Engaging Author Interview Questions for Students and Young Writers

Author interviews can be more than just a question-and-answer session—they can be an inspiring, educational, and empowering experience, especially for students and young writers. Whether it’s a classroom assignment, a school magazine feature, or a writing club project, interviewing an author gives students a front-row seat to the mind behind the words. It offers a deeper look into the writing process, the creative journey, and the real-world lessons of persistence and imagination.

But here’s the catch—not all questions spark great conversations. Some can feel routine or flat. That’s why it’s important to ask questions that not only interest the author but also excite the young audience listening, watching, or reading the interview.

In this blog, we’ll dive deep into a curated collection of engaging author interview questions tailored specifically for students and young writers. These questions are designed to unlock storytelling secrets, uncover challenges and triumphs, and even spark ideas in the minds of aspiring wordsmiths.

Let’s explore how young readers and budding authors can make their next interview unforgettable.

Why Author Interviews Matter for Young Writers

Before we get into the questions, let’s understand why author interviews are so valuable—especially for students and beginners.

1. Real-World Learning

Textbooks are great, but learning directly from someone who writes professionally is something else entirely. Interviews provide insight into real careers, creative practices, and the ups and downs of writing life.

2. Inspiration

Hearing how a published author overcame fear, rejection, or writer’s block can inspire young writers to keep going.

3. Practical Advice

From outlining to editing to publishing, authors can share tips and techniques that young writers might not get anywhere else.

4. Connection with Literature

Meeting the mind behind a favorite book can turn reading into a personal experience and deepen a student’s love for literature.

How to Prepare for an Author Interview

If you’re a student or teacher setting up an author interview, here’s how to prepare:

• Research the Author – Know their books, genre, and background. Look at past interviews to avoid repeating questions.
• Create a Comfortable Environment – Whether it’s on Zoom or in a classroom, make the author feel welcome and relaxed.
• Practice Active Listening – The best interviews flow naturally. Be ready to follow up on interesting points.
• Record or Take Notes – With permission, record the session for quotes or transcription later.

Now let’s get to the real meat of the matter—the questions!

Top Categories of Author Interview Questions

To make this super easy, we’ve grouped questions into categories. Whether you want to explore the creative process, writing advice, or fun behind-the-scenes stories, we’ve got you covered.

1. Warm-Up and Ice-Breaker Questions

These questions break the ice and make the author feel relaxed before jumping into deeper topics.

• Can you describe yourself in three words?
• What did you want to be when you were a kid?
• What’s the first book you remember falling in love with?
• What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
• If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

2. Inspiration and Writing Journey

These questions help students understand what inspires the author and how their journey began.

• When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
• Was there a moment when you almost gave up on writing? What made you keep going?
• Who were your biggest influences growing up—authors, teachers, or family?
• What was the first thing you ever wrote? Do you still have it?
• Was your path to publishing smooth, or were there a lot of rejections?

3. Books and Characters

Students love learning about the stories and characters they’ve read. These questions dig deeper into the author’s work.

• Which of your characters is most like you? Why?
• How do you come up with names for your characters?
• Do your stories start with a character, a setting, or a plot idea?
• What’s the hardest scene you’ve ever had to write?
• Is there a character you wish you could hang out with in real life?

4. Writing Process and Daily Habits

Young writers often struggle with structure, routine, and motivation. These questions help demystify the process.

• What does a typical writing day look like for you?
• Do you write every day or only when inspiration strikes?
• Do you outline your stories, or do you figure them out as you go?
• How many drafts do you go through before your book is finished?
• What tools or software do you use to write?

5. Writer’s Block and Motivation

We all get stuck sometimes. These questions help students learn how pros push through creative slumps.

• What do you do when you get writer’s block?
• How do you stay motivated on days when you don’t feel like writing?
• Have you ever written something you didn’t like? What did you do about it?
• What keeps you coming back to the blank page?
• Any tips for young writers who are stuck or discouraged?

6. Publishing and Professional Life

These questions introduce students to the world beyond writing—the business side of being an author.

• What was it like seeing your book in print for the first time?
• How long did it take from writing your first draft to publishing the book?
• Do you have an agent or editor? How did you find them?
• What’s something about publishing that surprised you?
• Do you read reviews of your books? Why or why not?

7. Advice for Young Writers

This is where the gold is—practical, heartfelt wisdom from someone who’s been in their shoes.

• What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
• What’s the one thing every young writer should stop doing?
• If you could go back in time and give your younger writer-self advice, what would you say?
• What’s more important: talent or practice?
• Can anyone become a writer?

8. Creative Thinking and Fun Questions

These are just for fun and can spark imagination in young minds.

• If you could write a story with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
• If your book were turned into a movie, who would play the main characters?
• Would you rather write in space or underwater?
• If you could live in one of your books for a day, which one would it be?
• What’s your “dream” writing location?

9. Reader Interaction

These help students understand how authors connect with fans and readers.

• What’s the best message or fan letter you’ve ever received?
• Do readers ever interpret your stories in ways you didn’t expect?
• Have readers ever inspired a character or a plot twist?
• How do you feel knowing your words have impacted young readers?
• Do you enjoy doing school visits or classroom interviews?

10. Wrap-Up Questions

End the interview on a meaningful note with these closer-style questions.

• What are you working on next?
• Where can we find your books or follow you online?
• Any final words for our young writers and readers?

Tips for Students Conducting the Interview

Even the best questions won’t matter if the interview feels rushed or stiff. Here’s how students can make the most out of the experience:

✅ Be Curious, Not Just Formal

Let the interview feel like a conversation, not a checklist.

✅ Don’t Interrupt

Give the author time to answer. Listen actively and wait before jumping in.

✅ Ask Follow-Up Questions

If the author shares something surprising, ask more about it! That’s often where the best stories come out.

✅ Say Thank You

Always thank the author at the end of the interview. A small gesture goes a long way.

For Teachers: Turning Author Interviews into Classroom Projects

Author interviews don’t have to be one-time events. They can become part of a larger creative project:

• Literary Magazine Feature – Publish the interview in a school zine or digital magazine.
• Creative Writing Response – Ask students to write a short story based on something they learned in the interview.
• Video Production – Record and edit the interview for a school YouTube channel or newsletter.
• Quote Posters – Pull inspiring quotes and decorate the classroom with them.

Final Thoughts: Empowering Young Voices

The most beautiful thing about interviewing an author is that it reminds young writers that every author was once a beginner too. Every bestselling novelist was once a kid with a notebook full of scribbles. Every storyteller started with curiosity, courage, and a blank page.

By asking the right questions, students not only learn about writing—they learn about themselves. They gain the confidence to tell their own stories, explore their own ideas, and one day… maybe be the author being interviewed.

So whether you’re a student, a young writer, or a teacher looking to inspire your class—start with one question. One interview. One conversation. It might just change someone’s life.