Tired of trying to spark meaningful discussions in your fiction writing community? Sharing expert insights can inspire members, foster learning, and drive deeper engagement. Discover ready-to-use templates that make it easy to bring respected advice and fresh perspectives into your group conversations.
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Expert insights carry authority and credibility, which naturally draw members' attention and respect. When writers see advice or reflections from renowned authors or industry professionals, they are more likely to engage, discuss, and even challenge the ideas presented. This not only fosters discussion but also validates members' desire to learn from the best.
Sharing expert viewpoints also provides a springboard for diverse opinions and personal experiences. Members are encouraged to reflect on their own practices, share what resonates or conflicts with their journey, and build connections through shared learning. This approach transforms passive reading into active participation, strengthening both the community's knowledge base and its sense of camaraderie.
Stephen King says 'The scariest moment is always just before you start.' What do you think?
💡 Example: "Stephen King says 'The scariest moment is always just before you start.' What do you think?"
Margaret Atwood once shared that 'A word after a word after a word is power.' How does this resonate with your writing process?
💡 Example: "Margaret Atwood once shared that 'A word after a word after a word is power.' How does this resonate with your writing process?"
Neil Gaiman advises to finish what you start. Do you struggle with unfinished drafts?
💡 Example: "Neil Gaiman advises to finish what you start. Do you struggle with unfinished drafts?"
J.K. Rowling believes detailed planning helps complex stories. Do you plot or pants?
💡 Example: "J.K. Rowling believes detailed planning helps complex stories. Do you plot or pants?"
George R.R. Martin says 'I try to treat the dead characters as if they still matter.' Do you revisit yours?
💡 Example: "George R.R. Martin says 'I try to treat the dead characters as if they still matter.' Do you revisit yours?"
Octavia Butler encouraged writers to 'Persist.' When did persistence pay off for you?
💡 Example: "Octavia Butler encouraged writers to 'Persist.' When did persistence pay off for you?"
Haruki Murakami says he writes at the same time daily. Do you have a set routine?
💡 Example: "Haruki Murakami says he writes at the same time daily. Do you have a set routine?"
Toni Morrison suggested writing the book you want to read. What book do you wish existed?
💡 Example: "Toni Morrison suggested writing the book you want to read. What book do you wish existed?"
Ray Bradbury said 'You only fail if you stop writing.' How do you keep going?
💡 Example: "Ray Bradbury said 'You only fail if you stop writing.' How do you keep going?"
Ursula K. Le Guin emphasized revision. How many drafts do your stories go through?
💡 Example: "Ursula K. Le Guin emphasized revision. How many drafts do your stories go through?"
Brandon Sanderson often says practice is key to worldbuilding. How do you practice yours?
💡 Example: "Brandon Sanderson often says practice is key to worldbuilding. How do you practice yours?"
Agatha Christie wrote best in silence. Do you prefer quiet or background noise while writing?
💡 Example: "Agatha Christie wrote best in silence. Do you prefer quiet or background noise while writing?"
James Patterson outlines every chapter. Do outlines help your stories flow?
💡 Example: "James Patterson outlines every chapter. Do outlines help your stories flow?"
Isaac Asimov believed in daily writing. How often do you write?
💡 Example: "Isaac Asimov believed in daily writing. How often do you write?"
Ernest Hemingway said to stop when you know what happens next. Have you tried this?
💡 Example: "Ernest Hemingway said to stop when you know what happens next. Have you tried this?"
Zadie Smith recommends turning off the internet while writing. Helpful or impossible for you?
💡 Example: "Zadie Smith recommends turning off the internet while writing. Helpful or impossible for you?"
Kurt Vonnegut advised to start as close to the end as possible. Thoughts?
💡 Example: "Kurt Vonnegut advised to start as close to the end as possible. Thoughts?"
Anne Lamott talks about 'shitty first drafts.' Are first drafts hard for you?
💡 Example: "Anne Lamott talks about 'shitty first drafts.' Are first drafts hard for you?"
Harper Lee wrote one novel at a time. Do you juggle multiple projects?
💡 Example: "Harper Lee wrote one novel at a time. Do you juggle multiple projects?"
Philip Pullman said 'Read like a butterfly, write like a bee.' How do you balance reading and writing?
💡 Example: "Philip Pullman said 'Read like a butterfly, write like a bee.' How do you balance reading and writing?"
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie values authentic characters. How do you make yours feel real?
💡 Example: "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie values authentic characters. How do you make yours feel real?"
Salman Rushdie says 'Write what you fear.' Have you faced your writing fears?
💡 Example: "Salman Rushdie says 'Write what you fear.' Have you faced your writing fears?"
E.L. Doctorow likened writing to driving at night. Do you plan ahead or discover as you go?
💡 Example: "E.L. Doctorow likened writing to driving at night. Do you plan ahead or discover as you go?"
