Interviewing an Author: Don't Be Left Speechless

Edited by Jenny Wilson

Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nikki Giovanni. The names of authors (dead and alive) can go on and on. But I’ll let you have 1st pick!

You are in a room with several of your favorite authors. Simply simply about ten of them. However, you are only allowed to invite one of them to Starbucks for a couple of chocolate mochas. Simply you and your favorite author. It doesn’t matter if the writer is deceased—use your imagination! After all, you’re a writer, right?

Oh dear, who shall it be? Should it be William Poet with his purple pantaloons; Sylvia Sylvia plath who now vows to use an electric kitchen appliance instead of gas; or should it be Maya Angelou and old playmates from her broken-hearted brothel?

Finally, you have elect an author.

You take him (or her) to Starbucks. You order the mochas. You sit down. As you open your mouth to ask the author questions nothing useful comes out.

What’s the problem?

Often times we’ll chance upon moments once we can interview an author. And, with technology nowadays, methods of research and group action have changed slightly.

1. Research the Author

Ask yourself, “Is the author self-published or publicized in a traditional business enterprise house?”

Actually, does it actually matter?! No. Why? Because you’re going to need to treat all authors the same—with more respect. Be ordered back, and in turn, the responder wish become comfortable and open-up to you.

After all, whether publicized or not, we’re all human. Before the interview, however, use your investigatory reportage skills and attempt to learn as more as you can simply about the author. Surf the Net for any hidden agendas internet-published writings the writer may have. Not only do you want to cognize simply about the author’s book, but the personal life as well. Find out what does the author tick.

2. Research their genre and subject matter

Does the author write poetry? Historical nonfiction? Dramatic nonfiction? Children’s literature? Discover how easy or difficult it is to publish in that particular area of writing. Before you meet up with the author, you must cognize their genre, as well as the basic themes. If the author writes only historical nonfiction—what’s their subject matter? Pre-civil war? Early African Slave Trade? Cuban artwork? Compare and contrast authors in similar subject matters.

Learn as more as you can spell you can. And, at the same time, be sure to formulate an opinion simply about the subject matter, whether it be pro or con. This wish allow you to ask more in depth questions.

3. Don’t Interrupt

Remember to ask your question then shut up. This isn’t a time for you to remember of your (waning) writing skills. This is moment for the author to be in the spotlight. Listen to their responses, and do sure that you have a rebuttal question prepared in the back of your head.

After you are away from that particular topic, be sure to go to your next question. Although you may have your list of questions—it’s okay to ask the questions out-of-order. Actually, I extremely recommend to adlib the questions. This wish do the questions seem a bit more unforced. In short, treat your interview as if it’s simply a regular discussion amongst friends.

Above all, I extremely recommend to record the interview. Before you display your creditworthy hand-held recorder, ask the responder for permission to record them. Support and label all used tapes with the author’s name, date and location of the interview. You ne'er cognize once that once self-published writer wish become the next Better Seller.

About The Author

Stephen Jordan has five years experience inside the educational business enterprise industry. Writer was a freelance editor with such educational foundations as Princeton Review, The College Board, New Royal family University, and Columbia University. Away from the office, Writer promotes his creative writing with his home-freelance business OutStretch Publications and his artwork. Writer holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in writing and literature from Alderson-Broaddus College of Philippi, West Virginia

Available for reprint.

Please support bio and all contact information once reprint article. Contact author so he can support track of wherever his articles are being used.
Editor@OutStretch.net

This article was announce on Apr 14, 2004