Creative Writing Test - Non-fiction (U.S. Version)
A college business paper would typically be considered an example of _______________ .
creative non-fiction 0.0%
fiction 0.0%
creative design 0.0%
non-fiction 100.0%
A fiction writer cannot successfully write non-fiction as well.
A manuscript that has been edited and proofread, that includes all images, and that is about to be published is said to be in the __________________ stage.
page proof 0%
editorial mark-up 0%
typesetting 0%
camera-ready copy 0%
A/an ___________ is a short, traditional Japanese poem that contains three lines of five, seven, and five syllables respectively.
sonnet 0.0%
ode 0.0%
ottava rima 0.0%
haiku 100.0%
None of the above 0.0%
Among writing professionals, which of the following are well-known programs for creating and editing screenplays?
Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft 25.0%
First Draft and Second Draft 0.0%
DreamWeaver and Last Draft 0.0%
No Draft and Screenwriting Crew 101 0.0%
None of the above 75.0%
Creating an impressive website on which to post creative work is more important than the quality of the creative work itself.
Creative writing or blogging - especially when the format is interactive and allows comments or provides discussion rooms for readers to express their own views - is said to be a part of which of t...
Web pages 0.0%
WWW for Dummies 0.0%
The Internet 1.1 0.0%
Web 2.0 100.0%
All of the above 0.0%
How is a biography different from a memoir?
Biographies are more detailed than memoirs and require names and dates to be provided. 0.0%
A memoir is fiction, while a biography is non-fiction. 0.0%
A memoir is written by the author about him or herself, while a biography is written by an author about someone else. 100.0%
A biography is meant for personal use, while a memoir is meant to be published. 0.0%
There is no real difference between the two. 0.0%
How is the copyright of a fiction or non-fiction work typically divided up?
Most copyright licenses or contracts last for seventy years after the author's death. 100.0%
Randomly or by lottery 0.0%
By lots of ten years either in the Western world or east of the international date line 0.0%
By time and territory; i.e., in terms of regions of the world and the length of time for which the copyright is licensed 0.0%
How long does it generally take, from manuscript submission to final publication, for a non-fiction book to pass through the full editorial process and off-set (not digital) printing process?
from 3 to 6 weeks 0.0%
from 3 weeks to 3 months 0.0%
from 3 months to 1 year 0.0%
from 2 years to 10 years 100.0%
In a play script, what does the abbreviation "V.O." stand for?
Vehicle On (the use of heavy props on stage) 0.0%
Voice Off (an off-stage voice that falls silent when that character is on stage) 0.0%
Vehicle Off (the removal of a heavy prop from the stage) 0.0%
Voice On (the turning on of off-stage sound equipment) 0.0%
Voice Over (an off-stage voice that narrates the on-stage action) 100.0%
In academic non-fiction, the ____________________ at the end of the book helps readers continue their study of the subject by directing them to similar works.
glossary 0.0%
index 0.0%
afterword 0.0%
bibliography and works cited pages 100.0%
In all types of writing, the term "the hook" refers to _____________.
a potentially dangerous prop used on stage 0.0%
the antagonist 33.0%
the main character in a play or screenplay 0.0%
a line or passage that captures the audience's attention (originally a term borrowed from songwriting) 66.0%
In any creative endeavor, what is meant by the term "development hell"?
The initiation of a period of development that lasts 3-6 months 0.0%
The end of a long development process at which point the decision is made NOT to proceed to production 100.0%
A play that involves satanic elements, or a comic visit to hell itself 0.0%
The period of frustrating delay that can occur when the development process lasts too long 0.0%
In playwriting and theatre terminology, the term "ad lib" (from the Latin ad libitum, meaning in accordance with desire) refers to _________________.
dialogue or action that the actors make up, often on the spur of the moment 100.0%
the moment when an actor stumbles on his or her words 0.0%
what the prompt or cue person in the front row delivers to actors who forget their lines 0.0%
impromptu dancing in the middle of a play 0.0%
In playwriting or screenwriting, what does the term "slug line" refer to?
