Need a fun way to spark conversations and creative thinking in your self publishing community? Would You Rather questions are the perfect icebreaker, getting members to share opinions and connect. Use these ready-to-go prompts to drive lively, thoughtful discussions without extra effort.
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Would You Rather questions work so well because they invite participation from everyone, regardless of experience level. By presenting two intriguing options, you lower the barrier for engagement and make it easy for members to join in. This interactive format encourages thoughtful reflection, storytelling, and often humor, which helps build rapport and trust in your community.
For self publishing groups, these prompts tap into members' personal journeys, preferences, and dreams as writers and creators. This not only boosts engagement but also provides valuable insight into your audience's motivations and challenges. The playful tone makes the community feel more welcoming and less intimidating, especially for new or quieter members.
Would you rather self publish your first book as an ebook or a paperback?
💡 Example: "Would you rather self publish your first book as an ebook or a paperback? Tell us why!"
Would you rather write in a quiet cabin for a month or in a bustling city cafe?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write in a quiet cabin for a month or in a bustling city cafe? Share your pick!"
Would you rather have a bestseller with mixed reviews or a niche book with devoted fans?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have a bestseller with mixed reviews or a niche book with devoted fans? Explain your choice!"
Would you rather design your own book cover or hire a professional designer?
💡 Example: "Would you rather design your own book cover or hire a professional designer?"
Would you rather write under a pen name or use your real name for all your books?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write under a pen name or use your real name for all your books? Let us know!"
Would you rather handle all your own marketing or partner with a book marketer?
💡 Example: "Would you rather handle all your own marketing or partner with a book marketer?"
Would you rather publish one book a year or several shorter works every few months?
💡 Example: "Would you rather publish one book a year or several shorter works every few months? Why?"
Would you rather write in one genre forever or switch genres with each new book?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write in one genre forever or switch genres with each new book? Share your thoughts!"
Would you rather work with a critique partner or go solo until your draft is done?
💡 Example: "Would you rather work with a critique partner or go solo until your draft is done?"
Would you rather invest in professional editing or advanced marketing tools?
💡 Example: "Would you rather invest in professional editing or advanced marketing tools? Let us know why!"
Would you rather have 100 positive reviews or win a notable indie award?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have 100 positive reviews or win a notable indie award? Explain your pick!"
Would you rather outline your book in detail or go with the flow as you write?
💡 Example: "Would you rather outline your book in detail or go with the flow as you write?"
Would you rather self publish fiction or nonfiction if you had to choose only one?
💡 Example: "Would you rather self publish fiction or nonfiction if you had to choose only one? Tell us why!"
Would you rather hit your sales goal or see your book adapted into a movie?
💡 Example: "Would you rather hit your sales goal or see your book adapted into a movie? Share your dream!"
Would you rather write every day for 30 minutes or binge write on weekends?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write every day for 30 minutes or binge write on weekends? Which works for you?"
Would you rather publish wide on all platforms or stick to one for exclusivity perks?
💡 Example: "Would you rather publish wide on all platforms or stick to one for exclusivity perks? Why?"
Would you rather get your first 1,000 readers from social media or email marketing?
💡 Example: "Would you rather get your first 1,000 readers from social media or email marketing?"
Would you rather write a series or stand-alone books for your next project?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write a series or stand-alone books for your next project? Share your plan!"
Would you rather launch your book with a virtual event or an in-person signing?
💡 Example: "Would you rather launch your book with a virtual event or an in-person signing? Why?"
Would you rather write late at night or early in the morning?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write late at night or early in the morning?"
Would you rather self publish using a print-on-demand service or do a small offset print run?
💡 Example: "Would you rather self publish using a print-on-demand service or do a small offset print run? Tell us why!"
Would you rather have a supportive writing group or a dedicated writing coach?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have a supportive writing group or a dedicated writing coach?"
Would you rather publish under your own imprint or use a self publishing platform's branding?
💡 Example: "Would you rather publish under your own imprint or use a self publishing platform's branding?"
Would you rather focus on ebook sales or aim for audiobook listeners?
💡 Example: "Would you rather focus on ebook sales or aim for audiobook listeners? Which would you choose?"
