135 Questions to Ask a Writer

Chatting with writers is like opening a door to a whole new world. There’s so much to learn from them, whether it’s about their inspiration, their struggles, or their achievements.

Asking the right questions can make these exchanges even more enlightening and enjoyable.

I’ve put together a list of questions that will help you get the most out of your conversations with writers. Whether you’re aiming to discover their creative processes or understand their daily routines, these questions are sure to spark some fascinating discussions.

Stick around, and you’ll find out what makes these wordsmiths tick!

Getting to Know the Writer

1. What inspired you to become a writer?
2. Can you tell us about your background?
3. Who are your biggest influences?
4. What was the first book you ever wrote?
5. How do you define success as a writer?
6. What are your favorite genres to read and write?
7. How do you balance writing with other commitments?
8. What’s a typical day like for you?
9. Do you have a writing routine?
10. What do you enjoy most about writing?
11. How do you handle writer’s block?
12. What’s your proudest writing achievement?
13. Do you have any hidden talents?
14. How do you stay motivated to write?
15. What advice would you give your younger self?

The Writing Process

1. How do you start a new book?
2. Do you outline your stories?
3. How do you develop your characters?
4. What inspires your plots?
5. Do you write every day?
6. How many drafts do you usually go through?
7. How do you edit your work?
8. Do you use any writing tools or software?
9. Where do you do most of your writing?
10. How do you handle research?
11. Do you prefer writing by hand or typing?
12. How do you stay disciplined?
13. What’s your favorite part of the writing process?
14. How do you overcome distractions?
15. How do you know when a book is finished?

Challenges and Motivations

1. What has been your biggest challenge as a writer?
2. How do you overcome self-doubt?
3. What keeps you motivated on tough days?
4. How do you deal with criticism?
5. What was your toughest period as a writer?
6. How do you stay positive during rejections?
7. What are the most common challenges you face?
8. How do you handle negative reviews?
9. What keeps you passionate about writing?
10. Have you ever wanted to quit writing?
11. How do you refuel your creativity?
12. How do you manage stress related to writing?
13. What advice do you have for dealing with setbacks?
14. How do you balance writing with personal life?
15. What was a breakthrough moment in your career?

Inspiration and Influences

1. Who are your literary heroes?
2. What books have influenced you the most?
3. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
4. How do your life experiences shape your writing?
5. Do you draw inspiration from other forms of art?
6. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
7. What’s the most unusual source of inspiration you’ve found?
8. How do you stay inspired over the long term?
9. Do you have a favorite book or author?
10. How does travel influence your writing?
11. What music do you listen to while writing?
12. How do current events influence your work?
13. Do you seek inspiration from nature?
14. How important is reading to your writing process?
15. Which non-literary figures inspire you?

Advice for Aspiring Writers

1. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
2. How should new writers handle criticism?
3. What common mistakes should new writers avoid?
4. How can writers find their unique voice?
5. How important is it to read widely?
6. What role does discipline play in writing?
7. How should new writers approach editing?
8. What are the first steps to getting published?
9. How can writers stay motivated?
10. How important is networking for writers?
11. What are your tips for building a writing habit?
12. How can writers improve their craft?
13. What resources would you recommend?
14. How should writers deal with rejection?
15. How do you suggest building an audience?

Publishing Journey

1. How did you get your first book published?
2. What was your experience with literary agents?
3. How did you choose your publishing path?
4. What surprised you most about the publishing process?
5. How did you handle your first rejection?
6. What advice do you have for submitting to publishers?
7. How important is marketing for your books?
8. How do you engage with your readers?
9. What’s your experience with self-publishing?
10. How do you promote your work?
11. What are the biggest challenges in publishing?
12. How do you decide which publisher to work with?
13. What has been your best marketing strategy?
14. How do you handle book launches?
15. How do you measure publishing success?

Book-Specific Questions

1. What inspired the story of your latest book?
2. How did you come up with the title?
3. Who is your favorite character in the book?
4. How did the setting influence the story?
5. What was the hardest scene to write?
6. How did you develop the themes in the book?
7. What do you hope readers take away from your book?
8. How long did it take to write this book?
9. Did you face any specific challenges while writing it?
10. Are any characters based on real people?
11. How do you feel about the book’s reception?
12. What message do you want to convey through the book?
13. How do you choose character names?
14. Are there any hidden details or Easter eggs in your book?
15. What inspired the ending of the book?

Future Projects

1. Can you share anything about your current project?
2. What genres are you interested in exploring next?
3. Do you have plans to write a series?
4. How do you choose your next project?
5. What themes are you excited to explore in the future?
6. Are you collaborating with any other writers?
7. How do you see your writing evolving?
8. What’s your ultimate writing goal?
9. Are you planning to venture into different media, like screenwriting?
10. How do you stay excited about your future projects?
11. Are there any dream projects you wish to work on?
12. How far ahead do you plan your writing projects?
13. What inspires your future ideas?
14. How do you balance multiple projects at once?
15. What can readers look forward to next from you?

Personal Life Balance

1. How do you balance writing with your personal life?
2. What hobbies do you have outside of writing?
3. How does your family support your writing?
4. What do you do to relax and recharge?
5. How do you manage your time effectively?
6. How important is work-life balance to you?
7. What role does exercise play in your daily routine?
8. How do you stay healthy both mentally and physically?
9. How do travel and leisure influence your writing?
10. What do you do when you’re not writing?
11. How do you maintain relationships while writing?
12. How important is it to take breaks from writing?
13. How do you celebrate your successes?
14. What’s a perfect day off for you?
15. How do you keep your passion for writing alive?