70 Conversation Starters to Boost Social Media Engagement
Your engagement is dead.
You post on Instagram. A few likes, maybe. You post on TikTok. Crickets. Your follower count sits there, stagnant, while you watch other authors seem to effortlessly grow their audience.
You're doing everything you're supposed to do: you posting regularly, using hashtags, creating content, but nothing sticks. Your reach is terrible. Your posts disappear into the void. You're spending time on social media and seeing zero return.
Here's what's actually happening: Both Instagram and TikTok prioritize content that generates immediate engagement. If your posts don't get quick interactions, the algorithms decide your content isn't worth showing to anyone. Low engagement creates a vicious cycle - fewer people see your content, which means even less engagement, which means even worse visibility.
You need to break the cycle. And the fastest way to do that is something most authors completely ignore: Stories.
Stories on both Instagram and TikTok are engagement goldmines. They give your audience easy, low-effort ways to interact with you and those interactions signal to the algorithms that people care about your content. More Story engagement means better visibility for everything you post.
The problem? You don't know what to post in Stories. You don't know what to ask. You're stuck staring at a blank screen, unsure how to get the conversation started.
This post gives you 70 questions specifically designed to boost engagement through Stories on both platforms. These aren't random conversation starters. They're strategic questions that work for both fiction and non-fiction authors, use interactive features that feed the algorithm, and actually get responses.
Why Stories are your fastest path to engagement
Before we dive into what to ask, let's talk about why Stories matter so much for your overall social media performance.
Story engagement directly impacts your feed visibility. When people interact with your Stories (tapping polls, answering questions, reacting, commenting) Instagram and TikTok interpret that as active engagement. The algorithms then show your regular posts to more people.
Most authors treat Stories as throwaway content or ignore them completely. That's a massive mistake. Stories are your lowest-effort, highest-impact tool for training the algorithm that your audience actually cares about what you post.
Here's how it works on each platform:
Instagram Stories: When people tap poll stickers, answer questions, react with emojis, or send you DMs from your Stories, Instagram registers active engagement. This boosts your visibility across your entire account - your feed posts show up in more people's feeds and your future Stories get pushed to the front of the Story bar.
TikTok Stories: Similar mechanics. When people comment on your Stories, use reaction stickers, or engage with polls and questions, TikTok sees that your content is worth showing to more people. This doesn't just help your Stories, it improves your regular TikTok video performance too.
The strategy is straightforward: Post Stories consistently with interactive elements, and both platforms will reward you with better overall engagement and reach.
Now let's get into exactly what to post.
Understanding interactive Story features (Instagram & TikTok)
Both platforms offer similar interactive tools, though the specific features vary slightly. Here's what actually drives engagement:
Poll stickers (Instagram & TikTok): One-tap answers. The easiest engagement you'll get. Use these 2-3 times per week.
Question stickers (Instagram & TikTok): Require typing, so less common but higher-quality responses. Use 1-2 times per week.
Quiz stickers (Instagram): Multiple choice questions. Great for teaching and positioning yourself as an expert. Use once a week.
Emoji sliders (Instagram): Let people rate something on a scale. Visually engaging. Use sparingly, once a week max.
Add Yours stickers (Instagram & TikTok): Community building tool where people add their own Stories to a thread. Use every week or two.
Comments (TikTok Stories): Unlike Instagram, TikTok Stories allow direct comments. Encourage them explicitly. Respond to every single one.
The key is mixing these features throughout your week so your Stories stay fresh and you're consistently giving your audience different ways to engage.
Poll questions: Your easiest engagement wins
Polls require one tap. No thinking, no typing, just a quick choice. This makes them your most reliable engagement tool on both platforms.
Post polls 2-3 times per week. Keep them light, not heavy. Always acknowledge the results in your next Story.
For fiction authors:
Writing life:
Writing day or editing day?
Plotter or pantser?
Coffee-fueled writing or writing first, coffee after?
Morning pages or evening writing?
Music while writing or total silence?
Writing in pajamas or getting dressed first?
Handwritten notes or digital notes?
Kill your darlings or keep every word?
Reader preferences:
Read the book first or watch the adaptation?
Physical books or ebooks?