It tells that the story has changed in location or time 66.0%
A black line that divides scenes 33.0%
The last line of the play 0.0%
The play's subtitle 0.0%
In screenplay terminology, the abbreviations "INT." and "EXT." mean ____________ and ___________ respectively.
inner, outer 0.0%
interior monologue, exterior speaker 0.0%
interior scene setting, exterior scene setting 50.0%
intermission, extra scene 0.0%
All of the above 50.0%
In screenplay writing, the abbreviation "b.g." stands for ____________ .
background 100.0%
big gun 0.0%
beautiful generation 0.0%
big gap 0.0%
None of the above 0.0%
In screenwriting, what does the abbreviation "O.C." stand for?
On Cue 50.0%
Off Cue 0.0%
Off Camera 50.0%
Off Curtain 0.0%
On Curtain 0.0%
All of the above 0.0%
In terms of editorial work at a publishing house, which of the following statements about fiction versus non-fiction is true?
The two genres are usually handled by the same editor. 0.0%
Other than the fact that one genre is "true" and one is "untrue," there is very little difference between the two. 0.0%
Non-fiction requires fewer stages of correction. 0.0%
Non-fiction requires a fact-checker and may also need to have illustrations or photographs sourced. 100.0%
In terms of online creative writing courses, which of the following statements is most reliable?
All online creative writing courses are scams that should be avoided in favor of a course that takes place in a classroom. 0.0%
An online course can be a good supplement and aid to the creative work you are already producing on your own or as part of a classroom workshop. 0.0%
Some online courses are better than others; the good ones involve learning materials, forums, chat rooms, and interactive time with an actual teacher. 0.0%
b and c 100.0%
In terms of theatre staff, who is the "Artistic Director"?
A painter and decorator who designs the sets for a play 33.0%
The playwright, once he or she enters the theatre for rehearsal 0.0%
A theater company's chief artistic officer, usually the last person who decides on a script before green-lighting production 66.0%
The lead actor, who often has some creative control 0.0%
In the world of professional playwriting, which of the following usually occur(s) before a play is mounted in a full production?
It is staged on an empty stage. 0.0%
It is published in paperback. 0.0%
It goes through a development stage that includes professional "readings". 100.0%
A read-through of the play is broadcast on the radio. 0.0%
c and d 0.0%
None of the above 0.0%
In the world of professional playwriting, which of the following usually occurs before a play is mounted in a full production?
It is staged on an empty stage. 0.0%
It is published in paperback. 0.0%
It goes through a development stage that includes professional "readings." 50.0%
A read-through of the play is broadcast on the radio. 0.0%
c and d 50.0%
None of the above 0.0%
In theatre terminology, a "curtain call" is the moment when ______________ .
the playwright is personally thanked onstage 0.0%
the audience stands and pulls down the curtains with great excitement 0.0%
the cast of the play take a bow on stage 100.0%
the audience leaves in disgust, calling out their disapproval 0.0%
In theatre terminology, what does "stage left" mean?
The last point at which an actor left the stage 50.0%
The left side of the stage from the audience's point of view 0.0%
The left side of the stage from the actor's point of view 50.0%
It varies depending on the perspective of the actor 0.0%
Is the following statement true or false? Editors will take a professional blog seriously as an example of someone's writing skills, as long as the blog is regularly updated, clear, and relevant.
Is the following statement true or false? If you want to write character blurbs for graphic novels, you must be an illustrator as well as a writer.
Making journal entries at a specific time of day can help a writer discipline him or herself to maintain a diary or journal with some regularity.
Regarding the inclusion of creative expression in non-fiction writing, which of the following statements is most true?
Non-fiction writing should always be factually verifiable, but that does not preclude creative style or expression as long as the creative expression serves an overall purpose of conveying facts, information, and learning. 100.0%
Non-fiction is required to be only 75% truthful; the remainder can be given over to creative expression. 0.0%
Non-fiction should always aim to be as creative and imaginative as fiction, occasionally at the cost of verifiable truth. 0.0%
None of the above 0.0%
The Internet is a good source of famous works of literature and non-fiction, which are often available free in fully downloadable or full-text online formats.
