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Tayari's Blog: How To Do An Email Interview

Posted by TayariJones on October 12, 2008 07:59 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

As you know, the internet age has changed the way that writers communicate with readers. For the most part, this is a good thing. One development is the advent of the email interview. Although they can be done well, this medium really lends itself to sloppy work. I have done my share of interviews in this way, and I would like to share some helpful hints for interviewers.

1) Read the book and come up with a set of questions that reflect your knowledge of the subject and/or the author's career. One obvious reason is that you will have a better conversation if you know what you're talking about. Secondly, authors have better radar than 12th grade English teachers. They know when you don't know about them or their work and it sort of erodes good will.

2) Ask specific questions. It really gets my goat when an interviewer sends me a list of really general questions. Such inquiries include "Tell me about yourself and your book?" "What is your process?" "Who are your influences?" I could write for pages on the answer to any of these questions. When I get such questions I feel like the interviewer just dashed off the email in five minutes, but then wants me to spend all day answering the questions. Not cool.

I did an email interview recently with Superstition Review. The young journalist sent me about twelve questions. Almost all of them referenced something really specific from my books, or from opinion articles I have published. I was duly impressed.

3) Do your homework. Try not to ask the writer a question, the answer to which is already on her website. For example "Where did you go to college?" is not a good question. A better way is to say, "I see you went to Spelman College. Do you recommend women's colleges to aspiring writers?" You'll get a much better answer out of me that way, and it establishes that you really are interested.

4)Try the back-and-forth model. When I do email interviews, I ask the person to send me one question at a time. I answer and then the interviewer can read it over and then ask another question, possibly a follow up. This flows more like a real conversation-- a real interview. It may take a little more time, but it makes for a more interesting experience for both parties and it makes things more lively for the third party, the reader.

5) If you are interviewing someone for your blog, or other publication, remember that the writer has graciously agreed to be interviewed. Don't approach her like you are doing her a favor. An email interview is usually more work for her than it is for you, so be nice. Say thank you.

October 13, 2008 08:20 PM