Dog-ear pages or use a bookmark?
Read multiple books at once or one at a time?
Binge a series or space it out?
Spoilers: yes or absolutely not?
Genre/trope (adapt to your genre):
Enemies to lovers or friends to lovers?
First person POV or third person?
Standalone or series?
Slow burn or instant connection?
Happy endings required or open to anything?
Fantasy world or contemporary setting?
For non-fiction authors:
Work/productivity:
Morning person or night owl?
Coffee first or task first?
To-do lists or wing it?
Deep work sessions or short bursts?
Digital notes or paper notes?
Batch similar tasks or mix it up?
Work from home or coffee shop?
Content consumption:
Audiobooks or physical books?
Podcasts or YouTube?
Read to learn or listen to learn?
Highlight in books or leave them pristine?
Take notes while reading or just absorb?
For both fiction and non-fiction:
Library or bookstore?
Read in bed or read anywhere but bed?
Recommend books freely or keep finds to yourself?
Judge books by covers or nah?
One book at a time or multiple?
TikTok-specific tip: On TikTok Stories, you can't embed polls directly like Instagram, but you can create visual polls using text and ask people to comment their answer. "Comment 1 for coffee or 2 for tea." This drives comments, which TikTok loves even more than Instagram's tap-based engagement.
Question stickers: For deeper connection
Question stickers require more effort (typing), so you'll get fewer responses but they'll be more meaningful and help you build real relationships with your audience.
Use these 1-2 times per week. Always answer the question yourself first to model what you're looking for.
For fiction authors:
Current reads:
What are you reading right now?
What's the last book that made you cry?
What book are you looking forward to reading?
What's a book you've read multiple times?
What's your current comfort read?
Opinions and preferences:
What's a trope you can't resist?
What's an unpopular book opinion you have?
What's a book everyone loves that you couldn't get into?
What's a book you wish more people knew about?
What genre do you secretly love but don't talk about?
What's your book pet peeve?
What makes you DNF a book immediately?
For non-fiction authors:
Current learning:
What are you reading/learning right now?
What's the last book that changed how you think about something?
What's a book you recommend to everyone?
What podcast are you obsessed with?
What's a skill you're currently working on?
Opinions and struggles:
What's the biggest challenge in [your topic area] right now?
What's a common misconception about [your area of expertise]?
What's one thing you wish you'd known earlier in your career?
What's a productivity myth you've stopped believing?
What's a tool/resource that changed your [business/life/work]?
For both:
Coffee order?
What's your ideal reading/working environment?
Where do you get your best book recommendations?
What's something you're trying to get better at?
What's been your biggest win this week?
The power move: Share responses in future Stories. "What my readers are reading" or "The biggest challenges you're facing" becomes instant, valuable content. Your audience feels seen, and you get free content ideas.
Quiz stickers: Position yourself as an expert (Instagram)
Quiz stickers only work on Instagram, not TikTok, but they're incredibly powerful for establishing authority while driving engagement.
Use quiz stickers once a week to teach something related to your genre (fiction) or expertise area (non-fiction).
For fiction authors:
True or False: You need to write every day to be a real writer (Answer: False)
What's the biggest book marketing mistake? (Multiple choice)
True or False: Your first draft should be perfect (Answer: No)
Can you identify this trope from the description? (Multiple choice)
True or False: Reading on screens isn't "real" reading (Answer: False)
Which opening line is stronger? (Show two options)
What should you prioritize: perfect prose or finishing the draft? (Answer: Finishing)
For non-fiction authors:
True or False: You need a huge audience before publishing (Answer: False)
What's the #1 mistake [your audience] makes when [relevant problem]? (Multiple choice)
True or False: [Common myth in your industry] (Debunk it)
Which strategy is most effective for [specific goal]? (Multiple choice with explanation)
True or False: You need expensive tools to [achieve outcome] (Answer: Usually no)
What should you focus on first: [Option A] or [Option B]? (Explain the answer)
Why quizzes work: People want to test their knowledge. They tap to see if they're right. Then you explain the answer in your next Story, which keeps them watching and positions you as the expert who knows what actually works.