Gillian Flynn says to embrace your dark side. Do you explore dark themes?
💡 Example: "Gillian Flynn says to embrace your dark side. Do you explore dark themes?"
J.R.R. Tolkien built languages for his worlds. How deep does your worldbuilding go?
💡 Example: "J.R.R. Tolkien built languages for his worlds. How deep does your worldbuilding go?"
Alice Munro believes in writing from memory. Do your stories draw on real life?
💡 Example: "Alice Munro believes in writing from memory. Do your stories draw on real life?"
Stephen King says 'Books are uniquely portable magic.' What book inspired you most?
💡 Example: "Stephen King says 'Books are uniquely portable magic.' What book inspired you most?"
Colson Whitehead says to trust your voice. How did you find yours?
💡 Example: "Colson Whitehead says to trust your voice. How did you find yours?"
Kazuo Ishiguro writes slowly and deliberately. Do you write fast or slow?
💡 Example: "Kazuo Ishiguro writes slowly and deliberately. Do you write fast or slow?"
Diana Gabaldon writes scenes out of order. Have you tried this method?
💡 Example: "Diana Gabaldon writes scenes out of order. Have you tried this method?"
Michael Chabon says to write for fun. What brings you joy in writing?
💡 Example: "Michael Chabon says to write for fun. What brings you joy in writing?"
Roxane Gay values vulnerability in fiction. How do you add vulnerability to your characters?
💡 Example: "Roxane Gay values vulnerability in fiction. How do you add vulnerability to your characters?"
Chuck Wendig advises to finish first, then fix. Do you edit as you go or wait?
💡 Example: "Chuck Wendig advises to finish first, then fix. Do you edit as you go or wait?"
Isabel Allende starts writing every January 8th. Do you have a writing anniversary?
💡 Example: "Isabel Allende starts writing every January 8th. Do you have a writing anniversary?"
John Irving writes the last line first. Have you ever written your ending first?
💡 Example: "John Irving writes the last line first. Have you ever written your ending first?"
Anne Rice says to write even when uninspired. How do you push through creative slumps?
💡 Example: "Anne Rice says to write even when uninspired. How do you push through creative slumps?"
Erin Morgenstern suggests writing with all senses. Do you focus on sensory detail?
💡 Example: "Erin Morgenstern suggests writing with all senses. Do you focus on sensory detail?"
Emily St. John Mandel values short writing sessions. What is your ideal writing session length?
💡 Example: "Emily St. John Mandel values short writing sessions. What is your ideal writing session length?"
Colleen Hoover says to write for yourself first. Who is your primary audience?
💡 Example: "Colleen Hoover says to write for yourself first. Who is your primary audience?"
Jasper Fforde says genre should not limit creativity. Have you ever broken genre rules?
💡 Example: "Jasper Fforde says genre should not limit creativity. Have you ever broken genre rules?"
Choose a template relevant to your members' interests, then personalize it by selecting an expert or topic aligned with current discussions. Post the expert insight along with a question or prompt to invite responses. Encourage all responses, whether they agree or challenge the expert's view, and highlight thoughtful contributions to keep momentum going. Rotate between different experts, genres, and themes to maintain variety and keep members invested.
These templates are designed for all platforms. For forums or chat groups, pin expert posts for visibility and follow up with replies. On social media, use relevant hashtags and tag experts if possible. For email or newsletters, include a call to share feedback or stories. Always prompt for engagement regardless of platform.
The templates include prompts specifically designed to draw out expert insights on nuanced fiction writing craft, such as world-building techniques or the use of unreliable narrators. Use the provided question banks to encourage experts to share examples from their own works and dissect their creative process, helping members grasp these advanced storytelling tools.
Leverage the genre-tailored modules within the template—for example, sections dedicated to handling exposition in sci-fi or researching period details for historical fiction. These modules guide experts to address recurring community pain points and share practical strategies for overcoming genre hurdles.
Yes. The templates feature targeted prompts on common fiction writing obstacles, including writer’s block and managing multiple points of view. They suggest specific questions for experts, such as their methods for overcoming creative slumps or techniques for maintaining narrative clarity with multiple protagonists.
The templates contain sections for ethical considerations and nuanced discussions, prompting experts to share best practices for writing diverse characters authentically and approaching sensitive subject matter with care. Use these to ensure conversations remain respectful and informative while addressing these critical fiction writing topics.
The templates provide step-by-step guidelines for hosting live manuscript analysis, including sample request posts and critique frameworks. This helps structure expert feedback sessions on plot arcs, pacing, characterization, and dialogue, making them accessible and actionable for your members.
There are dedicated AMA modules for publishing-related topics, including querying advice, navigating rejection, and the pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing. Use these to steer expert AMAs towards practical industry insights, submission strategies, and real-world examples from the experts’ own journeys.
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