Topic 6 Interviews

Greetings,

My last blog covered the importance of research when creating a piece of fiction or non-fiction. Research can be done in various ways, but one of the best is an actual interview. If you can accomplish this, you're off to a good start. A personal chat with a person working in your specific field of interest offers you the opportunity to ask in depth questions, a book does not.

I prefer to do in-person interviews, but when a deadline’s involved a writer may have  to revert to other means of communication: phone or e-mail. For those of you who have never interviewed anyone, I'll share a little secret. A one on one interview can create long lasting friendships. It's all about the way you handle the interview. Be on time, be friendly, and pay attention to details.  

In 2003, the local newspaper where I live created Her Voice a quarterly magazine for and about women. Coincidentally, that same year my first novel arrived on the scene and I seriously considered using the magazine as another avenue to express myself. But, like the majority of us, I questioned whether I actually I had what it took —the right stuff. Five years later, thanks to a little shove from a friend, I got up the nerve to submit my first idea to the editor. When 2015 comes to a close, I’ll have conducted approximately thirty-three interviews for this particular magazine.   

A few of the women I’ve had the privilege of interviewing are: An insurance agent, hand therapist, music therapist, eye doctors, first responder, a church youth instructor, a retired Salvation Army chaplain, candy shop owner, restaurant owners, gift shop entrepreneurs, health club owner, photographer, and soap/body lotion entrepreneur.  

When making initial contact with the interviewees via the phone, I always explain I only need about 20 to 30 minutes of their time. But guess what? The women are so thrilled to be interviewed we spend an hour or longer together.

Yes, I follow the tried and true format questions, who, what, why, where, and when but I also throw in non-traditional questions. Did you have a mentor? What’s been the most challenging for you? What’s been the most rewarding? Words of wisdom you live by. What’s your favorite quote?  What’s the one thing you hope you’ve instilled in your children? Any plans for the future. What advice would you give to someone thinking about pursuing the career you have? Most of these questions can’t be answered in a half a second. And those questions plus many others help you to understand the interviewee better.

If you interview people for magazine articles, save your notes. You never know when you’ll want a character with their specific background for a short story or novel.

Have you been thinking about interviewing someone? Don't put it off for five years like I did. Do it now.

Do you have interviewing techniques you’d like to share with others on this blog? If so please leave a comment.

Until Next Time

This is Marlene Chabot

Topic 5 Research

Greetings,
The past two weeks while selling novels at a market in Florida, I've had the opportunity to speak with wonderful published authors, newbies, and many readers who support writers. One of the most interesting discussions I had was with a retired police officer from New York, a newbie writer, unpublished as yet. He had many questions regarding the writing process, including research for a project. Interestingly, my topic on research for this blog was planned way before I met him.

Regardless if you're a fiction or non fiction writer, research is imperative for a writing project. Writers, like most humans, aren't walking encyclopedia's. We can't possibly know everything. That's why we rely on resources. The retired cop I spoke with said his story included police procedures, but what he was writing about didn't cover what he knew as a cop. So what did he do? He sought out fellow officers who worked in the field of expertise he wanted to use in his writing. Why? Because he wanted his book to be as accurate as possible for his readers. "I don't want to let my readers down," he said.

I told my new writer friend I felt the same way. Yes, I'm a fiction writer but I want my books to be as accurate as possible for my readers. My first novel covered a lot of ground--pop bottling company, a virus, messages received on computers and travel.

Research on a pop bottling company found me requesting information from Pepsi, taking a private tour of a Pepsi bottling company and touring Coor's  Brewery. To decide on a realistic virus for the story I borrowed books from the library and also sat down with a person who had a degree in biochemistry. Since I didn't know much about computers other than writing with them, I spoke with a computer science engineer. And even though I never traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of the locations in the book, it didn't stop me from writing about the place. I just borrowed more books from the library.    

My fourth novel, Death at the Bar X Ranch pertained to horses. I've never owned a horse, but I spoke with individual horse owners, several people who boarded horses for others, took a riding class and borrowed an excellent book on horses. Warning: riding a horse may leave you with sore legs.

Many  people don't like research, too boring. Don't be afraid to include it in your writing whether your a newbie writer or an established one. Your readers deserve the best you can give and that includes accuracy Make use of the resources at your disposal: doctors professors, scientists, nurses, those skilled in a particular job, librarians, businesses, museums, and books.

This week pick a topic of interest and do a little research.

Until Next Time
This is Marlene Chabot