Feeling stuck on what to post to keep your self publishing community inspired and active? Our Quote of the Day templates are designed to motivate your members, spark meaningful reflection, and make it easy for you to engage everyone with minimal effort.
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Quotes have a unique way of cutting through the noise and speaking directly to our motivations, challenges, and aspirations. In self publishing communities, where members often face moments of doubt or creative block, a well-chosen quote can be the spark that rekindles passion or offers much-needed perspective.
By pairing a relevant quote with a brief reflection and a question, you go beyond passive inspiration. You actively invite members to share their thoughts, experiences, and stories. This not only increases participation but also fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose around the journey of self publishing.
Quote: 'Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.' Reflection: Sometimes the hardest part is simply starting. How do you get your writing flowing each day?
💡 Example: "I struggle with starting, too. How do you get your writing flowing each day?"
Quote: 'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.' Reflection: What story are you longing to tell? Share your thoughts.
💡 Example: "I have a memoir waiting. What story are you longing to tell?"
Quote: 'You can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page.' Reflection: How do you overcome perfectionism when drafting?
💡 Example: "Perfectionism holds me back. How do you overcome it when drafting?"
Quote: 'The scariest moment is always just before you start.' Reflection: What helps you push past that first moment of uncertainty?
💡 Example: "I listen to music to calm nerves. What helps you push past uncertainty?"
Quote: 'Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.' Reflection: How do you bring authenticity into your writing?
💡 Example: "I write about real experiences. How do you bring authenticity?"
Quote: 'Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.' Reflection: How do you practice 'show, don't tell' in your work?
💡 Example: "I use sensory details. How do you practice 'show, don't tell'?"
Quote: 'The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.' Reflection: Do you let yourself write messy first drafts? Why or why not?
💡 Example: "I always write messy. Do you let yourself write messy first drafts?"
Quote: 'Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.' Reflection: How do you stay motivated after setbacks?
💡 Example: "I take breaks and return. How do you stay motivated after setbacks?"
Quote: 'Your story matters, even if it only changes one life.' Reflection: Who do you write for?
💡 Example: "I write for my younger self. Who do you write for?"
Quote: 'Books are a uniquely portable magic.' Reflection: What book changed your life?
💡 Example: "The Hobbit inspired me. What book changed your life?"
Quote: 'The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.' Reflection: Do you see your writing as having a bigger impact?
💡 Example: "I hope to inspire change. Do you see your writing as having impact?"
Quote: 'Write what should not be forgotten.' Reflection: What story or lesson do you want to preserve?
💡 Example: "My grandmother's stories. What do you want to preserve?"
Quote: 'Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day.' Reflection: Where do you find inspiration for your writing?
💡 Example: "I get ideas from conversations. Where do you find inspiration?"
Quote: 'The only way to do great work is to love what you do.' Reflection: What do you love most about self publishing?
💡 Example: "I love the creative freedom. What do you love about self publishing?"
Quote: 'Write drunk, edit sober.' Reflection: How do you separate writing and editing in your process?
💡 Example: "I write freely then edit. How do you separate writing and editing?"
Quote: 'A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.' Reflection: What keeps you going when things get tough?
💡 Example: "Community helps me. What keeps you going when things get tough?"
Quote: 'If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.' Reflection: Are you writing the book you wish existed?
💡 Example: "Yes, that's my main motivation. Are you writing the book you wish existed?"
Quote: 'Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working.' Reflection: How do you keep writing even when you don’t feel inspired?
💡 Example: "I write every morning. How do you keep writing when not inspired?"
Quote: 'You fail only if you stop writing.' Reflection: How do you handle rejection or slow progress?
💡 Example: "I take breaks but return. How do you handle rejection?"
Quote: 'To write is human, to edit is divine.' Reflection: What is your editing ritual?
💡 Example: "I print pages to review. What is your editing ritual?"
Quote: 'A word after a word after a word is power.' Reflection: How do you stay consistent in your writing practice?
💡 Example: "Daily writing sprints help. How do you stay consistent?"
Quote: 'You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say.' Reflection: What message drives your current project?
💡 Example: "I want to share hope. What message drives your project?"
Quote: 'The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.' Reflection: Do you outline or dive right in?
💡 Example: "I outline first. Do you outline or dive right in?"
Quote: 'Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.' Reflection: What have you learned from your writing journey so far?
💡 Example: "I've learned patience. What have you learned from your journey?"