Emoji sliders: Visual engagement (Instagram)
Emoji sliders are Instagram-only and let people drag an emoji along a scale. They're fun, visual, and create micro-interactions that boost your engagement metrics.
Use them once a week for behind-the-scenes content or progress updates.
For fiction authors:
How close am I to finishing this book? (Show writing progress)
How excited are you for this cover reveal?
How relatable is this writer problem? (Pair with a writing struggle)
How stressed am I about this deadline?
How obsessed are you with this series?
For non-fiction authors:
How ready are you to implement this strategy?
How confident do you feel about [topic/skill]?
How excited are you for this upcoming resource?
How much do you relate to this struggle?
How likely are you to try this approach?
Both:
How much coffee have I had today?
How productive has today been?
How much do you agree with this statement?
The key: Pair sliders with visual content - a photo of your desk, your current project, or your coffee cup. The visual + interaction creates better engagement than text alone.
"Add Yours" stickers: Community building (Instagram & TikTok)
"Add Yours" stickers create public threads where people can add their own Stories. This is powerful because when someone participates, their followers see it, giving you organic reach beyond your current audience.
Use this every week or two on both platforms.
For fiction authors:
Show me your current read
Share your writing space
Show me your bookshelf
What are you reading this month?
Share your favorite book quote
Show me your TBR pile
Share a book that changed your life
For non-fiction authors:
Show me your workspace setup
Share a win from this week
What are you learning right now?
Show me your current project
Share one thing you're grateful for today
What tool/resource do you swear by?
Share your biggest lesson from this year
Both:
Show me your morning routine
Share something that inspired you today
What's motivating you this week?
Why this is powerful: Every person who adds to your thread exposes your profile to their followers. It's one of the few ways to get genuine organic reach on these platforms anymore.
TikTok Stories-specific strategies
TikTok Stories work differently than Instagram in a few key ways:
Comments are visible and permanent (until the Story expires). Unlike Instagram where responses go to DMs, TikTok Story comments are public. This creates more social proof - when people see others commenting, they're more likely to jump in too.
Encourage comments explicitly. On TikTok, end your Stories with "Drop a comment" or "Let me know in the comments." Be direct about what you want people to do.
Use text-based polls. Since TikTok doesn't have poll stickers, create visual polls using text overlays. "Comment COFFEE or TEA" works great. The comments boost your engagement even more than Instagram's tap-based polls.
Respond to every comment. When you reply to comments on your TikTok Stories, it signals active engagement to the algorithm. Always respond.
Cross-post strategically. You can repurpose Instagram Story content for TikTok, but adapt the format. Instagram Stories are vertical with stickers; TikTok Stories benefit from bold text and direct calls to comment.
Your sustainable posting rhythm
You don't need to post Stories constantly. You need to post them consistently and strategically.
Minimum viable Story strategy:
Post at least one Story per day (can be simple - a photo, a reshare, anything)
Use interactive features 4-5 times per week
Respond to every interaction (comments, DMs, reactions)
A realistic weekly rhythm:
Monday: Poll (easy start, low effort) Tuesday: Share someone else's content or quick behind-the-scenes (no sticker needed) Wednesday: Question sticker (mid-week connection point) Thursday: Quiz sticker on Instagram / Comment-based question on TikTok Friday: Poll or slider (fun, easy) Weekend: "Add Yours" community content or personal/casual update
You're only creating 4-5 interactive Stories per week, but you're showing up daily. The other days can be reshares, quick snapshots, or casual updates that keep you visible.
Platform strategy:
Post to both Instagram and TikTok Stories when possible (double the reach)
Adapt content for each platform's strengths (Instagram has more sticker options; TikTok has comment-based engagement)
Don't stress about making everything perfect—Stories are meant to be quick and authentic
How to post these questions so people actually respond
The question matters, but presentation matters just as much.
Give context. Don't just drop a poll with no explanation. Instead of "Coffee or tea?" try: "About to start a 3-hour writing session and debating my fuel. Coffee or tea?"
Answer your own question first. When using question stickers, answer it yourself in the Story. "What are you reading? I just started [book] and I'm already hooked." This gives people permission to respond and shows you're part of the conversation.
