Having trouble sparking fresh conversations in your publishing community? Finish the Sentence prompts offer a simple, effective way to inspire engagement and creativity. Use these templates to get members thinking, sharing, and connecting with each other.
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Finish the Sentence prompts tap into members' natural desire to express themselves, making it easy for everyone to jump in. The incomplete sentence structure lowers the barrier to participation since members do not have to come up with a whole idea from scratch. Instead, they can focus on adding their unique perspective or experience.
For publishing communities, these prompts can unlock both playful and thoughtful responses, drawing on members' love of words, stories, and creative expression. By leaving the sentence open-ended, you encourage a wide variety of answers, which keeps conversations lively and inclusive. This method also fosters a sense of ownership and belonging, as members see their voices valued and highlighted.
The first book I ever fell in love with was...
💡 Example: "The first book I ever fell in love with was The Secret Garden."
My favorite place to read is...
💡 Example: "My favorite place to read is curled up in a coffee shop window."
When I finish a great book, I always...
💡 Example: "When I finish a great book, I always recommend it to my friends."
If I could have dinner with any author, it would be...
💡 Example: "If I could have dinner with any author, it would be Agatha Christie."
The publishing tool I cannot live without is...
💡 Example: "The publishing tool I cannot live without is Grammarly."
The last book that surprised me was...
💡 Example: "The last book that surprised me was The Silent Patient."
I get my best writing ideas when I am...
💡 Example: "I get my best writing ideas when I am out for a walk."
If I could change one thing about publishing, it would be...
💡 Example: "If I could change one thing about publishing, it would be more diverse voices."
The book that made me want to write was...
💡 Example: "The book that made me want to write was The Hobbit."
A genre I wish I read more of is...
💡 Example: "A genre I wish I read more of is historical fiction."
My go-to source for publishing news is...
💡 Example: "My go-to source for publishing news is Publishers Weekly."
The most underrated book I have read is...
💡 Example: "The most underrated book I have read is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman."
The best writing advice I ever received was...
💡 Example: "The best writing advice I ever received was write every day."
My favorite literary character is...
💡 Example: "My favorite literary character is Elizabeth Bennet."
If I could publish any book idea, it would be about...
💡 Example: "If I could publish any book idea, it would be about time-traveling librarians."
The book I recommend most often is...
💡 Example: "The book I recommend most often is The Alchemist."
The best cover design I have seen is...
💡 Example: "The best cover design I have seen is The Night Circus."
My favorite way to discover new books is...
💡 Example: "My favorite way to discover new books is browsing indie bookstores."
One publishing myth I would love to bust is...
💡 Example: "One publishing myth I would love to bust is that self-publishing is easy."
My editing routine always includes...
💡 Example: "My editing routine always includes reading aloud."
The most challenging part of publishing is...
💡 Example: "The most challenging part of publishing is finding the right audience."
A book I wish I could read again for the first time is...
💡 Example: "A book I wish I could read again for the first time is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
When I need writing inspiration, I...
💡 Example: "When I need writing inspiration, I read poetry."
The book world would be better if...
💡 Example: "The book world would be better if every voice was heard."
The last time I stayed up all night reading was because...
💡 Example: "The last time I stayed up all night reading was because I could not put down The Martian."
If I could live in any book world, I would choose...
💡 Example: "If I could live in any book world, I would choose Narnia."
My biggest writing challenge is...
💡 Example: "My biggest writing challenge is finishing what I start."
The author who changed my perspective was...
💡 Example: "The author who changed my perspective was Toni Morrison."
If I had unlimited time, I would write about...
💡 Example: "If I had unlimited time, I would write about the lives of forgotten inventors."
The most recent publishing trend I am excited about is...
💡 Example: "The most recent publishing trend I am excited about is audio-first storytelling."
A book I wish had a sequel is...
💡 Example: "A book I wish had a sequel is To Kill a Mockingbird."
The best event I attended in publishing was...
💡 Example: "The best event I attended in publishing was BookExpo America."
If I could co-author a book, I would choose...
💡 Example: "If I could co-author a book, I would choose Neil Gaiman."
My favorite book to gift is...
💡 Example: "My favorite book to gift is The Book Thief."
The most creative book marketing idea I have seen is...
💡 Example: "The most creative book marketing idea I have seen is book-themed subscription boxes."
A publishing challenge I overcame was...
💡 Example: "A publishing challenge I overcame was finding my first editor."
If I could ask a famous editor one question, it would be...
💡 Example: "If I could ask a famous editor one question, it would be how do you spot a bestseller."
The publishing process step I enjoy most is...
💡 Example: "The publishing process step I enjoy most is working on cover art."
My favorite literary magazine is...
💡 Example: "My favorite literary magazine is The Paris Review."
The book that changed how I see publishing is...
💡 Example: "The book that changed how I see publishing is On Writing by Stephen King."
If I could start a new literary trend, it would be...
💡 Example: "If I could start a new literary trend, it would be collaborative novels."
To use these templates, simply copy and paste a prompt into your community platform, adjusting details to fit your audience or current topics. Encourage responses by tagging a few active members or sharing your own example. Rotate between light and deeper topics to appeal to a range of personalities and engagement levels. Use responses as a springboard for follow-up questions or discussions to build momentum.
These templates work on all platforms. For forums, start a new thread for each prompt and pin it for visibility. On social platforms, use eye-catching images or emojis to draw attention. In chat-based communities, post at varied times for maximum reach. Always follow up with replies to keep the conversation going.
To engage both authors and editors, incorporate prompts that reflect their unique roles. For authors, use sentences like 'The plot twist I wish I'd written is…' or 'My biggest challenge with character arcs is…'. For editors, try 'The most common manuscript issue I see is…' or 'When I suggest a developmental edit, I usually…'. Alternating prompts between writing craft and editorial perspectives fosters cross-role dialogue and deeper community engagement.
Focus on the real experiences of querying. Example prompts include: 'The most surprising feedback I’ve received from an agent was…', 'My go-to resource for submission guidelines is…', or 'The biggest myth about the slush pile is…'. These generate specific, actionable discussions relevant to the publishing pipeline and help demystify the submissions process.
Use prompts that highlight both paths, such as 'The biggest benefit of my publishing route is…' or 'One misconception about indie/traditional publishing is…'. This encourages sharing of diverse experiences and helps members appreciate different publishing journeys, bridging gaps between subgroups within your community.
Set clear community guidelines and preface sensitive prompts with a note encouraging respectful, non-legal advice sharing. For example: 'The hardest rejection I experienced taught me…' or 'The clause I always double-check in contracts is…'. Monitor threads for confidentiality breaches and intervene if conversations become too personal or contentious.
Absolutely! Create genre-specific prompts like 'In Sci-Fi, my favorite world-building technique is…' or 'The romance trope I never get tired of is…'. This not only celebrates genre diversity but also allows members to connect over niche interests, boosting engagement from all corners of your publishing community.
Align prompts with the typical milestones in publishing. For drafting: 'The writing habit that keeps me on track is…'. For revising: 'My go-to strategy for tackling edits is…'. For launching: 'The most effective promo I’ve tried is…'. This approach ensures relevance no matter where members are in their publishing journey, providing tailored opportunities for participation and support.
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