Skip the Brainstorm: Self Publishing Community Question Posts Ready to Go

Struggling to spark deeper conversations in your self publishing community? Our Community Question templates make it easy to prompt honest stories, clever tips, and diverse viewpoints. Get ready to inspire meaningful engagement and connect your members like never before.

Self Publishing 40 Templates

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Why This Works

Community Questions are a proven way to encourage participation and foster a sense of belonging. By inviting members to share their opinions, experiences, or creative ideas, you empower everyone to have a voice, regardless of expertise or background. This inclusive approach transforms passive readers into active contributors.

Thoughtful questions tied to self publishing tap into shared challenges and ambitions, encouraging members to offer unique solutions and lessons learned. The conversational tone lowers barriers to entry, making it easier for even quiet or new members to jump in. Over time, these questions help surface valuable crowd-sourced insights, strengthen relationships, and keep the community vibrant and growing.

40 Ready-to-Use Templates

1

What is the biggest lesson you learned from self publishing your first book?

💡 Example: "What is the biggest lesson you learned from self publishing your first book?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #experience #reflection
2

If you could give one piece of advice to new self published authors, what would it be?

💡 Example: "If you could give one piece of advice to new self published authors, what would it be?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #advice #support
3

Which self publishing platform do you recommend and why?

💡 Example: "Which self publishing platform do you recommend and why?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #tools #recommendation
4

Have you ever regretted a cover design choice? Share your story.

💡 Example: "Have you ever regretted a cover design choice? Share your story."

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #mistake #story
5

How do you motivate yourself to write when you are stuck?

💡 Example: "How do you motivate yourself to write when you are stuck?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #productivity #motivation
6

Have you tried both eBook and print self publishing? Which do you prefer?

💡 Example: "Have you tried both eBook and print self publishing? Which do you prefer?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #format #preference
7

What is one myth about self publishing you wish more people knew the truth about?

💡 Example: "What is one myth about self publishing you wish more people knew the truth about?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #mythbusting #education
8

Share your go-to editing tip for indie authors.

💡 Example: "Share your go-to editing tip for indie authors."

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #editing #tips
9

What has been your most effective marketing strategy so far?

💡 Example: "What has been your most effective marketing strategy so far?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #marketing #strategy
10

Do you outline before writing or dive right in?

💡 Example: "Do you outline before writing or dive right in?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #writing process #habits
11

What was the most unexpected challenge you faced in self publishing?

💡 Example: "What was the most unexpected challenge you faced in self publishing?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #challenges #reflection
12

How do you celebrate finishing a manuscript?

💡 Example: "How do you celebrate finishing a manuscript?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #celebration #motivation
13

For those who write in multiple genres, how do you switch between them?

💡 Example: "For those who write in multiple genres, how do you switch between them?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #genre #process
14

What is one tool or app you cannot live without as a self publisher?

💡 Example: "What is one tool or app you cannot live without as a self publisher?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #tools #recommendation
15

Describe your writing space. Does it inspire you?

💡 Example: "Describe your writing space. Does it inspire you?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #workspace #inspiration
16

What is your favorite part of the self publishing process?

💡 Example: "What is your favorite part of the self publishing process?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #process #favorites
17

Have you ever worked with a freelance editor? How did it go?

💡 Example: "Have you ever worked with a freelance editor? How did it go?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #editing #experience
18

Do you use beta readers? How do you find them?

💡 Example: "Do you use beta readers? How do you find them?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #beta readers #networking
19

What genre do you think is underserved in self publishing right now?

💡 Example: "What genre do you think is underserved in self publishing right now?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #genre #trends
20

If you could collaborate with any author, who would it be and why?

💡 Example: "If you could collaborate with any author, who would it be and why?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #collaboration #aspirations
21

What is your biggest fear when self publishing?

💡 Example: "What is your biggest fear when self publishing?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #vulnerability #challenges
22

Share a self publishing mistake you made that taught you something valuable.

💡 Example: "Share a self publishing mistake you made that taught you something valuable."

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #mistakes #learning
23

How do you budget for publishing expenses?

💡 Example: "How do you budget for publishing expenses?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #budget #planning
24

What is your favorite way to connect with readers?