Make it visual. A photo of your desk, coffee cup, current book, or workspace makes the Story more engaging. You don't need perfect lighting—you need relatable.
Follow up on results. After a poll, share the results in your next Story. "You all said editing day, but I went rogue and kept drafting 😅." This shows people their input mattered.
Use Stories to tease feed content. "Should I post about X or Y?" with a poll. Then reference the Story when you post to your feed: "You voted for this, so here we go..." This creates a feedback loop between Stories and feed posts.
On TikTok, be explicit. End with "Comment your answer" or "Let me know below." TikTok audiences respond well to direct calls to action.
Advanced strategies to maximize impact
Once you have the basics down, these tactics will amplify your results.
Create Story series. Use the same format on the same day each week. "Fiction Friday Polls" or "Wednesday Reader Check-In" trains your audience to expect and engage with that content.
Save and repurpose. When a Story gets great engagement, save it and repost in a few weeks. Your audience will have rotated enough that it feels fresh, and you already know it performs.
Create Story Highlights (Instagram). Turn your best question responses into Highlights like "Reader Recommendations" or "Writing Life." This gives new followers content to explore and engage with.
Use the link sticker strategically (Instagram). After warming people up with engagement stickers, drop a link Story to your newsletter signup or latest content. The prior engagement means more people will see it.
Track what works for YOUR audience. Not every question will resonate with your specific followers. Pay attention to what gets the most responses and double down on those topics.
Cross-pollinate platforms. Share your Instagram Story results on TikTok and vice versa. "I asked this on Instagram and here's what people said..." Then ask the same question on TikTok to drive comments.
The complete list: 70 questions for both platforms
Here's your full arsenal, organized by interaction type. Copy, adapt, and rotate through these.
Poll Questions (25):
Fiction Author - Writing Life:
Writing day or editing day?
Plotter or pantser?
Coffee-fueled writing or writing first, coffee after?
Morning pages or evening writing?
Music while writing or total silence?
Writing in pajamas or getting dressed first?
Handwritten notes or digital notes?
Kill your darlings or keep every word?
First draft fast or slow and careful?
Fiction Author - Reader Preferences: 10. Read the book first or watch the adaptation? 11. Physical books or ebooks? 12. Dog-ear pages or use a bookmark? 13. Read multiple books at once or one at a time? 14. Binge a series or space it out? 15. Spoilers: yes or absolutely not? 16. Enemies to lovers or friends to lovers? 17. Standalone or series? 18. Happy endings required or open to anything?
Non-Fiction Author: 19. Morning person or night owl? 20. Coffee first or task first? 21. To-do lists or wing it? 22. Deep work sessions or short bursts? 23. Audiobooks or physical books? 24. Podcasts or YouTube? 25. Work from home or coffee shop?
Question Sticker Prompts (30):
Fiction Author - Current Reads: 26. What are you reading right now? 27. What's the last book that made you cry? 28. What book are you looking forward to reading? 29. What's a book you've read multiple times? 30. What's your current comfort read?
Fiction Author - Opinions: 31. What's a trope you can't resist? 32. What's an unpopular book opinion you have? 33. What's a book everyone loves that you couldn't get into? 34. What's a book you wish more people knew about? 35. What genre do you secretly love but don't talk about? 36. What's your book pet peeve? 37. What makes you DNF a book immediately?
Non-Fiction Author - Current Learning: 38. What are you reading/learning right now? 39. What's the last book that changed how you think? 40. What's a book you recommend to everyone? 41. What podcast are you obsessed with? 42. What's a skill you're currently working on?
Non-Fiction Author - Expertise/Opinions: 43. What's the biggest challenge in [your area] right now? 44. What's a common misconception about [your topic]? 45. What's one thing you wish you'd known earlier? 46. What's a [industry] myth you've stopped believing? 47. What tool/resource changed your [work/business]?
Both: 48. Coffee order? 49. What's your ideal reading/working environment? 50. Where do you get your best book recommendations? 51. What's something you're trying to get better at? 52. What's been your biggest win this week? 53. What's your favorite way to procrastinate? 54. What's inspiring you right now? 55. What are you grateful for today?
