Ever feel your self publishing community conversations need a spark of imagination? Hypothetical scenarios are a proven way to inspire creativity and invite playful, thoughtful engagement. Use these ready-to-go templates to get members thinking, sharing, and connecting in new ways.
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Hypothetical scenarios invite members to step outside their day-to-day routines and explore new perspectives, making discussions more lively and engaging. By asking 'what if' questions, you encourage creative thinking and help writers break through mental blocks, which is especially valuable in self publishing communities. These scenarios are open-ended, so everyone from beginners to seasoned authors can contribute, fostering a sense of belonging and shared exploration.
This format also gently lowers barriers for participation. Since there are no right or wrong answers, even lurkers or less frequent posters may feel more comfortable joining in. The playful or speculative nature of hypotheticals can help members relax, connect, and discover shared interests or unexpected ideas, strengthening the overall community bond.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
💡 Example: "If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, who would you choose and why?"
Imagine your latest character suddenly became real. What would you do first?
💡 Example: "Imagine your latest character suddenly became real. What would you do first?"
What if your self-published book hit the bestseller list overnight? How would your life change?
💡 Example: "What if your self-published book hit the bestseller list overnight? How would your life change?"
Suppose you had only 24 hours to finish your manuscript. What would your writing process look like?
💡 Example: "Suppose you had only 24 hours to finish your manuscript. What would your writing process look like?"
If you could magically master any writing genre for your next book, which would it be?
💡 Example: "If you could magically master any writing genre for your next book, which would it be?"
Imagine your book gets turned into a movie. Who would play your main character?
💡 Example: "Imagine your book gets turned into a movie. Who would play your main character?"
What if you had to write a book using only one setting? What would it be and why?
💡 Example: "What if you had to write a book using only one setting? What would it be and why?"
Suppose you could publish under a pen name. What would it be and what genre would you write?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could publish under a pen name. What would it be and what genre would you write?"
If your favorite literary character reviewed your book, what would they say?
💡 Example: "If your favorite literary character reviewed your book, what would they say?"
Imagine you could only promote your book using one social platform. Which would you pick and why?
💡 Example: "Imagine you could only promote your book using one social platform. Which would you pick and why?"
What if you woke up tomorrow and your book had a cult following? How would you interact with fans?
💡 Example: "What if you woke up tomorrow and your book had a cult following? How would you interact with fans?"
Suppose you could give your protagonist any superpower. What would you choose?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could give your protagonist any superpower. What would you choose?"
If you had to write a book set 100 years in the future, what key change would shape your world?
💡 Example: "If you had to write a book set 100 years in the future, what key change would shape your world?"
What if your editor swapped places with your main villain for a day?
💡 Example: "What if your editor swapped places with your main villain for a day?"
Imagine you had unlimited budget for your next book launch. What would you do first?
💡 Example: "Imagine you had unlimited budget for your next book launch. What would you do first?"
Suppose every chapter you wrote had to end with a twist. Could you do it?
💡 Example: "Suppose every chapter you wrote had to end with a twist. Could you do it?"
If a stranger handed you a plot outline and asked you to write the story, would you take the challenge?
💡 Example: "If a stranger handed you a plot outline and asked you to write the story, would you take the challenge?"
Imagine your book got banned in one country. How would you respond?
💡 Example: "Imagine your book got banned in one country. How would you respond?"
What if you could time-travel and publish your book in any historical era? Which would you choose?
💡 Example: "What if you could time-travel and publish your book in any historical era? Which would you choose?"
Suppose you could only use three words to market your book. What would they be?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could only use three words to market your book. What would they be?"
If you had to swap genres with another community member for a project, who would you pick?
💡 Example: "If you had to swap genres with another community member for a project, who would you pick?"
Imagine your book became required reading in schools. What lesson would you hope students learn?
💡 Example: "Imagine your book became required reading in schools. What lesson would you hope students learn?"
What if your writing routine had to change completely for a month? How would you adapt?
💡 Example: "What if your writing routine had to change completely for a month? How would you adapt?"
Suppose your antagonist wrote a tell-all memoir. What secrets would it reveal?
💡 Example: "Suppose your antagonist wrote a tell-all memoir. What secrets would it reveal?"
