Looking to deepen bonds in your publishing community? Experience Share templates invite members to reflect and share personal stories, building empathy and connection. Use these prompts to spark meaningful conversations and help everyone feel heard.
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Experience Share prompts tap into the power of storytelling, which is central to the publishing world. When members are encouraged to share their own experiences, they feel valued and are more likely to participate actively. This type of content fosters empathy and creates a sense of belonging, as people see themselves reflected in others' journeys.
By inviting personal reflections around shared topics, you encourage authentic engagement. These prompts are broad enough to include diverse voices, while still providing guidance to help members open up. As more members contribute, the community benefits from richer discussions and deeper relationships.
Share a moment when a book changed your perspective. What was the book and how did it affect you?
💡 Example: "I read The Book Thief and it made me rethink how I view history. How about you?"
Tell us about the first time you saw your writing published. How did it feel?
💡 Example: "My first poem in my college journal made me feel proud. What was your first publication story?"
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from editing or publishing others' work?
💡 Example: "I learned to give constructive feedback. What about you?"
Describe a time you overcame writer's block. What helped you push through?
💡 Example: "A daily walk helped me clear my mind. What worked for you?"
Which publishing rejection taught you the most? Share your story.
💡 Example: "A magazine rejection taught me to refine my pitch letters. What did you learn from rejection?"
Have you ever mentored someone in publishing? What was your biggest takeaway?
💡 Example: "Mentoring a new writer taught me patience. Have you mentored anyone?"
What is your favorite publishing memory and why does it stand out?
💡 Example: "My favorite memory is meeting my editor in person. What about you?"
Share a story about a time a book or article brought your community together.
💡 Example: "Our book club read The Hate U Give and had deep conversations. Has this happened for you?"
What publishing tool or resource changed your workflow? How did you discover it?
💡 Example: "Scrivener made writing easier for me. What tools do you use?"
Describe the proudest moment in your publishing journey so far.
💡 Example: "My proudest moment was launching my own magazine."
Was there a story you struggled to tell? How did you finally write it?
💡 Example: "I struggled with a memoir essay but finished after talking with a friend. What about you?"
Who inspired you to pursue publishing? Share their impact.
💡 Example: "My high school teacher inspired me. Who inspired you?"
What publishing myth did you believe at first? How did reality differ?
💡 Example: "I thought editors did all the work. I learned writers are very involved."
Share a favorite quote about writing or publishing and what it means to you.
💡 Example: "I love The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself."
What was the biggest risk you took in publishing? How did it turn out?
💡 Example: "Starting my own press was risky but rewarding."
Tell us about a time you worked with a difficult editor or writer. What did you learn?
💡 Example: "I learned to communicate clearly after a tough edit."
Have you ever faced burnout in publishing? How did you manage it?
💡 Example: "I took a break from submissions. How do you recover from burnout?"
Share a small win from your publishing week.
💡 Example: "I finally finished editing my draft."
What is a publishing trend you are excited or worried about? Why?
💡 Example: "I am excited about audio books growing."
Describe a time you collaborated on a publishing project. What made it memorable?
💡 Example: "Our team launched a new zine together."
What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when starting in publishing?
💡 Example: "I wish I knew networking mattered so much."
Share a time a reader's feedback changed your perspective.
💡 Example: "A reader emailed me about representation and I saw my story differently."
What is your favorite genre to publish or write in? Why does it appeal to you?
💡 Example: "I love fantasy for the worldbuilding."
Describe your first publishing event or conference. What did you take away?
💡 Example: "My first conference taught me about pitching."
Has publishing ever surprised you? Share an unexpected moment.
💡 Example: "I was surprised when an editor reached out to me first."
Share a time when you felt truly connected to another writer, editor, or publisher.
💡 Example: "We bonded over late-night edits on a poetry anthology."
What is the most valuable feedback you ever received? How did you use it?
💡 Example: "My mentor told me to be bolder with my pitches."
Tell us about a publishing mistake you learned from.
💡 Example: "I missed a deadline once and learned to overestimate my time."
What keeps you motivated to write or work in publishing?
💡 Example: "Telling stories that matter keeps me going."
Have you ever published something under a pen name? Why did you choose to do so?
💡 Example: "I used a pen name for my first romance story."
Share an instance when technology changed how you publish or write.
💡 Example: "Cloud editing let me work with writers globally."
What is your go-to method for finding new publishing opportunities?
💡 Example: "I check publishing newsletters every week."
Describe a mentor or peer who made a difference in your publishing path.
💡 Example: "My editor friend helped me land my first book deal."
Share a time when you had to advocate for your own work. How did you do it?
💡 Example: "I pitched directly to an agent at a conference."
What do you wish more people understood about publishing?
💡 Example: "It takes lots of teamwork and patience."
Tell us about a time you balanced publishing and personal life. Any tips?
💡 Example: "I set strict writing hours to keep balance."
What is your favorite publishing or writing ritual?
💡 Example: "Morning coffee and a notebook to start my day."
Share a publishing-related challenge you are currently facing and how you are tackling it.
💡 Example: "I am struggling with submissions but sending out work weekly."
Describe the moment you realized you belong in the publishing world.
💡 Example: "Seeing my byline in print made me feel like I belonged."
What publishing accomplishment are you most grateful for?
💡 Example: "I am grateful for finishing my first book."
Post these templates as regular discussion starters or as part of themed threads. Rotate prompts weekly or monthly to keep content fresh. Encourage moderators to respond and model vulnerability by sharing their own stories first. Remind members that all experiences are welcome and appreciated. Highlight thoughtful responses to inspire more participation.
For all platforms: Use these templates as discussion starters, pinned posts, or in newsletters. Adjust the format to fit your platform's style, such as threaded replies on forums or story stickers on social media. Always remind members of community guidelines before sensitive topics.
Leverage the templates by prompting members to share firsthand experiences managing different editorial workflows, such as transitioning from traditional linear processes to agile, iterative publishing. Ask for specific examples of challenges or successes, and encourage comparisons between methods to foster nuanced discussion and peer learning.
Utilize templates that ask members to recount specific incidents where copyright or permissions caused delays or complications in the publishing process. Frame questions around common scenarios, such as securing image rights or handling plagiarism claims, to generate detailed, practical advice from those who have faced similar hurdles.
Customize the template to focus on experiences with incorporating sensitivity readers or implementing inclusive language guidelines. Ask members to detail how these practices impacted manuscript preparation, author feedback, and final publication, encouraging the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
Choose templates that invite members to share personal stories about integrating AI tools into their publishing workflow. Encourage discussion about specific outcomes, such as improved efficiency, unforeseen challenges, or ethical considerations, to surface nuanced viewpoints relevant to a rapidly evolving publishing landscape.
Select templates that prompt members to reflect on memorable peer review experiences, such as handling conflicting reviewer feedback, managing revisions, or dealing with reviewer bias. These targeted prompts can help demystify the process for newcomers and surface strategies for more productive reviewer-author relationships.
Use Share Your Experience templates to ask members about specific tactics they've tried for book promotion—like virtual launch events, influencer outreach, or leveraging metadata. Encourage sharing outcomes and lessons learned from both successes and failures to provide actionable insights tailored to the publishing industry’s unique marketing challenges.
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