Quiz Questions - Instagram Only (10):
Fiction: 56. True or False: You need to write every day to be a real writer 57. What's the biggest book marketing mistake? 58. True or False: Your first draft should be perfect 59. Can you identify this trope? 60. True or False: Reading on screens isn't "real" reading
Non-Fiction: 61. True or False: You need a huge audience before publishing 62. What's the #1 mistake [your audience] makes with [problem]? 63. True or False: [Common industry myth] 64. Which strategy is most effective for [goal]? 65. True or False: You need expensive tools to [outcome]
Slider Questions - Instagram Only (5): 66. How close am I to finishing this [book/project]? 67. How much coffee have I had today? 68. How excited are you for [upcoming thing]? 69. How relatable is this [struggle/situation]? 70. How productive has today been?
For "Add Yours" prompts, use the Question Sticker list (26-55) and ask people to share via Add Yours instead of typing a response.
What NOT to do with Stories
These mistakes will tank your engagement even with great questions:
Don't only post Stories when you're promoting something. If Stories only appear during book launches or course sales, your audience learns to ignore them. Stories should be part of your regular presence, not just promotional tools.
Don't ignore responses. When someone comments, answers, or votes and you never acknowledge it, they stop engaging. Always respond—even a quick emoji reaction matters.
Don't make everything too polished. Stories are meant to feel authentic and in-the-moment. Over-produced Stories feel like ads, not conversations.
Don't ask questions you don't care about. If you're only asking for the algorithm's sake and don't actually care about answers, your audience will feel it. Ask questions you're genuinely curious about.
Don't post the same questions every week. Rotate. Keep it fresh. Track what your specific audience responds to and lean into those topics.
Don't expect instant results. Rebuilding engagement takes consistency. Give it 3-4 weeks of strategic Story posting before evaluating results.
Your 30-day engagement revival plan
If your social media engagement is stuck and you want to revive it, here's your action plan:
Week 1: Build the Story habit
Post at least one Story per day on both Instagram and TikTok
Use 4-5 interactive features from this list per week
Respond to every single interaction (comments, DMs, replies)
Week 2: Find your rhythm
Establish which days you'll use which types of interactive elements
Start tracking which questions get the best responses
Share poll results and question responses in follow-up Stories
Week 3: Optimize and refine
Double down on the question types that work for your audience
Start creating Story Highlights (Instagram) from your best content
Use Stories to tease and boost your feed posts
Week 4: Expand your strategy
Add "Add Yours" stickers for community building
Use link stickers (Instagram) strategically to drive newsletter signups
Create a sustainable posting rhythm you can maintain long-term
What to expect:
By the end of 30 days, you should see:
Increased Story views on both platforms
Better reach on your feed posts/regular TikToks
More profile visits and follower growth
Higher engagement on everything you post
DMs and comments from people who actually care about your content
This isn't magic—it's how the algorithms work. Consistent Story engagement signals that your content matters, and both platforms reward that with better overall visibility.
How Stories fit into your complete author marketing strategy
Stories aren't a replacement for your other marketing efforts—they're the engine that makes everything else more effective.
Your feed posts (Instagram) and regular TikToks provide value, teach, entertain, and promote your books. Stories keep you visible between those posts and train the algorithm to show your content to more people.
Your email list is still your most important marketing asset. But Stories help you grow it by keeping you top-of-mind and giving you opportunities to drive people to your newsletter.
Your DMs are where real relationships form. Stories that drive conversations into DMs are gold—that's where casual followers become readers who buy your books.
The funnel: Stories drive engagement → algorithms show your content to more people → valuable feed posts/videos attract followers → DMs build relationships → email signups → book sales.
Without consistent Story engagement, everything else struggles. Stories are the foundation that makes the rest of your social media actually work.
If you want the complete system for building your author platform—social media, email marketing, book launches, reader magnets, everything—The Author Circle membership gives you templates, strategies, and step-by-step guidance to make it all work together without burning out.
But start with Stories. Pick 5 questions from this list. Post them this week with interactive features on both Instagram and TikTok. Track what gets responses. Do it again next week.
Social media isn't dead for authors. You just needed a strategy that actually feeds the algorithm while building real connections with readers.
Now go post a Story. Watch your engagement come back to life.