The phrase "The tree's dark fingers reached out for him" demonstrates the use of which of the following literary devices?
Simile 0.0%
Metaphor 100.0%
Alliteration 0.0%
Personification 0.0%
The title page of a screenplay should contain which of the following?
A photograph of the author 0.0%
The title of the work and the author's name and contact information 100.0%
A dedication, the author's name, and the prologue 0.0%
The author's home address and the beginning of the first scene 0.0%
What does "high concept" mean in screenplay writing?
A simple premise that describes a proposed film in just a few sentences, often by juxtaposing two known ideas 100.0%
A production with a large budget 0.0%
A very artistic, conceptual approach to filmmaking 0.0%
A complex idea that is turned into a relatively short film 0.0%
What does it mean if a play script is said to be "unsolicited"?
It has been sent back from the production company to the playwright. 0.0%
It has been sent upon request, usually from the playwright to the production company. 0.0%
It has been sent without a specific request, usually from the playwright to the production company. 50.0%
It is either too short or too long. 0.0%
a, b, and c 50.0%
What does it mean if a screenplay is "optioned" by a television or film production company?
The screenplay has been bought and will be put into development; it may or may not be made into a full production. 100.0%
The screenplay has been bought and will definitely be made into a film, and the screenwriter will receive a royalty. 0.0%
The screenplay has been partially bought and will now pass through re-writes before being returned to the screenwriter for a final polish. 0.0%
The screenplay will be resold to another film or television company. 0.0%
What does it mean to "green-light" a project?
To temporarily delay a production 0.0%
To give the go-ahead to start a production 100.0%
That the production has made over $1 million 0.0%
That the production is a safety-related play about traffic lights 0.0%
What is "assonance"?
A stanza in which the lines follow ABCD format 50.0%
Stupid behavior 0.0%
The repetition of vowel sounds 50.0%
Three or more consonants in a row 0.0%
What is "bias"?
The similarity between ideas 0.0%
The negative feeling between two ideas in a work of journalistic non-fiction 0.0%
The specific tone of a work, or specific voice of the writer 0.0%
When an author prejudices the reader in favor of one side of a subject by not covering the topic fairly 100.0%
What is "elision"?
The sliding of one consonant into another 0.0%
The repetition of certain vowels in a line of poetry 50.0%
Stanzas with exactly the same number of lines 0.0%
The omission of an unstressed vowel or syllable to maintain the poetry's meter 50.0%
What is "falling meter"?
Metrical feet in a line that move from stressed to unstressed syllables 33.0%
Metrical feet in a line that move from unstressed to stressed syllables 66.0%
Same as alliteration 0.0%
Free verse 0.0%
All of the above 0.0%
What is "free verse"?
Epic verse 0.0%
Poetry that is given away free with longer works 0.0%
More modern poetry with no prescribed pattern or structure 100.0%
Rhyming couplets 0.0%
None of the above 0.0%
What is "iambic pentameter"?
The five beats at the end of a five-line stanza 50.0%
A traditional form of rising meter consisting of lines of five iambic feet (i.e., ten syllables total) 50.0%
All Shakespearean-style poetry 0.0%
Christopher Marlowe's "heroic line" 0.0%
a and d 0.0%
What is "metonymy"?
A meteoric rise to success 0.0%
Same as "synonymous" 0.0%
Rhyming couplets 33.0%
A closely related word that is substituted for another word, object, or idea 66.0%
Two words with exactly the same meaning 0.0%
What is "objective truth" as opposed to "subjective truth"?
Subjective truth is independently verifiable, whereas objective truth is dependent on a limited point of view. 0.0%
Objective truth is independently verifiable whereas subjective truth is dependent on a limited point of view. 100.0%
They are both the same. 0.0%
Objective truth is dependent on subjective truth. 0.0%
Objective truth involves two people, while subjective truth involves only one. 0.0%
What is "personification"?
The endowment of inanimate objects or concepts with living qualities 0%
A person who resembles or behaves like an animal 0%
An animal with human-like attributes or behavior 0%
A poem that resembles a person but does not actually include one 0%
All of the above 0%
What is "rhetoric"?
