Author Interviews Strategies 10 Steps For Great Conversations

Ever found yourself sitting down with an author and suddenly realized you’re unsure what to ask? We’ve all been there—awkward pauses, generic questions, and conversations going in random directions that don’t really connect with your audience.

But here’s good news: preparing for a great author interview isn’t rocket science. In the next few steps, you’ll pick up some straightforward strategies that make your conversation flow naturally, keep your audience interested, and even help authors feel more comfortable sharing.

Let’s jump right into simple tips for rocking your next author interview!

Step 1: Read the Author’s Work and Background

Before grabbing coffee with your favorite author, invest some time getting familiar with their work—yes, actually read the book.

Knowing the storyline, characters, and writing style helps you ask relevant questions instead of generic ones like “Where do you get your ideas?” (trust me, they’ve heard it a thousand times).

You don’t need to go full detective mode, but check out the author’s website, social media profiles, and recent interviews.

You can even dig up their previous books if they’ve published before—understanding their previous work might spark comparisons or show you how they’ve evolved as a writer.

Doing the research beforehand not only earns you points with the author, but it helps you create thoughtful, engaging interview questions that’ll be super interesting to your audience.

To get started easily, if you’re dealing with authors in niches like fiction, consider checking out resources such as these horror story plot ideas or explore fresh historical fiction ideas to see what might resonate—and maybe even give you a clever conversation starter.

Step 2: Prepare Interview Questions in Advance

Winging it might look cool in movies, but trust me, interviews aren’t the best time to improvise.

You don’t need things scripted word-for-word, but definitely have a solid list of questions ready in advance.

Focus on open-ended questions that’ll get the author talking, like “Can you walk me through your writing process for your latest book?” or “What inspired the main character’s transformation throughout the story?”

Ask unique, specific questions that other interviewers might overlook: dive into why they chose a certain setting, character quirks, plot twists, or themes that stand out to you.

And if the author recently shared big news—like winning an award or a notable book deal—include that, too. It’s fresh, relevant, and provides great content your audience will genuinely care about.

Pro tip: always form some personal, fun questions: “What does your writing desk look like?” or “How do you tackle writer’s block—got a secret ritual?” These little personal touches often give readers a warmer connection with the author.

Step 3: Organize Your Questions into Clear Categories

A messy question list is a quick way to lose track during the conversation. Usually, interviews flow smoother if you organize questions in a few categories.

You could separate categories into background and motivation, writing advice, themes and topics in the book, and personal questions about the writer’s life.

For instance, your first category might kick off with the author’s journey: “How did your experiences shape your storytelling style?”

The second category can be writing insights: “What’s something you learned about yourself while working on this book?”

Save personal questions for the end of the interview, once you’ve built rapport. Questions about a writer’s favorite book, the best advice they’ve ever gotten, or quirky writing habits feel more relaxed after more serious or reflective discussions.

Having these categories helps your interview flow seamlessly–oops, let’s avoid ‘seamlessly’!–I mean, helps everything feel natural, lets you manage time effectively, and ensures no important topics are accidentally skipped.

Step 4: Keep the Interview Conversation Natural and Flexible

Even with your carefully prepared questions, you want your chat with the author to feel natural—like catching up with a friend at a cozy cafe rather than a formal Q&A session.

You don’t need to stick to the script rigidly; instead, think of your questions list like a roadmap rather than a strict itinerary.

If the conversation naturally drifts into an interesting anecdote or reveals exciting insights, just roll with it.

Use the questions list to gently steer the conversation back if it wanders too far off course, but let yourself adapt based on what the author shares.

If the author mentions something intriguing, don’t hesitate to veer off briefly and ask spontaneous follow-up questions.

For instance, if the author casually says they “wrote most of the book on their phone while traveling,” ask for more details or tips about writing books on a phone effectively.

Keeping the vibe casual but professional makes the interview more relatable to your audience and often inspires more genuine responses from the author.

Step 5: Clearly Communicate Your Questions

Your author might be super intelligent, but they probably can’t read minds—make sure your questions are clear and easy to understand.

Avoid long, winding questions that might confuse the author or lose the audience’s attention.

One tip is to ask a direct, simple question first, then provide a quick example or background context if necessary.

For example, instead of asking a complicated multi-layered question, start with “What’s the hardest thing about writing historical fiction?” and once the author answers, you can offer a follow-up like “Your latest book dives deeply into World War II. How did you approach researching this period?”

Keep it conversational, easygoing, and straightforward; otherwise, you risk overwhelming your guest or frustrating your listeners who just want to follow along easily.

Step 6: Listen Closely and Follow Up with Meaningful Questions

While interviewing, pretend you’re genuinely curious—for real, not just nodding along.

Listening carefully and engaging actively makes a huge difference, not only for your audience but also for the author who will feel valued and respected.

If the author briefly mentions an unusual writing habit or unexpected detail, listen carefully and jot it down.

Later you might circle back and say, “Earlier you mentioned that you write best in the middle of the night—do you ever use creative writing prompts to inspire late-night sessions?”

Active listening shows genuine interest and produces deeply personal answers that readers or listeners find memorable.

A well-placed follow-up question often uncovers behind-the-scenes gems or helpful advice your audience will love.

Step 7: Keep Your Audience in Mind When Conducting the Interview

Your main goal for any interview should always be giving something valuable and interesting to your readers or listeners.

Think about what your specific audience wants to know about—do they love insights on the publishing process, writing tips, or personal stories from the author’s life?

Shape your questions around what they actually care about, and you’ll have a better chance of holding their attention.

If your readers are aspiring authors, ask questions about publishing steps, challenges faced in self-publishing, or tips on how to get a book published without having an agent.

This ensures they finish reading or listening feeling like it was worthwhile.

Step 8: For Authors – Research Your Interviewer and Audience Beforehand

Interviews aren’t just for interviewers—authors can benefit enormously from doing a little homework, too.

Spend a few minutes checking out interviews, podcasts, or videos from the person or organization who’s interviewing you.

Understanding who you’re chatting with (and who they’re reaching) helps you focus your answers to best fit their audience.

If you’re speaking to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries, avoid spending five minutes describing sci-fi world-building—stick to what interests your listeners.

This helps make your interview relatable and provides genuine value, turning casual listeners into dedicated fans.

Step 9: For Authors – Speak Genuinely and with Energy about Your Book

You spent months (possibly years!) writing this book, so show your enthusiasm during the interview.

Your readers can sense if you’re genuinely excited, and your passion can genuinely connect with people who are deciding whether to pick up your book.

Share personal stories or challenges you faced while writing—those make your interview memorable and authentic.

Did you come up with an incredible plot twist during a vacation gone wrong or write the ending while stuck in traffic?

Little anecdotes about your writing process—or even fun insights into your characters—can really draw readers into wanting more.

Bringing enthusiasm to your storytelling makes readers eager to experience your work firsthand.

Step 10: For Authors – Give Concise Answers and Stay on Topic

As an author, you know storytelling is everything—but in an interview, long-winded answers can bore listeners or eat up valuable time.

Keep responses clear and concise, sticking closely to the question asked.

If an interviewer asks about your publishing journey, summarize the key points—no need to recap every rejection email or publishing decision you’ve faced.

Avoid rambling tangents; instead, focus clearly on what your listeners would find useful or interesting.

This approach shows you’re considerate of your interviewer’s time and audience interest, making you stand out positively.

If an interviewer wants more details, they’ll ask further questions, giving you the chance to provide deeper insights without monopolizing the conversation.

This kind of clear, direct interaction leaves readers feeling satisfied and eager to explore your writing further.

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