Starting conversations in a fiction writing community can be challenging, especially when you want everyone to feel inspired and included. Our ready-to-use Conversation Starter templates are designed to spark meaningful discussions and make it easy for all members to share their stories and ideas. Get your community talking and sharing their love for fiction writing today.
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Conversation Starter posts work because they create low-pressure opportunities for members to participate. By sharing an interesting anecdote or scenario and following with an open-ended question, you invite members to reflect on their own experiences instead of just giving a simple yes or no. This approach taps into the storytelling nature of fiction writers, who love to explore ideas and share their perspectives.
Open-ended prompts encourage deeper engagement and help build connections between members. When people see others sharing personal stories, they feel more comfortable contributing their own. This not only drives participation but also forms a welcoming community culture where everyone’s voice is valued. Consistent use of Conversation Starters can transform passive readers into active contributors and strengthen the sense of belonging within your group.
Have you ever written a story based on a dream? Share what inspired you and how it turned out.
💡 Example: "I once dreamed of a city under the sea and turned it into a novella. Have you ever written a story based on a dream? Share what inspired you and how it turned out."
What is the most surprising feedback you’ve ever received on your writing? Tell us the story.
💡 Example: "An editor once told me my villain was too sympathetic. What is the most surprising feedback you’ve ever received on your writing? Tell us the story."
Think of your favorite fictional character. How has that character influenced your own writing style?
💡 Example: "I love Atticus Finch for his quiet strength. How has your favorite fictional character influenced your own writing style?"
Share a time when you struggled to finish a story. What helped you push through?
💡 Example: "Last year, I almost quit my novel at 30k words. Share a time when you struggled to finish a story. What helped you push through?"
Imagine your main character walks into this group right now. How would they introduce themselves?
💡 Example: "My detective would tip his hat and ask for clues. Imagine your main character walks into this group right now. How would they introduce themselves?"
What piece of writing advice do you wish you had ignored? Why?
💡 Example: "I wish I had ignored 'write what you know.' What piece of writing advice do you wish you had ignored? Why?"
Is there a setting you revisit in your stories? What draws you back to it?
💡 Example: "I often write about small towns. Is there a setting you revisit in your stories? What draws you back to it?"
Share a quirky writing ritual or habit you have. How did it start?
💡 Example: "I must light a candle before drafting. Share a quirky writing ritual or habit you have. How did it start?"
What genre do you find hardest to write, and why do you think that is?
💡 Example: "Horror is tough for me. What genre do you find hardest to write, and why do you think that is?"
When do story ideas usually strike you? Describe a memorable moment.
💡 Example: "I got my best idea while running. When do story ideas usually strike you? Describe a memorable moment."
Have you ever based a character on someone you know? How did it turn out?
💡 Example: "My aunt inspired a character once. Have you ever based a character on someone you know? How did it turn out?"
What’s your favorite way to overcome writer's block? Share your go-to trick.
💡 Example: "I take long walks. What’s your favorite way to overcome writer's block? Share your go-to trick."
Tell us about a book that changed how you approach fiction writing.
💡 Example: "Bird by Bird helped me a lot. Tell us about a book that changed how you approach fiction writing."
What’s the weirdest place you have ever written in? What was the result?
💡 Example: "I once wrote in a treehouse. What’s the weirdest place you have ever written in? What was the result?"
Do you outline your stories or dive right in? Share how your process has evolved.
💡 Example: "I used to wing it, but now I outline. Do you outline your stories or dive right in? Share how your process has evolved."
What’s a writing milestone you’re proud of? How did you celebrate?
💡 Example: "Finishing my first novel felt huge. What’s a writing milestone you’re proud of? How did you celebrate?"
If you could co-write with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?
💡 Example: "I’d pick Octavia Butler for her world-building. If you could co-write with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?"
Share a first line from a story you’re proud of. What inspired it?
💡 Example: "It was the summer the river ran backwards. Share a first line from a story you’re proud of. What inspired it?"
What’s your favorite way to research for a story? Any fun discoveries?
💡 Example: "I love YouTube rabbit holes. What’s your favorite way to research for a story? Any fun discoveries?"
Have you ever written a story in an unusual format or structure? Tell us about it.
💡 Example: "I once wrote a story as a series of emails. Have you ever written a story in an unusual format or structure? Tell us about it."
What matters more to you when writing: character or plot? Explain your choice.
💡 Example: "I focus on character first. What matters more to you when writing: character or plot? Explain your choice."
What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your fiction? How did it make you feel?
💡 Example: "A reader said my story haunted them. What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your fiction? How did it make you feel?"
