Finding it hard to spark fresh conversations in your self publishing community? Finish the Sentence templates make it easy to engage members, encourage reflection, and keep your group lively. Use these prompts to get everyone thinking, sharing, and connecting around the writing journey.
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Finish the Sentence prompts tap into our natural urge to complete thoughts and express opinions, making participation effortless and inviting. Since there are no right or wrong answers, members of all experience levels feel welcome to join in, whether sharing a quick response or a deeper reflection. This style also encourages creativity, helping members share their authentic voices, personal stories, and unique perspectives on self publishing.
By keeping prompts open-ended, you create space for both lighthearted and thoughtful engagement. These posts work especially well in self publishing communities, where writers appreciate opportunities to stretch their imaginations and discuss their journeys. As responses accumulate, members gain inspiration from each other and strengthen their sense of belonging.
The first thing I do when I start a new book project is
💡 Example: "The first thing I do when I start a new book project is outline the main plot points."
My biggest motivation to self publish is
💡 Example: "My biggest motivation to self publish is owning my creative process."
When I hit writer's block, I usually
💡 Example: "When I hit writer's block, I usually take a walk to clear my head."
The hardest part of self publishing for me has been
💡 Example: "The hardest part of self publishing for me has been learning how to market my book."
I celebrate finishing a manuscript by
💡 Example: "I celebrate finishing a manuscript by treating myself to my favorite dessert."
If I could give one tip to new self publishers, it would be
💡 Example: "If I could give one tip to new self publishers, it would be to join a supportive writing group."
The book cover design process makes me feel
💡 Example: "The book cover design process makes me feel excited and a little nervous."
I chose self publishing because
💡 Example: "I chose self publishing because I wanted full creative control."
A writing tool I can't live without is
💡 Example: "A writing tool I can't live without is Scrivener."
The most unexpected lesson I've learned from self publishing is
💡 Example: "The most unexpected lesson I've learned from self publishing is how supportive the community is."
If my book became a movie, the actor playing my main character would be
💡 Example: "If my book became a movie, the actor playing my main character would be Zendaya."
My favorite place to write is
💡 Example: "My favorite place to write is the corner table at my local coffee shop."
The feedback I value most from readers is
💡 Example: "The feedback I value most from readers is when they say my story made them feel something."
If I could write in any genre for a day, I would choose
💡 Example: "If I could write in any genre for a day, I would choose fantasy."
A self publishing myth I want to bust is
💡 Example: "A self publishing myth I want to bust is that you can't make a living from your books."
The most helpful community resource I've used is
💡 Example: "The most helpful community resource I've used is the KDP help forums."
The best writing advice I ever received was
💡 Example: "The best writing advice I ever received was to write every day, even if it's just a sentence."
When I feel stuck in revisions, I
💡 Example: "When I feel stuck in revisions, I ask a friend to read a chapter and give feedback."
My favorite part of the self publishing journey is
💡 Example: "My favorite part of the self publishing journey is holding my printed book for the first time."
The most surprising thing about marketing my book is
💡 Example: "The most surprising thing about marketing my book is how much readers enjoy behind the scenes content."
A self publishing goal I have for this year is
💡 Example: "A self publishing goal I have for this year is to finish my trilogy."
I feel most inspired to write when
💡 Example: "I feel most inspired to write when I listen to instrumental music."
If I could collaborate with any author, I would choose
💡 Example: "If I could collaborate with any author, I would choose Neil Gaiman."
The first draft of my book usually makes me feel
💡 Example: "The first draft of my book usually makes me feel relieved and hopeful."
The self publishing platform I use most is
💡 Example: "The self publishing platform I use most is Kindle Direct Publishing."
My favorite self published book (besides my own) is
💡 Example: "My favorite self published book (besides my own) is The Martian."
When I need to recharge my creativity, I
💡 Example: "When I need to recharge my creativity, I go for a nature walk."
The best thing about being an indie author is
💡 Example: "The best thing about being an indie author is connecting directly with readers."
If I could travel anywhere for a writing retreat, I would go to
💡 Example: "If I could travel anywhere for a writing retreat, I would go to Scotland."
The most challenging part of formatting my book was
💡 Example: "The most challenging part of formatting my book was getting the page numbers right."
A writing ritual I always follow is
💡 Example: "A writing ritual I always follow is making tea before I start."
If I could sum up my self publishing experience in one word, it would be
💡 Example: "If I could sum up my self publishing experience in one word, it would be empowering."
The writing advice I wish I had ignored is
💡 Example: "The writing advice I wish I had ignored is to never write in first person."
If I could go back and change one thing about my first book, I would
💡 Example: "If I could go back and change one thing about my first book, I would spend more time editing."
A book marketing strategy that worked for me was
💡 Example: "A book marketing strategy that worked for me was building an email list before launch."
When I get a positive review, I
💡 Example: "When I get a positive review, I do a happy dance."
The biggest surprise in my self publishing journey was
💡 Example: "The biggest surprise in my self publishing journey was how much I enjoyed connecting with readers."
If my writing playlist had a theme, it would be
💡 Example: "If my writing playlist had a theme, it would be epic adventure."
A self publishing tool I recommend is
💡 Example: "A self publishing tool I recommend is Canva for cover design."
The genre I never thought I'd write in but now love is
💡 Example: "The genre I never thought I'd write in but now love is romance."
If I could give my past self one piece of publishing advice, it would be
💡 Example: "If I could give my past self one piece of publishing advice, it would be to start building an audience early."
Simply copy and paste a template into your community platform, then encourage members to finish the sentence in the comments. Rotate between fun and serious prompts to keep things fresh. Pin a weekly or monthly Finish the Sentence post to spark regular participation, and consider spotlighting creative answers in your newsletter or group highlights. Encourage all types of responses and jump in with your own to set the tone.
Since these templates work on all platforms, adjust post length for the space available. On forums or Facebook, pin the post for visibility. On Slack or Discord, use a dedicated channel or thread. On Instagram or Twitter, include a clear call to comment. Always moderate for positivity and inclusivity.
To engage self-publishing community members on the topic of querying, use prompts such as 'The biggest lesson I learned from querying agents was...' or 'If I could rewrite my query letter, I would...'. These prompts invite experienced members to share insights while giving newcomers a glimpse into the querying process, fostering meaningful peer-to-peer learning.
To generate platform-specific discussions, use prompts like 'My top Amazon KDP formatting tip is...' or 'Uploading my manuscript to IngramSpark taught me to...'. This encourages members to share platform-specific experiences, common pitfalls, and best practices unique to self-publishing distribution.
Book marketing is a major challenge for indie authors, so prompts like 'The book marketing tactic that surprised me most was...' or 'If I could redo my launch strategy, I would...' invite open discussion about real-world sales experiences, helping members learn actionable strategies and avoid common mistakes.
Consider using prompts such as 'The best advice I received from my cover designer was...' or 'When hiring a freelancer for editing, I wish I had known...'. These help members share their experiences working with freelancers, discuss the importance of professional design, and highlight tips for collaborating on publishing projects.
Absolutely! Try prompts like 'The biggest benefit I found in going wide was...' or 'Enrolling in KDP Select helped me by...'. These templates stimulate nuanced discussions about distribution choices, helping members weigh the trade-offs of platform exclusivity versus broader reach.
Prompts such as 'The most valuable feedback from my beta readers was...' or 'If I could change one thing about my editing process, it would be...' encourage candid sharing about manuscript development. These discussions support authors in improving their editing workflow and leveraging community insights.
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