30+ Questions to Ask an Author about their Book (With Answers)

The opportunity to engage with an author and discuss their work is a rare and individual experience. Having a front-row seat to the mind behind the magic, uncovering the secrets, challenges, and intentions that breathe life into the written word. This is something unreal for a fan of an author, and questions to ask an author about their book is a chance of a lifetime. 

Every book holds a certain significance – it isn’t just a bunch of words bound together. Ever wondered what sparks that creative fire? Or how they conjure up those unforgettable characters? What motivated them? What hurdles did they face, and how did they overcome them? There are so many questions tapping a reader’s mind. 

For your ease, I have divided these questions into three parts.

• 17 Good Questions to Ask an Author About Their Book
• 13 Fun Questions to Ask An Author about their Book
• 6 Thought-Provoking Questions to Ask an Author about their Book

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Good Questions to Ask an Author About Their Book

Here is a list of questions to ask an author about their book to have a productive and light-hearted conversation. Asking these questions will assist you in getting an expert opinion on how you can write great books.

Question # 1 – What gave you the idea to write this particular book?

This question makes the author reveal how their story came to life, giving us a peek into their own experiences, interests, or things that ignited the spark of creativity. 

Question # 2 – Can you summarize the plot or primary idea of your book in a few sentences?

This question invites the author to give a brief and informative summary of their book, such as events and concepts. Moreover, this will provide readers with a quick overview of the narrative without getting into too much detail. 

Question # 3 – What message or theme do you think your book will convey to readers?

You can get an idea about the author’s associated goals with the book and what outcome he is expecting.

Question # 4 – What method do you use when creating dialogue?

This question asks how the author creates believable and engaging dialogue in their stories. It seeks insights into their approach, style, and techniques when bringing character’s conversations come alive on the page. 

Question # 5 – In what ways did you create your characters? Are they wholly made-up (fictional) or based on actual characters? 

This question can assist you in understanding the author’s innovative methods for developing the story’s characters. 

Question # 6 – What do you find to be the hardest part of writing this book, and how do you manage to overcome it? 

This inquiry may help you identify an author’s possible areas of weakness! This can also tell you where the author will spend the majority of his time during the book-writing process. 

Question # 7 – How long does it take you to write a book?

You can find out how long it takes the author on average, to finish your book so that you can plan the rest of your tasks properly.

Question # 8 – What is the one thing that every author wishes someone had told them before they started? 

This question is a shortcut to wisdom. It taps into the minds of experienced authors, extracting invaluable advice and guidance for aspiring writers. 

Question # 9 – What method do you prefer? Self-publish or the traditional publishing route and why?

Ask this question to understand an author’s preference between self-publishing and the traditional publishing route and the reasons behind that choice. 

Question # 10 – What changes did the editing process make to your work?

This question is about knowing how editing changed the author’s work and made it better (in any way). It seeks to understand how the author’s manuscript improved and enhanced because of the editing process.

Question # 11 – Does writing give you energy or drain you? 

The purpose of this question is to examine the author’s emotional and psychological reaction to writing. Additionally, how the act of writing affects the author personally. For some, writing fills them with energy and excitement, while on other days, it can be mentally taxing. 

Question # 12 – Do you believe someone who doesn’t experience powerful emotions can still be a writer?

Understanding how writing makes an author feel does it really affect an author’s energy or help us see their feelings when they write. You don’t need very strong emotions to be a writer. But what’s more important is being able to write well and having a genuine passion for storytelling. 

Question # 13 – How did you keep the narrative interesting without making it too predictable?

This question might spill some beans. The author makes sure their story is captivating and not too ordinary or predictable. Furthermore, this might be the way to find out the author’s strategies for keeping their reader engaged and excited about the narrative. 

Question # 14 – What are you working on right now?

This will peek into their literary endeavors, such as current writing projects or a new novel they are actively writing or developing at the movement. 

Question # 15 – Which scene in the book did you enjoy writing the most?

In this question, the writer is asked to recall their favorite moment from their book. It enables the writer to share a particularly fulfilling or interesting step in the writing process.

Question – 16 – Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?

The author is a smart teacher, and this question allows them to provide their greatest writing tips for aspiring authors.

Question # 17 – How did you come up with the title for your book?

The idea of this question is to know the author’s thought process and inspiration behind the title of their book. For some people, the title may come from a central theme or a pivotal moment of the story. While for others, it could just be a phrase or concept that encapsulates the essence of the book. So, you will get to know the creative reasoning and decision-making involved in the naming process.

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Fun Questions to Ask An Author about their Book

Here is a list of some fun-filled, light-hearted questions you can ask from the author to have some quality time. I suggest you add a bit of wit to these to make them even more enjoyable.

Question # 1 – If your life was a book, what would its title be? 

The author is asked to visualize their life as a book and to come up with a title that expresses the major theme or plot of the work. It’s a meaningful and creative method to analyze one’s life path and experiences through the lens of literature.  

Question # 2 – When writing, are you more comfortable with silence or music?

Whether they feel most at ease writing in a quiet setting or with music playing in the background. The author’s response can shed light on their creative process and the environment that boosts their productivity and inspiration to write. 

Question # 3 – What is your out-of-the-ordinary writing habit?

