Looking to spark deeper connections in your self publishing community? Experience Share templates invite members to open up about their journeys, making your space more welcoming and supportive. These ready-to-use prompts help turn passive followers into active storytellers.
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Experience sharing taps into our natural desire for connection and empathy. When community members reflect on their personal journeys, they build bonds through vulnerability and shared struggles. This fosters trust and a sense of belonging.
For self publishing communities, sharing real stories can demystify the process, inspire newcomers, and validate experienced authors. Members learn from each other's challenges and triumphs, making your community a valuable hub for both guidance and encouragement.
What was the moment you decided to self publish your work?
💡 Example: "I decided to self publish after years of rejections from traditional publishers."
Share a challenge you faced during your first self publishing attempt.
💡 Example: "My biggest challenge was figuring out formatting for ebooks."
What surprised you most about the self publishing process?
💡 Example: "I was surprised at how much marketing I needed to do myself."
Tell us about a mistake you made and what you learned from it.
💡 Example: "I launched my first book without a professional cover and learned how important first impressions are."
Who or what inspired you to publish your first book?
💡 Example: "My grandmother always encouraged me to share my stories."
Looking back, what advice would you give your past self before self publishing?
💡 Example: "I would tell myself to invest more time into editing before publishing."
Share a time your book received unexpected feedback.
💡 Example: "A reader emailed me about how my story helped them through a tough time."
What was your proudest moment as a self published author?
💡 Example: "Holding my first printed book was an unforgettable moment."
Describe your writing space or routine. How does it help your creativity?
💡 Example: "I write every morning at my kitchen table with a cup of tea."
Have you ever collaborated with another writer? Share your experience.
💡 Example: "I co-wrote a collection of poems with a friend and learned a lot about compromise."
Share your biggest fear before publishing and how you overcame it.
💡 Example: "I was afraid of negative reviews, but positive feedback outweighed my fears."
What self publishing tool or resource changed your process for the better?
💡 Example: "Discovering formatting software made my workflow much smoother."
Was there a turning point when you felt like a 'real' author? Share the story.
💡 Example: "Seeing my book in a local bookstore was that moment for me."
Tell us about a time you received support from another indie author.
💡 Example: "An author I admired gave me tips on self editing that really helped."
Share a behind-the-scenes moment from your publishing journey.
💡 Example: "I almost deleted my entire manuscript by accident."
What keeps you motivated to write and publish despite setbacks?
💡 Example: "Remembering why I started keeps me going through tough times."
Describe your first book launch experience. What went right or wrong?
💡 Example: "I set up a launch event online but underestimated the time it would take."
How did you choose your book cover? Share your process or story.
💡 Example: "I worked with a freelance artist who understood my vision."
Share one thing you wish readers knew about the self publishing journey.
💡 Example: "I wish readers knew how much time goes into editing and revising."
What genre did you start with, and have you ever switched? Why or why not?
💡 Example: "I started with romance but later explored mystery because of reader interest."
Describe a moment when you almost gave up but decided to keep going.
💡 Example: "After months of poor sales, I almost quit but a positive review gave me hope."
What is the most meaningful message you received from a reader?
💡 Example: "A reader told me my story helped them reconnect with their family."
Share a self publishing myth you once believed and how you discovered the truth.
💡 Example: "I thought self publishing was easy money, but learned it takes hard work."
What marketing tactic worked best for your book and why?
💡 Example: "Running a giveaway on social media brought in new readers."
Have you ever dealt with writer's block? How did you overcome it?
💡 Example: "Long walks helped me clear my head and get back to writing."
How do you balance writing with other responsibilities?
💡 Example: "I set aside one hour each evening just for writing."
Share a funny or unexpected moment from your publishing experience.
💡 Example: "My cat walked across my keyboard and added random characters to a chapter."
What do you wish you had known about self publishing before starting?
💡 Example: "I wish I had known how important editing is to the final product."
Describe your process for gathering early feedback on your manuscript.
💡 Example: "I shared drafts with a small group of trusted beta readers."
How has your writing or publishing style changed over time?
💡 Example: "I am more organized now and plan my books in advance."
What is your favorite part of the self publishing process?
💡 Example: "Seeing my final book layout always makes the hard work worth it."
Share a resource or community that made a big difference in your journey.
💡 Example: "Joining an online writers' group gave me constant encouragement."
What is one misconception friends or family had about your publishing path?
💡 Example: "Some thought I would get rich overnight, which is not the reality."
Describe a moment when you connected with a reader in person or online.
💡 Example: "A reader messaged me to say my book helped them through a breakup."
Have you ever received criticism or a bad review? How did you handle it?
💡 Example: "I took the feedback to improve my next book and didn't take it personally."
What keeps you coming back to self publishing instead of traditional routes?
💡 Example: "I love having creative control and direct contact with readers."
Share your process for choosing a book title.
💡 Example: "I brainstormed with friends and chose the title that captured my theme."
What is the most rewarding part of being a self published author?
💡 Example: "Knowing my words are out in the world means everything to me."
Have you ever changed your book after publishing? Why or why not?
💡 Example: "I updated my ebook to fix some typos after a reader pointed them out."
Share a piece of advice you received that changed your approach to self publishing.
💡 Example: "A mentor told me to treat publishing like a business and it made all the difference."
Schedule these templates as regular discussion starters or use them during quiet periods to reignite conversation. Encourage leaders and moderators to participate first to set the tone. Remind members that all experiences, big or small, are welcome. Consider pinning particularly moving stories to inspire others.
On all platforms, use tagging or threaded replies to group stories by theme. Visuals like photos of workspaces or book covers can increase engagement. Use platform features like pinned posts or highlights to showcase standout stories.
Leverage the templates to invite members to share their firsthand experiences with specific formatting tools. For example, post prompts such as, 'What challenges did you face using Vellum for your latest novel?' or 'Share your best Scrivener workflow tips.' This approach encourages detailed, tool-focused conversations unique to self-publishing workflows.
Design templates that directly reference ISBN selection decisions, such as: 'Did you purchase your own ISBN or use a free one from KDP? Share your pros, cons, and any surprises you encountered.' This targets a common self-publishing dilemma and motivates members to discuss practical implications and share resources.
Customize experience prompts to address the specifics of each platform. For example: 'What marketing tactics worked best for your latest KDP launch?' or 'Share your IngramSpark pre-order experience.' These targeted questions help gather platform-specific insights relevant to self-published authors.
Yes, tailor your Share Your Experience prompts to focus on these issues. For example: 'How have you handled a critical early review on your self-published book?' or 'Share what got you through writer’s block while working on your current project.' This fosters empathy and practical problem-solving among community members.
Create templates that encourage storytelling about the hiring process rather than promotional posts. For instance: 'What did you learn from your first time hiring a freelance editor for your manuscript?' or 'Share your best advice for working with a cover designer.' Clearly state in the post guidelines that sharing vendors is okay but direct self-promotion is not allowed.
Absolutely. Use prompts like: 'What factors influenced your decision when pricing your eBook versus your paperback?' or 'Share your results after experimenting with different price points on KDP Select.' These questions tap into nuanced, self-publishing-specific challenges and encourage data-driven sharing.
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