The Art Of The Author Interview

by Johnson, Sarah Anne

• ISBN13: 9781584653974
• ISBN10: 1584653973
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-02
• Publisher: Univ Pr of New England

Summary

Sarah Anne Johnson's interviews with authors have been praised for her "thoughtful and knowledgeable questions" (Bloomsbury Review) that "provoke thoughtful responses from her subjects" (Publishers Weekly) and provide "an opportunity to participate in intimate and often illuminating dialogue" (Library Journal). Johnson also travels to MFA programs across the country, teaching workshops in how to conduct an author interview. This book, based on that workshop, shows readers how to initiate, research, conduct, and publish interviews with authors and other creative people. Drawing on her own experience, Johnson not only covers the nuts and bolts of conducting the interviews, but she also offers an inspirational explanation of how the process can feed and enhance a writer's own work and career. More and more MFA programs now recognize the need to equip their students with the tools for building a "writing life"; in this book, Johnson provides a practical, inspiring guide to one of the most popular forms of literary journalism. In addition, students of journalism and broadcasting, and even fans, will find its down-to-earth approach to authors and writing liberating. With examples, exercises, and step-by-step instructions, Johnson covers every step from preparation to publication. Widely praised for her own skillfully conducted interviews, Johnson is the perfect guide to this rewarding activity.

Author Biography

SARAH ANNE JOHNSON is the author of Conversations with American Women Writers (UPNE, 2004). She teaches "The Art of the Author Interview" in the MFA programs at Bennington College and Lesley University, and at literary conferences nationwide. She has an MFA from Bennington College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	xiii
Building a Literary Life	xv
Who Is This Book For?	xvi
CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED	1	(16)
Know Yourself	1	(5)
Where Do You Want to Publish Your Interviews?	1	(2)
How and to What Degree Are You Engaged in the Literary Arts?	3	(1)
Why Do You Want to Interview an Author?	4	(1)
What Has Kept You From Interviewing an Author before Now?	4	(2)
Choosing the Author	6	(2)
Your First Interview	7	(1)
Use Your Connections	7	(1)
Use Your Credentials	7	(1)
Making Contact with the Author	8	(9)
Through the Publicist or Agent	8	(1)
The Query Letter	9	(2)
Deconstructing The Query Letter	11	(3)
Developing a Query Letter Template	14	(3)
CHAPTER 2:THE REAL WORK BEGINS	17	(29)
Conducting the Research	17	(6)
Researching the Author	18	(2)
Ongoing Research	20	(3)
Composing the Questions	23	(14)
The Role of the Interview Questions	24	(1)
Remember Your Audience	25	(3)
Types of Questions and Suggestions	28	(9)
Getting It All on Paper	37	(3)
Step One: Brainstorm	37	(1)
Step Two: Flesh Out Your Raw Material	37	(1)
Step Three: Put the Questions in Order	38	(1)
Step Four: Make Sure You've Covered Everything	39	(1)
Step Five: Get Feedback	39	(1)
Composing the Questions: Generative Exercise	40	(4)
Composing the Questions: Checklist	44	(1)
Interview Question Dos and Don'ts	44	(2)
CHAPTER 3: LET'S LOOK AT THE PROS	46	(17)
CHAPTER 4:TIME FOR THE INTERVIEW	63	(5)
Conducting the Interview	63	(3)
How to Present Yourself	63	(1)
In Person, Phone, Email	63	(1)
Equipment and Other Technical Issues	64	(1)
Your Role as Interviewer	65	(1)
Using Your Road Map	66	(1)
Transcribing the Interview	66	(2)
CHAPTER 5: REFINING THE INTERVIEW	68	(14)
Editing the Interview	68	(3)
Staying True to the Author's Voice	69	(1)
Use of Slang or Curse Words	69	(1)
Including the Author in Revision	69	(1)
Working with the Editor	70	(1)
The Author's Biographical Note	71	(9)
The Straightforward Author's Biographical Note	73	(2)
The Narrative Author's Biographical Note	75	(4)
The Narrative First-Person Bio	79	(1)
Deciding for Yourself	80	(1)
The Interviewer's Biographical Note	80	(1)
Multitasking: How Many Interviews in the Fire at Once?	81	(1)
CHAPTER 6: PUBLISHING THE INTERVIEW	82	(9)
Finding the Right Publication	82	(8)
Create Your Submission Hit List	82	(1)
Where to Find Publications	83	(1)
To Multiply Submit or Not to Multiply Submit?	84	(1)
Offer an Exclusive Look	84	(1)
Why Query First?	84	(1)
The Writer's Guidelines	85	(1)
Getting the Query Right	85	(2)
Deconstructing the Query Letter	87	(1)
Query Letter Dos and Don'ts	88	(1)
The Fine Art of Patience	88	(1)
The Inevitable Rejections	88	(1)
Working with the Editor	89	(1)
Copyright Issues	90	(1)
CHAPTER 7: KEEP YOUR INTERVIEW WORKING	91	(8)
Follow-Up	91	(1)
Finding New Uses for Your Interview	92	(7)
Reprint Rights	92	(1)
The Art of the Author Profile	93	(6)
CHAPTER 8: INTERVIEWING OTHER CREATIVE PEOPLE	99	(30)
Putting These Principles to Use with Other Artists	99	(1)
Example: Inside the Actor's Studio	99	(2)
Example: Writer A.M. Homes Interviews Painter Eric Fisch!	101	(13)
Example: Interview with Screenwriter Max Adams	114	(15)
CHAPTER 9:THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW IN OTHER MEDIA	129	(15)
Television Broadcasting	129	(4)
Format	130	(1)
Target Audience	130	(1)
Commercial, Public, and Cable Television	131	(1)
Television Is Visual-How Will You Look?	131	(1)
Improving Your Interview Skills by Watching TV Interviews	132	(1)
Radio Broadcasting	133	(11)
CHAPTER 10: THE ART OF THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW IN THE WRITING PROGRAM	144	(6)
The M.F.A. Program	144	(4)
Program Models	144	(1)
Program Ideas	145	(3)
The Undergraduate Writing Program	148	(2)
Beginner Program Ideas	148	(2)
CHAPTER 11: FINAL THOUGHTS AND INTERVIEW TIPS	150	(5)
Rejection As Information	150	(1)
Common Problems	151	(2)
Lack of Preparation	151	(1)
Disorganization	151	(1)
Inarticulate Questions	152	(1)
Inappropriate Questions	152	(1)
Interview Is Too Faithful to Spoken Event	152	(1)
Too Much Analysis	152	(1)
Self-Promotion by Interviewer	153	(1)
Too Much Commitment to the List of Questions	153	(1)
What to Do When You're Out of Time	153	(2)
APPENDIX:THE HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW	155
George Plimpton and the Paris Review	155	(1)
The Interview As an Evolving Form	156	(1)
The Future Is Now	157