Questions to Ask Authors About Their Book
Engaging questions to ask authors about their books to learn about their writing process, inspiration, and the stories behind their work.
1What inspired you to write this book?
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What inspired you to write this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their inspiration helps you learn about the creative process and what motivated them to share this story.
2How long did it take you to write this book?
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How long did it take you to write this book?
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Why this works
Learning about their timeline helps you understand the dedication and effort required to complete a book project.
3What was your writing process like for this book?
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What was your writing process like for this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their process helps you learn about different approaches to writing and what works for different authors.
4What 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
Learning about their challenges helps you understand the difficulties authors face and how they overcome them.
5What 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 learn about what makes writing fulfilling and what authors value most.
6How did you develop your characters and their personalities?
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How did you develop your characters and their personalities?
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Why this works
Learning about character development helps you understand how authors create believable and compelling characters.
7What research did you do for this book?
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What research did you do for this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their research helps you learn about the preparation and knowledge required for different types of books.
8What message or theme did you want to convey through this book?
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What message or theme did you want to convey through this book?
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Why this works
Learning about their themes helps you understand the deeper meaning and purpose behind their work.
9How did you choose the title for this book?
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How did you choose the title for this book?
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Why this works
Understanding their title choice helps you learn about the importance of titles and how they reflect the book's content.
10What feedback did you receive during the writing process?
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What feedback did you receive during the writing process?
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Why this works
Learning about their feedback helps you understand how authors incorporate input and improve their work.
11What was your editing process like?
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What was your editing process like?
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Why this works
Understanding their editing helps you learn about the revision process and how authors refine their work.
12What 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
Learning about their hopes helps you understand their goals for readers and what they want to achieve.
13How did you handle writer's block or creative challenges?
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How did you handle writer's block or creative challenges?
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Why this works
Understanding their challenges helps you learn about common writing difficulties and how authors overcome them.
14What was your favorite scene or chapter to write?
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What was your favorite scene or chapter to write?
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Why this works
Learning about their favorites helps you understand what authors enjoy most about their writing process.
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 learn about the time management and prioritization required for writing.
16What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
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What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
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Why this works
Learning about their advice helps you understand what authors think is most important for new writers to know.
17What was your publishing journey like?
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What was your publishing journey like?
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Why this works
Understanding their publishing helps you learn about the different paths to getting a book published.
18What was the most surprising thing about writing this book?
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What was the most surprising thing about writing this book?
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Why this works
Learning about their surprises helps you understand what authors discover during the writing process.
19How did you know when the book was finished?
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How did you know when the book was finished?
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Why this works
Understanding their completion helps you learn about how authors determine when their work is ready.
20What are you working on next?
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What are you working on next?
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Why this works
Learning about their next projects helps you understand their creative journey and what inspires them to continue writing.
Engaging with Authors
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Effective Author Conversations
Show Genuine Interest
Demonstrate authentic curiosity about their work and writing process rather than just asking surface-level questions.
Ask Follow-up Questions
When they share something interesting, ask follow-up questions to show engagement and learn more about their perspective.
Respect Their Time
Be mindful of their schedule and ask if it's a good time to talk before diving into detailed questions.