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19 Creative Writer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

It's important to prepare for an interview in order to improve your chances of getting the job. Researching questions beforehand can help you give better answers during the interview. Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various creative writer interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions.

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Common Creative Writer Interview Questions

What is your favorite book and why?

The interviewer is trying to get to know the writer's taste in literature and what kind of books they are drawn to. This can give the interviewer some insight into the writer's creative process and what kinds of stories they might be interested in telling.

Example: “My favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I love the book because it is about a teenager, Holden Caulfield, who is trying to find his way in the world. He is misunderstood by adults and has trouble connecting with people his own age. I relate to Holden because I also felt like an outsider when I was a teenager. I loved the way Salinger captured Holden's voice and made him such a believable character.”

What is your favorite movie and why?

An interviewer might ask "What is your favorite movie and why?" to a creative writer in order to get a sense of the writer's taste in film and what kind of movies they are drawn to. This can be important because it can give the interviewer an idea of the types of stories and narratives that the writer is interested in and what kinds of ideas they might be able to generate for a project. Additionally, the answer to this question can also reveal something about the writer's personality and their creative process.

Example: “My favorite movie of all time is The Shawshank Redemption. It's a story about hope, friendship, and resilience in the face of adversity. It's incredibly moving and inspiring, and the performances by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are simply superb. I never get tired of watching it.”

What is your favorite song and why?

The interviewer is asking this question to get to know the creative writer on a personal level and to see what kind of music they are into. This can be important because it can give insight into what kind of person the creative writer is and what their taste in music is. It can also be a way for the interviewer to connect with the creative writer on a personal level.

Example: “My favorite song is "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. I love this song because it is so beautiful and peaceful. It always makes me feel happy and hopeful.”

What is your favorite TV show and why?

An interviewer might ask a creative writer what their favorite TV show is to get a sense of their interests and what they might be influenced by. It is important to be able to talk about your favorite TV show in order to show that you are knowledgeable and have good taste.

Example: “My favorite TV show is The Office. I love the humor, the characters, and the overall feel of the show. It's a great way to relax and laugh, and I always enjoy watching it.”

What is your favorite play and why?

Some interviewers ask this question to get a sense of what the job candidate is interested in and what kinds of things they are drawn to. It can also give the interviewer some insight into the candidate's writing style.

Example: “My favorite play is "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams. I love the way the playwright uses symbols to tell the story of a family struggling to make ends meet and find their place in the world. The glass menagerie itself is a symbol of the fragility of the family's situation and their hopes and dreams. I also appreciate the way the playwright uses music to set the mood and create an emotional connection with the audience.”

What is your favorite musical and why?

This question allows the interviewer to gauge the writer's taste in music and their ability to articulate why they enjoy it. This can be important because the writer's taste in music may influence the type of stories they are drawn to write, and their ability to explain their reasoning can indicate their writing ability.

Example: “My favorite musical is Hamilton. I love the music, the story, and the way it is told. The music is so catchy and the story is so moving. I also love the way the story is told through rap and hip hop. It makes it accessible to a wide range of people.”

What is your favorite painting and why?

An interviewer may ask "What is your favorite painting and why?" to a creative writer in order to gain insight into the writer's creative process and inspirations. The interviewer may be interested in understanding what elements of a painting the writer finds most appealing and why they are drawn to certain paintings over others. This question can also help the interviewer assess the writer's ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings about art.

Example: “My favorite painting is The Hay Wagon by American artist Andrew Wyeth. I love the muted colors and the way the light falls on the wagon and hay. It's a peaceful scene and I can imagine myself sitting in the wagon, looking out at the countryside.”

What is your favorite photograph and why?

An interviewer might ask a creative writer about their favorite photograph in order to get a sense of what inspires them and what kind of subjects they are drawn to. This can be helpful in understanding what sort of writing the creative writer is likely to produce. Additionally, it can give the interviewer a sense of the writer's aesthetic sensibility and their ability to articulate why they are drawn to certain images.

Example: “My favorite photograph is one that I took of a double rainbow over a lake. It was taken early in the morning, and the colors were so vibrant and beautiful. It was just a moment of pure beauty and wonder, and I feel lucky to have captured it.”

What is your favorite sculpture and why?

The interviewer is asking the creative writer to describe their favorite sculpture so that they can get a sense of the writer's taste and aesthetic. This is important because it can help the interviewer understand what kind of art the writer is drawn to and what kind of writing they might produce.

Example: “My favorite sculpture is the Venus de Milo. I love the serenity and beauty of the statue, and the mystery of her missing arms. She is a reminder that even though we may be incomplete, we can still be perfect in our own way.”

What is your favorite building and why?

The interviewer might be interested in the writer's sense of aesthetics and whether they are able to articulate why they like or dislike certain things. This question can also reveal whether the writer is able to be critical of their own work and how they approach creative endeavors.

Example: “There are so many amazing buildings in the world that it's impossible to choose just one favorite. However, if I had to narrow it down, I would say my favorite building is the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I love the history and the grandeur of the structure. It's an iconic symbol of France and a beautiful sight to behold.”

What is your favorite city and why?

The interviewer might be trying to get a sense of the writer's taste and preferences in order to gauge what kind of writing they might be interested in. It's also possible the interviewer is looking for any creative reasons the writer has for why they like a particular city, which could be helpful in understanding their thought processes and how they approach writing tasks.

Example: “There is no one specific city that I can say is my favorite – I love exploring new places and each city has its own unique charm that I enjoy. That said, there are definitely some cities that stand out to me more than others. For example, I absolutely loved exploring Prague – the architecture and history of the city was fascinating, and it had such a romantic and magical feeling. I also really enjoyed visiting Barcelona – the city was so vibrant and lively, with so much to see and do. And of course, I can't forget about my hometown of New York City – even though I'm a native New Yorker, I never get tired of all the energy and excitement that the city has to offer.”

