Struggling to keep your writing community engaged and inspired? Sharing expert insights can spark meaningful conversations and motivate writers at any level. Use these ready-made templates to effortlessly deliver expert wisdom and encourage your members to join the discussion.
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Expert insight posts draw on the authority and credibility of established writers, editors, or thought leaders in the field. When you feature recognized voices, community members feel they are gaining access to valuable, curated perspectives that can genuinely improve their craft. This sense of learning from the best not only boosts trust but also increases the perceived value of your community.
Prompting members to reflect on and discuss expert opinions encourages deeper engagement. It creates a safe space for members to ask questions, challenge ideas, or share their own experiences. This two-way dialogue helps build a culture of learning, connection, and mutual respect, making your community the go-to place for writing growth.
Stephen King once said 'The scariest moment is always just before you start.' Can you relate to this?
💡 Example: "Stephen King once said 'The scariest moment is always just before you start.' Can you relate to this?"
Maya Angelou believed 'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.' How do you let your stories out?
💡 Example: "Maya Angelou believed 'There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.' How do you let your stories out?"
Neil Gaiman advises 'Write the story that only you can write.' What unique perspective do you bring to your writing?
💡 Example: "Neil Gaiman advises 'Write the story that only you can write.' What unique perspective do you bring to your writing?"
J.K. Rowling says 'Failure means stripping away of the inessential.' Have you learned from a writing failure?
💡 Example: "J.K. Rowling says 'Failure means stripping away of the inessential.' Have you learned from a writing failure?"
Margaret Atwood notes 'A word after a word after a word is power.' How do you stay consistent with your writing?
💡 Example: "Margaret Atwood notes 'A word after a word after a word is power.' How do you stay consistent with your writing?"
George Orwell emphasized clarity in writing. What techniques do you use to keep your prose clear?
💡 Example: "George Orwell emphasized clarity in writing. What techniques do you use to keep your prose clear?"
Anne Lamott encourages writers to embrace 'shitty first drafts.' Do you allow yourself to write messy first versions?
💡 Example: "Anne Lamott encourages writers to embrace 'shitty first drafts.' Do you allow yourself to write messy first versions?"
Kurt Vonnegut once advised 'Every sentence must do one of two things - reveal character or advance the action.' Thoughts?
💡 Example: "Kurt Vonnegut once advised 'Every sentence must do one of two things - reveal character or advance the action.' Thoughts?"
Octavia Butler said 'You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap.' How did you improve over time?
💡 Example: "Octavia Butler said 'You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap.' How did you improve over time?"
Ernest Hemingway believed in writing and rewriting. How many drafts do you usually go through?
💡 Example: "Ernest Hemingway believed in writing and rewriting. How many drafts do you usually go through?"
Ray Bradbury said 'You only fail if you stop writing.' What keeps you motivated to continue?
💡 Example: "Ray Bradbury said 'You only fail if you stop writing.' What keeps you motivated to continue?"
Toni Morrison wrote 'If there is a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' Agree or disagree?
💡 Example: "Toni Morrison wrote 'If there is a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' Agree or disagree?"
Zadie Smith recommends stepping away from your work. Do you take breaks between drafts?
💡 Example: "Zadie Smith recommends stepping away from your work. Do you take breaks between drafts?"
Brandon Sanderson shares that outlining helps him stay on track. Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?
💡 Example: "Brandon Sanderson shares that outlining helps him stay on track. Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?"
Elizabeth Gilbert believes creativity is a partnership. What inspires your creative process?
💡 Example: "Elizabeth Gilbert believes creativity is a partnership. What inspires your creative process?"
Haruki Murakami compares writing to running a marathon. How do you pace yourself on big projects?
💡 Example: "Haruki Murakami compares writing to running a marathon. How do you pace yourself on big projects?"
David Foster Wallace valued precision in language. Do you agonize over word choice?
💡 Example: "David Foster Wallace valued precision in language. Do you agonize over word choice?"
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie encourages writers to draw from personal experience. How does your background shape your stories?
💡 Example: "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie encourages writers to draw from personal experience. How does your background shape your stories?"
E.B. White focused on simplicity. Do you prefer simple prose or elaborate description?
💡 Example: "E.B. White focused on simplicity. Do you prefer simple prose or elaborate description?"
Harper Lee believed in writing about what disturbs you. What topics drive your passion?
💡 Example: "Harper Lee believed in writing about what disturbs you. What topics drive your passion?"
R.L. Stine said 'The only requirement for being a writer is being a reader.' What are you reading right now?
💡 Example: "R.L. Stine said 'The only requirement for being a writer is being a reader.' What are you reading right now?"
Anne Rice advises to write even if no one will read it. How do you keep going when you feel unseen?
💡 Example: "Anne Rice advises to write even if no one will read it. How do you keep going when you feel unseen?"
James Baldwin wrote to make sense of the world. Do you use writing to process your thoughts?
💡 Example: "James Baldwin wrote to make sense of the world. Do you use writing to process your thoughts?"
Agatha Christie planned her plots in detail. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
💡 Example: "Agatha Christie planned her plots in detail. Are you a plotter or a pantser?"
