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/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, who is harmed?
   1. No one.
   2. Some characters that don’t matter to the protagonist.
   3. Characters who matter greatly to the protagonist, either because they’re loved ones, mentors, or colleagues OR because it’s a whole city, nation, or universe worth of characters.

4. Who stands in the way of your protagonist confronting and ultimately defeating the villain?
   1. Just the main villain.
   2. The main villain. Plus, other antagonists, who don’t interact with the main villain.
   3. The main villain. Plus, other antagonists who each have their own motives and can work with and against each other and the main villain.

5. Are there any time constraints on the protagonist to confront and neutralize the villain?
   1. Nope. They can take as much as they need.
   2. Yes, but it’s a fuzzy constraint. Sooner would be better.
   3. Yes, there’s a specific time constraint and the clock is ticking!

6. How powerful is your protagonist compared to the main villain?
   1. The protagonist is more powerful. They can easily beat the villain.
   2. The protagonist and villain are equally powerful.
   3. The protagonist is a clear underdog. The villain is much more powerful.

7. How many words are in your manuscript right now?
   1. < 20,000
   2. 20,000- < 60,000
   3. 60,000+

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 needs to 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 Finding the First Victim
• B, you’re Racing the Clock
• C, you’re The Final Showdown