Expressive writing as opposed to creative non-fiction 0.0%
Simple prose that doesn't draw attention to itself 0.0%
Questions and statements mingled together 100.0%
Argumentative or persuasive language 0.0%
What is a "heroic couplet"?
The opening four lines of a poem 0.0%
A pair of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter 66.0%
The rhymed first and last lines of a poem 33.0%
Poetry in free verse with an epic or heroic subject matter 0.0%
What is a "pun"?
A bucket for audience tips 0.0%
A so-called "play on words," or the comic use of a single word with two or more meanings 100.0%
A stage prompt 0.0%
A character foil 0.0%
What is a "quatrain"?
A four-line stanza or grouping of four lines of verse 66.0%
A two-line stanza written in free verse 0.0%
The last quarter of a poem, rounded to the nearest stanza 0.0%
The four parts of any work of art 0.0%
b and d 33.0%
What is a "rhetorical question"?
A question that doesn't require an answer 50.0%
A question that contains a riddle 0.0%
A question that demands to be answered as quickly as possible 25.0%
A question that contains an argument 0.0%
A question with two different answers 25.0%
What is an "analogy"?
The opposite of what is stated, often with ironic effect 0.0%
Composite word for a postscript, glossary, index or bibliography 0.0%
A comparison of two similar ideas or objects to make a point about the first one; a kind of comparative example 100.0%
The repetition of beginning consonant and vowel sounds in a line of poetry 0.0%
What is an "epic poem"?
An extended ballad containing quatrains 0.0%
Free verse 0.0%
A poem written in large print 0.0%
A poem in a tightly bound manuscript delivered in person 0.0%
A poem of considerable length, often dealing with heroic themes 100.0%
What is an "indie" production company?
One based in the state of Indiana 0.0%
A production company that is independent of major studio financing 100.0%
A production company that has a certain youth appeal, but that is still backed by a major studio 0.0%
A theatrical production based on the Indiana Jones films 0.0%
What is expressive writing (as opposed to expository or persuasive writing)?
Writing whose main aim is to succinctly describe an object in the world 0.0%
Argumentative writing with a rhetorical aim 0.0%
Writing whose main aim is to explore personal experiences and which is focused on the writer instead of on a subject or even on technical "correctness" of expression 33.0%
Writing that expresses a political or social opinion 0.0%
b and d 66.0%
What is the greatest potential hazard of putting your creative writing online?
Someone will plagiarize your words and potentially publish them as his or her own. 100.0%
People will cease to respect your creative work. 0.0%
You will not be able to get your work published in print format in the future. 0.0%
You will lose sales. 0.0%
What is the primary purpose for writing a journal?
The writer's own private use 100.0%
To promote as a form of writing to a local community 0.0%
To publish in print or online 0.0%
To share with family and friends 0.0%
When an author writes a journal or diary and publishes it as a memoir, which of the following is potentially crucial to the credibility of the book?
That an author book tour take place 0.0%
That the author's face be on the front and back cover 0.0%
That the book contain a website address for the publisher 0.0%
That it be clear from reading what is verifiable fact and what is potentially the author's unreliable memory (i.e., that the line between reality and fantasy be clear) 100.0%
a and b 0.0%
When staging a play, what does the abbreviation "SPFX" stand for?
Special Entrance 0.0%
Special Effects 100.0%
Second Prompter 0.0%
Special Affects 0.0%
Extra Speaker 0.0%
When translated to the screen, a screenplay of 150 pages will generally run for how long?
2.5 hours 33.0%
1.5 hours 0.0%
2 hours 0.0%
3 hours 33.0%
1.75 hours 33.0%
When writing an authentic journal for private use or publication, which of the following is a good idea?
Trying to prompt your audience or reader into liking the narrative voice 66.0%
Imitating a known writer as much as possible 0.0%
Developing a specific and genuine narrative voice, whether the work will be published or not 33.0%
Varying the narrative voice from section to section depending on whether you feel the work can be published or not 0.0%
Which of the following best defines "journal writing"?