John Steinbeck wrote letters to himself as motivation. Do you self-motivate or need outside encouragement?
💡 Example: "John Steinbeck wrote letters to himself as motivation. Do you self-motivate or need outside encouragement?"
Robin Hobb says 'Cut what you love if it does not serve the story.' Have you ever had to delete a favorite scene?
💡 Example: "Robin Hobb says 'Cut what you love if it does not serve the story.' Have you ever had to delete a favorite scene?"
Colson Whitehead suggests writing daily. What is your writing routine?
💡 Example: "Colson Whitehead suggests writing daily. What is your writing routine?"
Judy Blume embraces writing for young readers. Who is your ideal audience?
💡 Example: "Judy Blume embraces writing for young readers. Who is your ideal audience?"
Chuck Palahniuk pushes boundaries in his stories. Do you take risks with your writing?
💡 Example: "Chuck Palahniuk pushes boundaries in his stories. Do you take risks with your writing?"
Dani Shapiro says 'Every book begins as a private conversation.' How does your writing start?
💡 Example: "Dani Shapiro says 'Every book begins as a private conversation.' How does your writing start?"
Philip Pullman believes in writing with discipline. How do you hold yourself accountable?
💡 Example: "Philip Pullman believes in writing with discipline. How do you hold yourself accountable?"
Isabel Allende begins new books on January 8 each year. Do you have any writing traditions?
💡 Example: "Isabel Allende begins new books on January 8 each year. Do you have any writing traditions?"
Haruki Murakami listens to music while writing. Do you write in silence or with background noise?
💡 Example: "Haruki Murakami listens to music while writing. Do you write in silence or with background noise?"
Jodi Picoult says 'You can always edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page.' Agree?
💡 Example: "Jodi Picoult says 'You can always edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page.' Agree?"
Joyce Carol Oates writes every day. Is daily writing important to you?
💡 Example: "Joyce Carol Oates writes every day. Is daily writing important to you?"
Salman Rushdie believes the act of writing takes courage. What fears have you overcome as a writer?
💡 Example: "Salman Rushdie believes the act of writing takes courage. What fears have you overcome as a writer?"
Margaret Atwood once said writers are all 'word collectors.' What is your favorite word?
💡 Example: "Margaret Atwood once said writers are all 'word collectors.' What is your favorite word?"
Cormac McCarthy uses minimal punctuation. Do you experiment with punctuation in your style?
💡 Example: "Cormac McCarthy uses minimal punctuation. Do you experiment with punctuation in your style?"
Roxane Gay talks about the power of vulnerability in writing. Do you share personal stories in your work?
💡 Example: "Roxane Gay talks about the power of vulnerability in writing. Do you share personal stories in your work?"
Ernest Hemingway said 'We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.' How do you keep learning?
💡 Example: "Ernest Hemingway said 'We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.' How do you keep learning?"
Patricia Highsmith used real-life observations for inspiration. Where do you find yours?
💡 Example: "Patricia Highsmith used real-life observations for inspiration. Where do you find yours?"
To implement these templates, choose expert insights that align with your community's interests and current topics. Post the quote or summary, clearly crediting the expert, and follow it with an open-ended question or invitation for members to share their views. Rotate between different writing themes, such as creativity, editing, or publishing, to keep the content fresh. Encourage respectful debate and always moderate discussions to maintain a welcoming tone. Use polls, comment prompts, or events to deepen engagement around the expert's advice.
Since these templates are designed for all platforms, adapt the format to fit each space. For forums or Facebook Groups, use longer posts to provide context. On Twitter or Discord, keep insights concise and pair them with lively questions. For newsletters or Slack, highlight the expert's name and invite replies or threads. Always use tagging or hashtags where appropriate to increase visibility.
Many of the templates are designed to be adaptable to specific writing genres. For example, you can tailor the expert questions to invite thoughts on worldbuilding for speculative fiction, narrative voice in memoir, or imagery in poetry. This encourages genre-focused engagement and helps members delve into the craft and challenges unique to their preferred forms of writing.
Several templates prompt experts to discuss their personal experiences with writer’s block, drafting routines, and overcoming creative self-doubt. You can use these question formats to foster open conversations about these hurdles, helping members feel supported and normalizing the ups and downs of the writing process.
The library includes templates expressly designed for professional development topics. These templates guide you to ask targeted questions about query letter best practices, navigating submissions, marketing self-published work, and the realities of agent relationships. This helps members gain practical industry insights from experienced professionals.
Yes, several templates feature question prompts specifically about craft techniques. For example, you can use AMA guides focused on point of view choices, managing story pacing, or crafting realistic dialogue. These promote deep dives into technical mastery, allowing your community to benefit from expert critique and real-world examples.
Templates include icebreaker questions and anonymous submission prompts that lower the barrier to engagement. For instance, you can invite anonymous craft questions or ask experts about their most challenging first drafts. This creates a welcoming environment for all writers, including those new to sharing their work or ideas.
Templates recommend rotating AMA topics and experts to cover a wide spectrum of writing forms. You’ll find question sets geared toward short form storytelling, screenwriting structure, or legal/ethical considerations in fanfiction. This ensures your AMAs remain fresh and relevant to writers with varied interests and backgrounds.
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