What is your favorite country and why?

There are a few reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a creative writer. First, they may be interested in knowing what sort of places and cultures interest the writer and whether they have any personal connection to any particular country. Second, the interviewer may be looking for evidence of the writer's ability to think critically and creatively about different places and cultures. Finally, the interviewer may simply be curious about the writer's favorite country and why they enjoy it so much. Ultimately, it is important for the interviewer to get a sense of the writer's interests and how they think about different places in the world.

Example: “There are so many amazing countries in the world, it's hard to choose just one! But if I had to narrow it down, I would say my favorite country is Italy. I love the food, the culture, the history, and of course, the wine! Italy is a beautiful country with so much to offer, and I always feel at home when I'm there.”

What is your favorite continent and why?

There is no one answer to this question. The interviewer may be trying to gauge the writer's creativity, or they may be trying to get to know the writer on a personal level. Either way, it is important for the writer to be able to articulate why they enjoy writing about certain continents.

Example: “There are so many amazing places to explore on each continent, but if I had to choose just one it would be Europe. There is so much history and culture to discover, and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. From the rolling hills of the British countryside to the snow-capped Alps, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

What is your favorite planet and why?

There is no one answer to this question. The interviewer may be trying to gauge the writer's creativity, or they may be interested in the writer's interest in space and science. Either way, it is an opportunity for the writer to showcase their creativity and knowledge.

Example: “My favorite planet is Earth. I love its diverse landscapes, its abundance of life, and its many mysteries. There is always something new to explore on Earth, and it is a beautiful place to call home.”

What is your favorite star and why?

There is no one answer to this question, as it depends on the interviewer's goals for the interview. However, some possible reasons why an interviewer might ask this question include:

1. To get to know the writer's taste in film and literature: This question can give the interviewer some insight into the writer's taste in film and literature, which can be helpful in understanding what kind of material the writer is likely to be interested in writing.

2. To gauge the writer's creativity: This question can be used to gauge the writer's creativity, as it requires them to come up with an original answer. This can be helpful in determining whether the writer is likely to be able to come up with fresh and innovative ideas for their writing.

3. To get an idea of the writer's interests: This question can give the interviewer an idea of the writer's interests outside of writing, which can be helpful in understanding what kinds of topics they might be interested in writing about.

4. To see how the writer responds under pressure: This question can be used as a bit of a "stress test" to see how the writer responds under pressure. If they are able to come up with a quick, creative answer, it shows that they are likely to be able to think on their feet and come up with new ideas even when under pressure.

Example: “There are so many amazing stars out there, it's hard to choose just one! However, if I had to pick one, it would be our Sun. It's the star that gives us life, and it's so incredibly fascinating. It's huge and bright and always there for us. Plus, it has an amazing story behind it. Our Sun is thought to have formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a huge cloud of gas and dust. Over time, it grew more and more dense until it finally became a star. And now, billions of years later, it's still shining brightly in our sky.”

What is your favorite galaxy and why?

This question allows the interviewer to gauge the writer's level of creativity and knowledge about the universe. It also allows the interviewer to see if the writer can come up with an original answer that is not based on personal opinion or preference.

Example: “There are so many galaxies out there, each one with its own unique beauty. It's hard to choose just one favorite, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say the Andromeda Galaxy is my favorite. It's one of the closest galaxies to our own Milky Way Galaxy, and it's absolutely stunning to look at. It's also home to some of the most fascinating objects in the universe, like supermassive black holes and neutron stars.”

What is your favorite universe and why?

There is no one answer to this question, as it depends on the interviewer's motivations and the context of the question. However, some possible reasons why an interviewer might ask this question to a creative writer could include wanting to understand the writer's creative process, what inspires their writing, or what kind of stories they are most interested in telling. Additionally, this question could also be used as a way to gauge the writer's imagination and creativity, as well as their ability to articulate their thoughts and ideas.

Example: “I absolutely love the Harry Potter universe! I grew up reading the books and watching the movies, and it's just such a rich and detailed world that I can't help but be fascinated by it. There's so much history and mythology to explore, and the characters are just so well-developed and likable. It's a world I could easily get lost in for hours on end.”

What is your favorite dimension and why?

The interviewer is trying to gauge the writer's creativity and imagination. It is important to see if the writer can think outside of the box and come up with original ideas.

Example: “There are an infinite number of dimensions, and each one has its own unique appeal. But if I had to choose just one, it would be the dimension of time. Time is the ultimate mystery, the one thing we can never truly understand. It's also the one thing that connects us all, regardless of who we are or where we come from. We all experience time in our own way, but it's something that we all share. And it's always moving forward, taking us with it on an endless journey into the unknown.”

What is your favorite parallel universe and why?

There is no one answer to this question, as it depends on the interviewer's motivations. However, some possible reasons for asking this question include:

-To gauge the creativity of the writer

-To get a sense of what kinds of stories the writer is interested in

-To see if the writer is able to think outside the box

-To find out what the writer's favorite parallel universe would be like, and why they find it appealing

Example: “My favorite parallel universe is one where I am a successful writer. In this universe, I have published several novels and short stories, and my work is well-received by critics and readers alike. I live in a beautiful home in the country, surrounded by nature, and I have all the time I need to write. This universe is a haven for me, where I can retreat from the stresses of everyday life and focus on my writing. It is a place where I can be myself and be creative, without worrying about deadlines or bills or any of the other responsibilites that come with being an adult. In this universe, I am free to explore my imagination and create whatever stories I want, without having to worry about whether or not they will sell. This parallel universe is my ideal world, and it is where I feel most at home.”

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