The top 3 questions every author should be prepared to answer
Drumroll, please.. here are the top three questions that you’ll be asked again and again about your book, whether with an acquaintance, in passing, or in any interview.
What is your book about?
Why did you write this book?
Who did you write it for?
Why do these questions matter so much?
These questions matter because you should be crystal-clear with yourself and when you communicate with others what the book is about, why: your intention and goal for the book, and who: your target audience.
You’ll be asked these questions everywhere from in passing with friends and acquaintances, to on recorded and live interviews. In interviews, these will likely be some of the first questions you’re asked, where you may feel the most nervous. If you can have your answer ready and already memorized, you can feel confident going into the rest of the interview since you nailed the first thing.
For the first question, “what is your book about,” you should have several versions of the answer ready to whip out,
1 sentence version
30 second version
1 minute version
3-5 minute version
Practice these with a timer, in front of the mirror, and with your friends or family. Make sure you can absolutely NAIL the 1 sentence version and 30 second version.
Now, here are lots of other book, author, and writing-related questions you should be prepared to answer in interviews, speaking engagements, or with your audience and readers!
About the book
What inspired the title?
How did you choose the illustrator?
What’s your favorite chapter?
What was the hardest part to write?
On writing
How long did you take to write your book?
What is your writing process?
What authors or books inspired you?
What are some of your favorite books?
What are you reading right now?
What’s on your to-read list?
What are you working on next?
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