SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR A MEDIA APPEARANCE

When you have a media appearance scheduled, in most cases you will not know what questions the host may ask you. You will have an idea where such an interview might go depending on the reason for the interview, such as: a new book or current interest in your book topic.

However, there are some general questions that are typically asked in such interviews. I have listed some of the most common below. I suggest you read through the questions and then think through how you would answer them prior to any such interview.

In some cases you may be asked to prepare a list of questions the host can ask you during the interview. You could draw from the list below to prepare questions that will best highlight the direction you want the interview to go, or that you would be most comfortable answering.

1. How long have you been writing?
   
   
2. What's your educational background?
   
   
3. What prompted you to write this book?
   
   
4. How did you get involved with this topic?
   
   
5. Or, where do you get your ideas for fiction plots?
   
   
6. Who do you see as the audience for your book?
   
   
7. What could readers hope to gain by reading your book?
   
   
8. What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?
   
   
9. What motivates you to write? (Money? Fame? Faith? Power? Fear? Pride?)
   
   
10. What is your average workday like as a writer?
    
    
11. Do you have a family? Does being a writer interfere with that?
    
    
12. Is writing your full-time work, or do you have another job?
    
    
13. How has the industry changed since you became a writer?
    
    
14. Do you travel much?
    
    
15. What kind of books do you like to read yourself?
    
    
16. Do you have an agent?
    
    
17. Do you belong to any writing groups or associations?
    
    
18. What would you tell any of our listeners who would like to write a book?
    
    
19. Do submission deadlines help or hinder your creativity?
    
    
20. What was your preparation for becoming a writer?
    
    
21. What other kinds of things have you written?
    
    
22. Are you working on another writing project?
    
    
23. How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
    
    
24. What is your favorite Bible verse?
    
    
25. How long did it take after you finished writing the book until it was actually published?
    
    
26. Have you had or do you have a writing mentor?
    
    
27. Who are your favorite authors?
    
    
28. What book are you reading right now?
    
    
29. Do you prefer to do your research at the library or online?
    
    
30. Do you attend or teach at writer’s conferences?