crucial part of fiction because he/she is responsible for telling the story. 1) Describe a first person narrative, its advantages and disadvantages, and the techniques a writer uses when writing in first person.

2) Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a third person narrative, including the differences between the omniscient and viewpoint narrator.

3) Explain the importance of the narration in fiction and how it can be written to engage the reader fully.

(see the answer keys)

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