A written account of experiences, ideas, or reflections kept regularly and usually for private use 100.0%
Writing articles to submit to newspapers 0.0%
Writing a journal-like diary or memoir specifically for publication 0.0%
All of the above 0.0%
Which of the following best describes creative non-fiction?
Non-fiction with some fictional elements, such as invented dialogue 0.0%
Non-fiction told like a short story or written like a novel 0.0%
Non-fiction stories written in the form of poems or plays 0.0%
All of the above 0.0%
None of the above 100.0%
Which of the following considerations is most important when keeping a personal journal?
That you write regularly, regardless of how you choose to express your thoughts and feelings 100.0%
That the grammar and punctuation be accurate 0.0%
That the sections be all the same length 0.0%
That you eventually submit it to a literary agent 0.0%
Which of the following is a good technique for presenting your creative writing online?
Restricting your work to either a blog or a website - having both is always confusing 0.0%
Placing sample opening chapters on a highly visual website that is interlinked with blogs and discussion boards to draw attention to your work 100.0%
Putting the entire work online 0.0%
Placing your work online anonymously 0.0%
Which of the following is crucial for maintaining a journal with some regularity?
Keeping the journal locked 0.0%
Making entries whenever the mood hits 100.0%
Making daily entries in different colors 0.0%
Having someone read the journal 0.0%
Continuous motivation over a long period of time 0.0%
Which of the following is NOT a movie genre?
Horror 0.0%
Cartoon 0.0%
Legal Thriller 100.0%
Romantic Comedy 0.0%
Which of the following is NOT a type of personal journal writing?
Dream book or log 0.0%
Diary or memoir 0.0%
Electronic journal 0.0%
Spiritual or personal growth journal 0.0%
Short story collection 100.0%
Autobiography or life writing 0.0%
Which of the following is the closest definition of the expression "high concept" as it is applied in the field of screenplay writing?
A simple premise that describes a proposed film in just a few sentences, often by juxtaposing two known ideas 100.0%
A production with a large budget 0.0%
A very artistic, conceptual approach to filmmaking 0.0%
A complex idea that is turned into a relatively short film 0.0%
Which of the following is the main font and size used in the U.S. by both print publishers and the Hollywood film industry?
Times New Roman 13 0.0%
Courier New 12 50.0%
Garamond 12 0.0%
Arial 12-14 50.0%
All of the above 0.0%
Which of the following is the recommended length for a screenplay when submitting to production companies?
80-125 pages 100.0%
60-80 pages 0.0%
100-180 pages 0.0%
Any length, as it can always be abridged or expanded 0.0%
Which of the following is usually required when submitting non-fiction to a literary agent or publishing editor?
The entire work without a synopsis 0.0%
An outline, chapter synopsis, and the opening chapters 100.0%
A telephone call followed by the entire work 0.0%
A formal meeting in which you present the entire work 0.0%
Which of the following lists contains the names of people who are commonly regarded as great American playwrights?
Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller 50.0%
William Shakespeare, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlie Parker 0.0%
Arthur Miller, James Copeland, Henry James 0.0%
Oscar Wilde, Tennessee Williams, Flannery O'Connor 50.0%
Which of the following lists contains titles that are regarded as successful examples of sophisticated Hollywood screenplays?
Jaws IV, Plan 9 from Outer Space, Cheers 0.0%
Chinatown, American Beauty, Schindler's List 100.0%
Mike's World, The Bad Barber Shop, Back in 5 Minutes 0.0%
Roseanne, Cheers, Seinfeld, Deep Impact 0.0%
Why is it important to get the facts correct in non-fiction writing?
It is less important than one might think; many non-fiction books are published with factual errors. 0.0%
It is important because the credibility of the author and publisher are reflected in the reliability of factual claims made in the book. 100.0%
It is less important than one might think; the work may contain a mixture of verifiable facts and approximate facts or guesswork by the author. 0.0%
It is important because sales will be higher if there is more fictional content, even in a non-fiction book. 0.0%
You can publish online the non-fiction work of another author as long as that work is out of copyright.