You’re wondering if they have any different habits when they write. It’s a way to learn about what makes their writing style unique. For instance, an author says they have an unusual habit of writing their first draft in longhand using a fountain pen. Just because it helps them feel more connected to the words and ideas as they flow onto the page. 

Question # 4 – What is your favorite line or quote from any book you’ve written?

Based on their own experiences and viewpoints, each reader engages with different portions of a book. When you ask an author this question, you’re hoping to find out whether there is a specific line or statement from the book that you found particularly moving. The author’s reaction might help you better comprehend their work and show you which parts of their writing are important to them. 

Question # 5 – Do you have a comfort writing snack or drink?

Every author’s writing corner has something that keeps their creative engine running. Maybe they have a special coffee cup for inspiration or a lucky pen that helps their words flow. It’s a fun way to see what little things make their writing time tick. 

Question # 6 – Which book you’ve written would you like to see turned into a movie and why?

What’s it like for an author to see their book turned into a movie? Do they think ‘this will be great’ or do they say to the audience ‘ oh no’? This question might give an insight into the author’s connection to their work and their vision for a movie adaptation. This can be a reason or motivation they have for that choice. 

Question # 7 – If you could have a superpower, what would it be, and would you use it in your writing process?

Ask the author to choose a superpower they’d like to have for their writing. It’s indeed an imaginative and creative question that lets author dream about exciting ideas for their work. 

Question # 8 – What is your favorite word that you use often and why?

This question will make the author reveal their favorite word – preferably one they use a lot – as well as the reason why it holds a special meaning for them. 

Question # 9 – Do you have any unusual or interesting habits when you write?

So you’re asking if they have a quirky or interesting routine while they write. Then, the author might respond. “I have a habit of writing my first drafts while sitting in a coffee shop, even though I don’t drink coffee. The background noise (at the coffee shop) helps me concentrate.”

Question # 10 – Which fan interaction do you find the most humorous lately?

Asking for a lighthearted story about a fan encounter is a chance for readers to hear about the lighter side of their experiences. 

Question # 11 – What is the most memorable dream you’ve ever had, and has it influenced your writing?

In this way, the audience can learn about how their dreams might connect to their creative work. 

Question # 12 – If you could rewrite the ending of any book (not your own), which one would it be and why?

You will get to know their interest in rewriting the ending of a book that they did not write themselves. They might say, “I’d like to rewrite the ending to this particular book because I loved their characters; I felt the ending left too many questions unanswered. I’d want to give the readers a more satisfying conclusion.” 

Question # 13 – What character or scenario did you originally draft that didn’t make it into the final version?

This question asks the author if they created any characters or story elements but did not include them in the final edition of their work. It offers perception into the author’s creative process, the decisions they made in the editing process, and the development of their narrative.

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Thought-Provoking Questions to Ask an Author about their Book

To have a productive discussion with the author of your choice, it is a great idea to ask thought-provoking questions. It can help you to know the secret ingredients and recipes an author follows for the completion of his stories and books. Here’s a list of suggested thought-provoking questions:

Question # 1 – How do you manage to balance your personal life with your writing career?

This question can uncover their career as a writer as to how they handle it. It all comes down to knowing the tricks and plans they use to balance their writing with everyday responsibilities. The author’s response may help the readers manage their work and life while still enjoying every little thing in life. 

Question # 2 – Do you believe that books have the power to change society? If so, how does this belief influence your writing?

This delves into their perspective on the transformative potential of books. It tries to discover how well the author feels that literature may affect social change and how this view influences their writing. It provides information about the author’s inspirations and the ideas they hope to get over in their writing.

Question # 3 – How do you see your writing evolving in the future?

This question, when presented to an author, asks about their plans for the future of their work. It pushes the writer to think about how they intend to develop and change their approach, themes, or writing style over time. It reveals the author’s creative ambitions and outlook on the evolution of their literary work.

Question # 4 – Are there any particular authors that have had a significant impact on your writing style or philosophy? 

So when you ask an author this question, you might be trying to find out which other writers have influenced or inspired them to shape their writing style and literary philosophy. It invites the author to think about the authors who have had a significant influence on their work, providing insights into their literary journey and the concepts that have led to their distinct writing style.

Question # 5 – Are there any hidden meanings or symbolism in your work that readers might not immediately notice?

When asked of an author, this question probes whether there are any hidden messages, deeper meanings, or symbolic meanings in their writing that readers may not be aware of. It allows the author to reveal hidden details that enrich the reading experience and invite them to contribute ideas about the layers of their work.

Question # 6 – What role does research play in your writing process, especially based on historical events or facts?

When asked of an author, this question focuses on the importance of research in the writing process, particularly when it comes to adding historical events or facts into their work. To improve the authenticity and accuracy of their writing, the author’s reliance on research is examined, offering insights into their dedication to factual and historical accuracy.

Conclusion

To sum it up, engaging in an author interview about their book gives you a great opportunity to find out how they write, what inspires them, and the visionary ideas in their work. When you pose intelligent questions, you can better understand and appreciate both the author and their book.

We hope this piece on ‘What questions to ask an author about their book” can help initiate the most interesting conversations with your favorite author; unforgettable memories often begin with a simple question. So go forth, ask away, and let the magic of literature itself out. 

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