If your book had to be illustrated by a famous artist, who would you choose?
💡 Example: "If your book had to be illustrated by a famous artist, who would you choose?"
Imagine your favorite writing tool vanished. How would you cope?
💡 Example: "Imagine your favorite writing tool vanished. How would you cope?"
What if your cover designer could read your mind? What would they create?
💡 Example: "What if your cover designer could read your mind? What would they create?"
Suppose you could only write dialogue for a whole book. Could you tell your story?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could only write dialogue for a whole book. Could you tell your story?"
If you had to self-publish in a different language, which would you pick and why?
💡 Example: "If you had to self-publish in a different language, which would you pick and why?"
Imagine your protagonist took over your social media for a week. What would they post?
💡 Example: "Imagine your protagonist took over your social media for a week. What would they post?"
What if your next book could only be 10,000 words? What story would you tell?
💡 Example: "What if your next book could only be 10,000 words? What story would you tell?"
Suppose you were given a surprise grant to write anything. What would your passion project be?
💡 Example: "Suppose you were given a surprise grant to write anything. What would your passion project be?"
If you could swap places with one of your characters for a day, who would it be?
💡 Example: "If you could swap places with one of your characters for a day, who would it be?"
Imagine your book had an alternate ending. What would change?
💡 Example: "Imagine your book had an alternate ending. What would change?"
What if you had to write your next book in a genre you dislike? How would you approach it?
💡 Example: "What if you had to write your next book in a genre you dislike? How would you approach it?"
Suppose you could collaborate with an illustrator of your choice. Who would you pick?
💡 Example: "Suppose you could collaborate with an illustrator of your choice. Who would you pick?"
If your self-publishing journey was a movie, what would its title be?
💡 Example: "If your self-publishing journey was a movie, what would its title be?"
Imagine your book launch party could be held anywhere in the world. Where would you choose?
💡 Example: "Imagine your book launch party could be held anywhere in the world. Where would you choose?"
What if you had to write a book in 30 days with the community? Would you join?
💡 Example: "What if you had to write a book in 30 days with the community? Would you join?"
Suppose your main character had to give you writing advice. What would they say?
💡 Example: "Suppose your main character had to give you writing advice. What would they say?"
If you could have any fictional editor for your book, who would it be?
💡 Example: "If you could have any fictional editor for your book, who would it be?"
To use these templates, simply copy and paste your preferred scenario into your community platform and invite responses. You can share them as regular posts, story prompts, or even conversation starters in live chats or events. Mix serious dilemmas with lighthearted questions to keep things fresh and appeal to different member personalities. Always encourage thoughtful or playful answers, and jump into the discussion yourself to set the tone.
These templates work well across all platforms. For forums or groups, post as discussion threads and pin your favorites. In chat apps, use them as icebreakers. On social media, pair with an eye-catching image or poll to boost visibility. Always invite replies in the comments or via story features.
Pose scenarios where members must decide between accepting a traditional publishing deal with certain royalties and rights, or self-publishing with full control but greater financial risk. Encourage members to weigh pros and cons, share their own experiences, and discuss negotiation strategies or criteria for making such decisions.
Create scenarios where an author has a limited marketing budget and must choose between allocating funds to Amazon ads or investing in email list growth. This will encourage members to debate the long-term benefits and immediate returns of different marketing tactics, sharing real data and experiences from the self publishing world.
Design scenarios where an author must set prices for both ebook and print formats, considering factors like royalty structures, market expectations, and production costs. Invite the community to discuss how they approach pricing, adjust for genre or competition, and handle reader feedback on value.
Share scenarios where an author receives a harsh review on a major platform like Goodreads or Amazon. Ask the community how they would respond—ignore, engage professionally, or make changes to their book. This can open up insights into author resilience and review management best practices.
Yes! Present scenarios such as having a limited budget and needing to choose between a professional editor or a group of trusted beta readers. Encourage members to discuss the benefits, potential pitfalls, and real costs associated with each option, sharing personal experiences from their own publishing journeys.
Use posts that ask members to imagine releasing a new book and deciding between enrolling in KDP Select for exclusive Amazon benefits or going wide with multiple retailers. Invite discussion on the trade-offs regarding royalties, visibility, and long-term growth, which are highly relevant to self-published authors.
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