1. How would you describe your protagonist’s goal - the thing that the protagonist tries to achieve throughout the course of the book?.
   1. They don’t have a goal at all.
   2. They have a fuzzy goal. One where it’s hard to know when it’s been achieved.
   3. They have a specific goal. One that makes it easy to know when it’s been achieved.

2. How would you describe your protagonist’s motivation for confronting the villain/going on the magical quest/doing whatever it is they’re up to in your story?
   1. They don’t have anything else to do.
   2. They’ve got reasons, but they could choose not to do so if they wished.
   3. If they don’t do it they’ll face consequences.

3. If your villain gets what they want, how is your protagonist impacted?
   1. The protagonist isn’t affected. The protagonist can still get what they want no matter what happens with the villain.
   2. The protagonist faces minor obstacles to reaching their story goal.
   3. There’s a mutually exclusive relationship between the protagonist’s and villain’s goals. If one succeeds, the other fails.

4. How would you describe the world that your characters live in?
   1. It’s stable.
   2. There are threats on the horizon.
   3. It’s in mortal peril/ on the verge of collapse.

5. How would you describe the relationship between the science fiction elements (i.e. advanced technology, life on another planet, etc.) and the story?
   1. They’re just a cool backdrop. They don’t really impact the story.
   2. They affect some parts of the story, but not others.
   3. The story wouldn’t be possible without the fantasy elements.

6. How thoroughly have you considered the consequences of your science fiction elements?
   1. I’ve worked out how they impact what happens to the protagonist during the events in the story.
   2. I’ve worked out how these elements have shaped the day-to-day life and survival of the main characters.
   3. I’ve worked out how these elements shape the survival, daily life, government, and culture of all the characters in this world.

7. How many words are in your manuscript right now?
   1. < 25,000
   2. < 25,000 - < 80,000
   3. 80,000+

8. How do you feel about the start of your story?
   1. I’m not sure where it starts yet.
   2. I’ve got a general idea about what will happen but the details are murky.
   3. I’ve got it written and I love it!

9. How do you feel about the climax of your story?
   1. I have no idea how to end it.
   2. I know who wins, but not how it happens.
   3. I know who wins, how it happens, and I’ve got it written.

Scoring

Count up how many times you answered a, b, and c to each of the questions above. If you chose mostly….

• A, you’re, Firing the First Shot

• B, you’re Engaging in Hostilities

• C, you’re Fighting the Final Battle