100+ Interview Questions for Authors
Have you always wished you had a list of interview questions directed at authors?
It can be challenging to come up with ideas for posts to promote your latest book or help build your writer profile. You can write a blog post on specific topics, or post a cover reveal, or share excerpts from your books. Another way of sharing information about yourself or your book is to answer interview questions.
Sometimes these interview questions are provided to you, for example, if you are being hosted on someone else's site, however, sometimes you are asked to provide an interview response that includes both the questions and the answers. Personally, I like it when I'm provided with questions but by keeping a list of questions on hand, I'm always prepared.
You don't need to wait for someone else to interview you. You can do a blog post on your own website, sharing the answers to things you think your readers would like to know about you. Or you could even ask your readers to provide the questions themselves.
To give you a headstart, here's a list of interview questions to get you going. These are questions either I've asked other authors or questions that have been asked of me. I like to mix it up and choose a general question about writing, a couple about my latest book, something about what's coming in the future, and throw in a few personal ones. Obviously you can tailor the questions to suit and make them specific to your book and its theme. I've also added a couple of fun things you can wrap up your interview with if that suits your personality.
Interview Questions About Writing
- What inspired you to start writing?
- How long have you been writing?
- When did you start writing?
- Have you always wanted to be a writer?
- What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting out?
- How do you handle writerโs block?
- What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
- How do you develop your plot and characters?
- How do you come up with the titles to your books?
- When did you first consider yourself a writer?
- Describe your writing space.
- What time of the day do you usually write?
- Describe a typical writing day.
- What is the most difficult part about writing for you?
- What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
- What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
- Do you hear from your readers much? What do they say?
- How do you do research for your books?
- What are the tools of the trade?
- What does success mean to you? What is the definition of success?
- Is writing your full-time career? Or would you like it to be?
- On a typical day, how much time do you spend writing?
- Are you on social media and can your readers interact with you?
- When youโre writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?
- Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
- How do you deal with emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story?
- How do you handle literary criticism?
- How do you deal with poor reviews? (be cautious with these type of questions)
- How much โworld buildingโ takes place before you start writing?
- Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing the story?
- When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
- What was your favourite part, and your least favourite part, of the publishing journey?
- Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels?
- Describe your perfect book hero or heroine.
Interview Questions About Your Books
- How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
- What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?
- Who is your favourite character?
- Do you have a favourite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.
- Where do you get your inspiration?
- Youโve written xxx genre and xxx genre. Do you have a preference?
- Is it easier to write xxx genre or xxx genre?
- Where can readers purchase your books?
- Where can readers find out more about you and your books?
- Have any of your books been made into audiobooks? If so, what are the challenges in producing an audio book?
- Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?
- Tell us about your first published book? What was the journey like?
Interview Questions About Your Current Book
- Can you share with us something about the book that isnโt in the blurb?
- Are there any secrets from the book (that arenโt in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
- Can you share a snippet that isnโt in the blurb or excerpt?
- Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
- What was the inspiration for the story?
- What is the key theme and/or message in the book?
- What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
- What is the significance of the title?
- Tell us about the process for coming up with the cover.
- What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
- Do you write listening to music? If so, what music inspired or accompanied this current book?
- If you had to describe character xxx in three words, what would those three words be?
- Your story is set in xxx. Why did you choose that as the setting for your book?
- If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it?
- Was the writing process different and what challenges did you face writing xxx genre? (when writing in a new genre)
- Can you give us some insight into what makes xxx character tick?
- What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
- What was the highlight of writing this book?
Interview Questions About Your Future Work
- Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?
- Where do you draw inspiration from?
- How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
- Do you have any new series planned?
- Weโve just started a new year and Iโve seen lots of posts about new yearsโ resolutions. Do you have anything special that youโll be focusing on this year? (obviously for the new year!)
Interview Questions About Other Authors, Books and Reading
- Who is your favourite author and why?
- What are you reading now?
- What book is currently on your bedside table?
- What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
- Who is the author you most admire in your genre?
- Favorite quote (doesnโt matter the source)
- Favorite book/story you have read as an adult
- Favorite book when you were a kid
- What famous author do you wish would be your mentor?
- If you could ask one successful author three questions about their writing, writing process, or books, what would they be?
- Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, are there any youโd recommend?
- What do you like about audiobooks?
- Do you have a library membership?
- How many bookshelves are in your house?
Personal Interview Questions
- What do you like to do when you are not writing?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- What was your dream job when you were younger?
- Whatโs for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?
- Whatโs your favourite food?
- What is the best part of your day?
- Have you ever been on any sports teams? If so, what sport?
- Favourite artist and favourite song?
- Your hero?
- If you could choose three people to invite for a dinner party, who would they be and why?
- If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and what would you cook?
- Share something your readers wouldnโt know about you.
- If you could only have one season, what would it be?
- If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
- If you could cure a disease, what would it be?
- If you could choose celebrity parents, who would you choose?
- If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?
- Whatโs your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
- What did you do for Valentineโs Day? Is Valentineโs something to like to celebrate?
The below sections contains some ideas for injecting a bit of fun into your interview
There are heaps of these types of questions if you search the internet
Would you rather
Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?
Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter?
Would you rather have constant nagging pain or a constant itch?
Would you rather only be able to have sex in a room for full of bugs or no sex at all ever?
Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?
Would you rather live in a haunted mansion or live in a un-haunted cottage?
Either Or
Tea or coffee
Hot or cold
Movie or book
Coke or Pepsi
Toilet paper โ over or under
Morning person or Night owl
Shower or bath
City or country
Social Media or book
Paperback or ebook
Share something fun or interesting
Share a photo โ favourite place, favourite food, favourite animal etc.
Share a recipe
Share a playlist
Share a link to a favourite song
Share a photo of a character inspiration
Stay tuned, as next month I'll cover ideas for blog posts. In the meantime, for some additional reading see So What About Blogging?
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Happy writing,
Nicki xx
