Questions to Ask an Author About Their Book
Thoughtful questions to help you understand an author's work, creative process, and insights while building meaningful connections.
1What inspired you to write this book and where did the idea come from?
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What inspired you to write this book and where did the idea come from?
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Why this works
Understanding their inspiration helps you see what drove them to write and what experiences or ideas influenced their work.
2How did you develop the characters and what influenced their creation?
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How did you develop the characters and what influenced their creation?
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Why this works
Understanding their character development helps you see how they create believable and compelling characters.
3What was your writing process like and how did you approach the work?
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What was your writing process like and how did you approach the work?
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Why this works
Understanding their process helps you see how they work and what methods they use to create their stories.
4What research did you do for this book and how did it influence the story?
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What research did you do for this book and how did it influence the story?
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Why this works
Understanding their research helps you see how they ensure accuracy and authenticity in their work.
5What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
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What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their challenges helps you see what they struggled with and how they overcame obstacles.
6What was the most rewarding part of writing this book?
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What was the most rewarding part of writing this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their rewards helps you see what they value most about their writing and what motivates them.
7How did you handle writer's block and what helped you get unstuck?
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How did you handle writer's block and what helped you get unstuck?
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Why this works
Understanding their approach to writer's block helps you see how they overcome challenges and maintain their writing practice.
8What themes or messages were you trying to convey in this book?
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What themes or messages were you trying to convey in this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their themes helps you see what they want readers to take away from their work.
9How did you approach the editing and revision process?
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How did you approach the editing and revision process?
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Why this works
Understanding their editing approach helps you see how they refine their work and what they value in the revision process.
10What feedback did you receive during the writing process and how did it help?
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What feedback did you receive during the writing process and how did it help?
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Why this works
Understanding their feedback process helps you see how they incorporate input and improve their work.
11How did you choose the title and what does it mean to you?
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How did you choose the title and what does it mean to you?
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Why this works
Understanding their title choice helps you see what they value most about their work and what they want to convey.
12What was your relationship with your editor and how did they help?
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What was your relationship with your editor and how did they help?
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Why this works
Understanding their editor relationship helps you see how they work with others to improve their work.
13How did you approach the publishing process and what was that like?
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How did you approach the publishing process and what was that like?
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Why this works
Understanding their publishing experience helps you see how they navigate the business side of writing.
14What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
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What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their hopes helps you see what they want readers to learn or experience from their work.
15How did you balance writing with other responsibilities?
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How did you balance writing with other responsibilities?
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Why this works
Understanding their balance helps you see how they manage their time and maintain their writing practice.
16What was your approach to creating the setting and atmosphere?
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What was your approach to creating the setting and atmosphere?
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Why this works
Understanding their setting approach helps you see how they create immersive and believable worlds.
17How did you handle the emotional aspects of writing this book?
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How did you handle the emotional aspects of writing this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their emotional approach helps you see how they manage the personal aspects of writing.
18What was your approach to dialogue and how did you make it authentic?
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What was your approach to dialogue and how did you make it authentic?
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Why this works
Understanding their dialogue approach helps you see how they create believable and engaging conversations.
19How did you approach the ending and what were you trying to achieve?
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How did you approach the ending and what were you trying to achieve?
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Why this works
Understanding their ending approach helps you see how they conclude their stories and what they want to leave readers with.
20What advice would you give to someone writing their first book?
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What advice would you give to someone writing their first book?
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Why this works
Understanding their advice helps you see what they value most in writing and what they wish they'd known earlier.
Connecting with Authors
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Having Meaningful Conversations
Show Genuine Interest
Ask questions that demonstrate you're genuinely interested in their work and creative process.
Listen Actively
Pay attention to their answers and ask follow-up questions to deepen your understanding of their work.
Respect Their Process
Be respectful of their creative process and don't try to influence their artistic decisions or direction.