Quote: 'The secret of getting ahead is getting started.' Reflection: What small step are you taking today?
💡 Example: "I'm outlining a chapter. What small step are you taking today?"
Quote: 'You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.' Reflection: What new writing goal are you setting for yourself?
💡 Example: "I'm planning a novella. What new goal are you setting?"
Quote: 'To survive, you must tell stories.' Reflection: How has writing helped you get through tough times?
💡 Example: "Writing helped me during loss. How has writing helped you?"
Quote: 'Don’t be a writer. Be writing.' Reflection: How do you keep your focus on the work itself?
💡 Example: "I set a timer daily. How do you keep focused on writing?"
Quote: 'Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, is written large in his works.' Reflection: How do your life experiences shape your stories?
💡 Example: "My culture inspires me. How do your experiences shape stories?"
Quote: 'Write hard and clear about what hurts.' Reflection: Do you write about personal struggles? Why or why not?
💡 Example: "I do, it's cathartic. Do you write about personal struggles?"
Quote: 'There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly, sometimes it’s like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.' Reflection: What is your writing process like on tough days?
💡 Example: "I set small goals. What is your process on tough days?"
Quote: 'The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.' Reflection: What keeps you pushing toward your publishing goals?
💡 Example: "I want to inspire others. What keeps you pushing toward goals?"
Quote: 'Don’t be afraid to write badly. Better a page full of bad writing than a blank page.' Reflection: How do you silence your inner critic?
💡 Example: "I set word count goals. How do you silence your inner critic?"
Quote: 'Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.' Reflection: Do you plan your stories fully or discover them as you go?
💡 Example: "I pants my first draft. Do you plan or discover as you go?"
Quote: 'A room without books is like a body without a soul.' Reflection: What is your favorite writing or reading space?
💡 Example: "I love my cozy nook. What is your favorite writing space?"
Quote: 'Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.' Reflection: What book has influenced your writing style the most?
💡 Example: "On Writing by Stephen King. What book influenced your style?"
Quote: 'Writers live twice.' Reflection: What moment from life have you relived through your writing?
💡 Example: "My childhood summers. What moment have you relived?"
Quote: 'Great books are not written, they are rewritten.' Reflection: How many drafts do you go through before publishing?
💡 Example: "Usually three or four. How many drafts do you go through?"
Quote: 'Writing is its own reward.' Reflection: What do you enjoy most about the act of writing?
💡 Example: "I love discovering new ideas. What do you enjoy most?"
Quote: 'The world is shaped by two things - stories told and the memories they leave behind.' Reflection: What impact do you hope your story will have?
💡 Example: "I hope to inspire hope. What impact do you hope for?"
Quote: 'To learn to read is to light a fire.' Reflection: Who inspired your love of reading or writing?
💡 Example: "My mother inspired me. Who inspired your love of reading?"
Quote: 'Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those, who do not write, compose or paint can manage to escape the madness.' Reflection: Has writing helped your mental health? Share if you feel comfortable.
💡 Example: "Writing journals helps. Has writing helped your mental health?"
Quote: 'There is no friend as loyal as a book.' Reflection: What book do you return to again and again?
💡 Example: "I reread Jane Eyre. What book do you return to?"
Select a template that fits the day's mood or current community challenges. Post the quote at a consistent time to build anticipation. Add your own brief commentary, if desired, to personalize the post. Always include a simple question or call to action to encourage replies. Rotate through different themes and quote sources to keep content fresh and relevant.
For all platforms: Use eye-catching visuals with your quote where possible. Tag members who might relate to the day's theme. Pin or highlight especially resonant posts for ongoing discussion. Monitor comments and respond promptly to keep momentum.
For best results, post a Quote of the Day 2-5 times a week to maintain engagement and routine without overwhelming your feed.
Select quotes that address common writing challenges, motivation, creativity, or the publishing journey. Make sure they reflect your community's values and current needs.
Yes, a short reflection or question personalizes the post, encourages discussion, and shows your investment as a community leader.
Always include a clear, open-ended question or call to action. Respond to comments and highlight member contributions to encourage ongoing conversation.
Yes, these templates are designed to be platform-agnostic. You can adapt them for forums, Facebook, Discord, Slack, or any other community space.
Absolutely. Mixing in original or member-supplied quotes can deepen connection and showcase the unique voices within your community.
Try varying your commentary, asking a different question, or tagging members who might relate. Review which topics resonate most and adjust your selections over time.