Describe your editing process. What’s one part you secretly enjoy?
💡 Example: "I love cutting unnecessary scenes. Describe your editing process. What’s one part you secretly enjoy?"
What’s one trope you love to use in your writing, and why does it appeal to you?
💡 Example: "I love the found family trope. What’s one trope you love to use in your writing, and why does it appeal to you?"
Share a story idea you haven’t written yet. What’s holding you back?
💡 Example: "I want to write a time travel romance. Share a story idea you haven’t written yet. What’s holding you back?"
What’s the longest break you’ve taken from writing? What brought you back?
💡 Example: "I stopped for two years after college. What’s the longest break you’ve taken from writing? What brought you back?"
Has reading another writer’s work ever changed your approach to storytelling? How?
💡 Example: "Reading Neil Gaiman opened my mind to magical realism. Has reading another writer’s work ever changed your approach to storytelling? How?"
If your writing had a theme song, what would it be and why?
💡 Example: "Mine would be 'Heroes.' If your writing had a theme song, what would it be and why?"
What’s a writing goal you have for this month? How do you plan to achieve it?
💡 Example: "I want to finish my outline. What’s a writing goal you have for this month? How do you plan to achieve it?"
Describe a character you created who surprised you. What did they do?
💡 Example: "My villain turned out to be the hero. Describe a character you created who surprised you. What did they do?"
What’s your favorite writing prompt you’ve ever used? Share the story it inspired.
💡 Example: "A prompt about lost letters led me to my favorite story. What’s your favorite writing prompt you’ve ever used? Share the story it inspired."
If you could set a story anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
💡 Example: "Tokyo fascinates me. If you could set a story anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?"
What’s one thing you wish readers understood about your stories?
💡 Example: "I wish readers knew how much research I put in. What’s one thing you wish readers understood about your stories?"
Describe the moment you decided to start writing fiction. What sparked it?
💡 Example: "A teacher assigned a fantasy story. Describe the moment you decided to start writing fiction. What sparked it?"
What’s your favorite way to name characters? Do you have any special methods?
💡 Example: "I use baby name sites. What’s your favorite way to name characters? Do you have any special methods?"
Share your favorite writing snack or drink. Does it help your creativity?
💡 Example: "Tea is my go-to. Share your favorite writing snack or drink. Does it help your creativity?"
What’s one lesson you’ve learned from finishing a writing project?
💡 Example: "I learned that editing never ends. What’s one lesson you’ve learned from finishing a writing project?"
If you could give your younger writing self one piece of advice, what would it be?
💡 Example: "I’d tell myself to write more and worry less. If you could give your younger writing self one piece of advice, what would it be?"
What’s the most fun scene you’ve ever written? Describe what made it enjoyable.
💡 Example: "Writing my dragon’s first flight was a blast. What’s the most fun scene you’ve ever written? Describe what made it enjoyable."
Do you ever share your drafts with others? How does feedback shape your work?
💡 Example: "Beta readers help me spot plot holes. Do you ever share your drafts with others? How does feedback shape your work?"
If you could live in any world you’ve created, which would you choose and why?
💡 Example: "My cozy fantasy village would be perfect. If you could live in any world you’ve created, which would you choose and why?"
What’s one writing myth you wish people would stop believing?
💡 Example: "That you must write every day. What’s one writing myth you wish people would stop believing?"
To use these templates, simply copy and paste any prompt into your community platform at the time that suits your audience. You can schedule them as daily or weekly posts, or drop them in when discussions slow down. Personalize the template with your own brief intro or adapt the scenario to fit a trending topic in your group. Encourage responses by replying to initial comments and tagging members who might have interesting insights to share.
These templates are designed for use on all platforms. For forums, use as thread starters. On social media, post as status updates or in stories. In chat-based groups, use them as daily icebreakers. Adjust formatting as needed to match the platform's style and features.
It is a short post that uses an anecdote, fact, or scenario plus an open-ended question to encourage members to share personal experiences or opinions about fiction writing.
Posting 1 to 3 times per week works well for most communities, but adjust frequency based on your group's activity and engagement levels.
Yes, these templates are designed for use on all platforms including forums, social media, and chat groups. Adjust formatting as needed.
Reply to early comments, tag members, and occasionally share your own responses to model engagement and make members feel welcome.
Personalizing templates with your own stories or referencing recent community topics can increase authenticity and boost participation.
Absolutely. The questions are open-ended and accessible, encouraging participation from writers of all backgrounds and skill levels.
Try replying to your own prompt with a personal story to break the ice, or tag a few active members who are likely to participate.