Would you rather have a book trailer or a professionally narrated sample chapter?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have a book trailer or a professionally narrated sample chapter? Share your pick!"
Would you rather revise your draft yourself or hire a developmental editor?
💡 Example: "Would you rather revise your draft yourself or hire a developmental editor?"
Would you rather publish your book in your home country or go global from day one?
💡 Example: "Would you rather publish your book in your home country or go global from day one? Why?"
Would you rather write with music in the background or in total silence?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write with music in the background or in total silence?"
Would you rather attend a writing retreat or a publishing industry conference?
💡 Example: "Would you rather attend a writing retreat or a publishing industry conference?"
Would you rather have full creative control or access to a team of experts for your book?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have full creative control or access to a team of experts for your book? Explain!"
Would you rather self publish a memoir or a how-to guide?
💡 Example: "Would you rather self publish a memoir or a how-to guide?"
Would you rather have your book featured on a major blog or reviewed by a top influencer?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have your book featured on a major blog or reviewed by a top influencer? Share your dream!"
Would you rather write in a genre you love or a genre that sells better?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write in a genre you love or a genre that sells better? Tell us your view!"
Would you rather receive feedback chapter by chapter or on the full manuscript at once?
💡 Example: "Would you rather receive feedback chapter by chapter or on the full manuscript at once?"
Would you rather have a huge launch or steady sales over time?
💡 Example: "Would you rather have a huge launch or steady sales over time? Explain!"
Would you rather write surrounded by fellow writers or totally alone?
💡 Example: "Would you rather write surrounded by fellow writers or totally alone?"
Would you rather create a book series bible or keep all your notes in your head?
💡 Example: "Would you rather create a book series bible or keep all your notes in your head? Why?"
Would you rather be known for your writing style or your unique story ideas?
💡 Example: "Would you rather be known for your writing style or your unique story ideas? Share your thoughts!"
Would you rather self publish quickly or take your time for a polished release?
💡 Example: "Would you rather self publish quickly or take your time for a polished release? Let us know!"
Would you rather focus on writing or learning new publishing skills this month?
💡 Example: "Would you rather focus on writing or learning new publishing skills this month? Choose your focus!"
Would you rather collaborate on a book or work solo from start to finish?
💡 Example: "Would you rather collaborate on a book or work solo from start to finish?"
Post a Would You Rather question as a standalone post or conversation starter in your group or forum. Encourage members to expand on their choice by sharing their reasoning or personal experiences. Rotate topics regularly to keep discussions fresh and relevant. For extra engagement, follow up with polls or summary threads highlighting popular answers and insights.
These templates work seamlessly across all platforms. On forums and Facebook Groups, post as discussion threads and pin for visibility. On Instagram or Twitter, use them in Stories or as interactive posts and encourage comments. For Discord or Slack, share as regular prompts and nudge members to reply. Adapt the format for polls where allowed to boost participation.
Focus your 'Would You Rather' prompts on real self-publishing decisions, like 'Would you rather invest in professional editing or advanced marketing tools first?' This encourages members to discuss challenges unique to indie authors, such as budget allocation and workflow priorities.
Absolutely! Genre choice is a central self-publishing decision. Creating prompts like 'Would you rather self-publish in a niche genre with less competition or a popular genre with higher competition?' sparks relevant discussion and helps members reflect on their publishing strategy.
Ensure your prompts are inclusive and focus on common crossroads rather than highlighting failures. For example, frame questions as 'Would you rather learn by trial and error or take a comprehensive self-publishing course?' instead of referencing setbacks or mistakes directly.
Yes! Prompts such as 'Would you rather publish exclusively on Amazon KDP or distribute across multiple platforms from the start?' invite members to share insights and debunk myths, creating valuable, industry-specific conversations.
Ask about specific tactics like 'Would you rather run a BookBub ad campaign or organize a virtual book tour?' This helps surface strategies your members are considering and provides practical peer advice tailored to self-published authors.
Design prompts like 'Would you rather reveal your cover months ahead or keep it secret until launch day?' This encourages members to share experiences around key milestones and can inspire new approaches to book launches in the self-publishing community.
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