💡 Example: "What is your favorite way to connect with readers?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #marketing #readers
25

Do you use pen names? What influenced your decision?

💡 Example: "Do you use pen names? What influenced your decision?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #pen names #identity
26

How do you handle negative reviews?

💡 Example: "How do you handle negative reviews?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #reviews #resilience
27

What marketing tactic surprised you the most with its results?

💡 Example: "What marketing tactic surprised you the most with its results?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #marketing #surprise
28

What is your process for choosing a book title?

💡 Example: "What is your process for choosing a book title?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #titles #process
29

What keeps you motivated during long self publishing projects?

💡 Example: "What keeps you motivated during long self publishing projects?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #motivation #long-term
30

Do you set sales goals for your books? How do you track your progress?

💡 Example: "Do you set sales goals for your books? How do you track your progress?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #sales #goals
31

What is the most rewarding reader message you have received?

💡 Example: "What is the most rewarding reader message you have received?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #readers #feedback
32

Which self publishing trend are you most excited about this year?

💡 Example: "Which self publishing trend are you most excited about this year?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #trends #future
33

Do you prefer writing in silence or with background noise?

💡 Example: "Do you prefer writing in silence or with background noise?"

🟢 Low Engagement Barrier 👤 Lurker #writing #habits
34

Share your favorite free resource for self publishers.

💡 Example: "Share your favorite free resource for self publishers."

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Frequent #resources #free
35

How do you approach pricing your books?

💡 Example: "How do you approach pricing your books?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #pricing #strategy
36

What are your top three must-haves for a successful book launch?

💡 Example: "What are your top three must-haves for a successful book launch?"

🔴 High Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #launch #essentials
37

What is one thing you wish you knew before self publishing?

💡 Example: "What is one thing you wish you knew before self publishing?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #advice #reflection
38

Have you ever participated in a writing challenge? What did you learn?

💡 Example: "Have you ever participated in a writing challenge? What did you learn?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Irregular #challenge #learning
39

How do you balance writing with your other commitments?

💡 Example: "How do you balance writing with your other commitments?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Average #balance #productivity
40

If you could change one thing about the self publishing industry, what would it be?

💡 Example: "If you could change one thing about the self publishing industry, what would it be?"

🟡 Medium Engagement Barrier 👤 Top #industry #change

How to Use These Templates

Pick a question template that aligns with recent discussions, trending topics, or member interests. Post it as a standalone thread, or use it to kick off a conversation in a group chat, forum, or social platform. Tag relevant members or add a personal anecdote to spark replies. Rotate question styles weekly to keep engagement fresh and appeal to different member types.

Best Practices

  • Keep questions clear and jargon-free so all members can participate
  • Tie questions to current events, publishing trends, or community themes
  • Respond to early replies to encourage further conversation
  • Rotate question types to include experience, opinion, and hypothetical prompts
  • Acknowledge diverse answers to foster an inclusive environment

All Platforms Tips

On all platforms, use images, polls, or short videos to add context or visual interest to your question posts. Pin popular question threads to maximize visibility and invite latecomers to join. Consider scheduling regular Community Question posts to build anticipation and routine participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I post Community Questions in my self publishing group?

Aim for at least one Community Question per week to keep engagement steady. Adjust frequency based on member activity and feedback.

Can I customize these templates for different platforms?

Yes, all templates are designed for easy adaptation across forums, social media, or group chats. Add images or polls as needed.

How do I encourage more lurkers to participate?

Start with low-pressure, relatable questions and personally reply to new voices. A warm, inclusive tone helps everyone feel welcome.

What if a Community Question receives little response?

Tag members, share your own answer, or reframe the question in a follow-up post. Consistency and variety improve results over time.

Should I tie questions to current publishing news or trends?

Absolutely. Connecting questions to current events or industry changes makes them more relevant and likely to spark conversation.

Can I reuse questions after a few months?

Yes, you can repeat high-performing questions every few months, especially if your community has grown or changed.

How do I measure the success of a Community Question post?

Track replies, likes, and follow-up conversations. Quality of discussion and repeat participation are strong success indicators.

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