Tips on Author Interviews

"Hurry it up. We're burnin' daylight." John Wayne

Preparing for my first author interview, as part of my marketing plan in my quest to launch my first book, has been challenging and, yes, fun. The only catch? No one has asked me for an interview yet!

No worries! It’s all part of my plan: to be prepared. Your quest for interviews comes in three parts: How to seek interviews with fellow authors; how to breeze through your own interviews, and for live interviews, what kind of technology you will need. Today we will take a look at how to conduct a standard text interview.

So, you Want to Interview an Author

Once you’ve chosen the author you’d like to interview, send an email or letter with your request. In the body, include:

• An offer of a time that is convenient for her
• Explain where the interview will appear and the date it will appear
• Offer to send her a link and a copy
• Request a photo
• Send her the questions ahead of time.

Questions to ask authors abound. The best advice I found was not to make your questions boring:

• Where do you get your ideas?
• What is your writing process like?
• What advice do you have for writers?

First up: Read the author’s book. Become acquainted with other books the author has written and what people are saying about them. Visit the author’s website/blog/online marketing pages, etc. Once you are thoroughly familiar with the author’s books, life, goals, etc., you will have an excellent framework for you to ask the best possible questions.

Here is a sample of questions found through a simple Google search. Please browse through the website addresses at the end of this post for more question suggestions, and excellent advice.

• What is the first book that made you cry?
• What are common traps for aspiring writers?
• Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym?
• Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
• What’s the best way to market your books?

Ingrid Sundberg, one of my favorite author/bloggers, begins her interview with a big welcome, and, “Happy to have you here. Please introduce yourself and your books to my readership.” In an interview with YA fantasy writer Christopher D. Morgan, she delves into his writing process: asks if he's a plotter or punster, and in building a fantasy world, a difficult process, she asks, “What are your secrets to world building? And how do you keep all your worlds straight?”

At the end of Ingrid's thorough interviews, I especially like what she calls a “Lightning Round,” in which she shoots for quick answers.

• Most influential author on you and your work.
• If you could time travel, when/where would you go?
• What are you going to dress up as for Halloween?
• If you were a super hero, what color would your hair be?
• Favorite word.
• Least favorite word.
• Biggest fear.

Hands down, my favorite interviewer is, Tah-dah!, Middle Grade Ninja himself, author and top blogger, Rob Kent. Ninja asks the same 7 Questions to each author and displays his interviews in the same way for each author.

Oh my, it’s good.

In the column on the left you will find links to the extensive list of authors he has interviewed, including Bruce Coville, Dan Gutman, and M.T. Anderson, to name a few. Please visit Ninja’s site to learn what his 7 Questions are. And take note: Each interview begins with a terrific photo of the author, then come the 7 Questions, and at the end, a video.

Important: After the interview, be sure to send a thank you to your authors. Some interviewers even send them a gift—a signed copy of your book, or swag.

Get your Ducks in a Row

Now it’s your turn. How can you prepare for your first interview?

• Start a file with the questions you expect to be asked. Take the time to type out your answers. When the inevitable interviewer comes knocking (or emailing, as the case may be), your subconscious will have your answers at the ready.

• If you haven’t already, have professional publicity photos taken to use as your head shots. And better, recognize photo ops when they occur, and make sure you keep the photos in your files for more informal occasions. Check out the cool informal shots on Ninja’s blog. They show the zaniness of the authors, in spades.

• Prepare a video and again, watch some Ninja videos. They’re lively, fun, wacky—not boring!

Next up: Live Author Interviews

https://thejohnfox.com/2016/06/good-questions-to-ask-an-author/ 

https://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2010/01/11/how-to-conduct-an-interview/ 

http://ingridsundberg.com/blog/ 

http://www.middlegradeninja.com 

https://parchmentgirl.com/interview-authors-blog/

Image courtesy of: www.publicdomainpictures.net/ 

Coming soon!

Linda Wilson, a former elementary teacher and ICL graduate, has published over 150 articles for adults and children, and several short stories for children. Her first book, Secret in the Stars: An Abi Wunder Mystery, a mystery/ghost story for children 7-11 years old, is hot off the press and will be available soon. Currently, she is hard at work on The Ghost of Janey Brown, Book Two in the series. Follow Linda at www.lindawilsonauthor.com.

Write for Magazine Publication -- series #6

Writing for Magazine Publication is a great way to monetize your writing and test your topic for readership interest. This series offers tips and ideas for magazine publishing. (See topic archive below)

Essays are all about the writer, but articles are all about the reader. An essay is an opinion piece: an analytical or interpretative work with a limited point of view. An article is non-fiction text presenting information to the reader.

Today, let’s talk about guidelines for submitting your writing for publication review.
Submittal guidelines tell you what you need to know to have your piece considered by the magazine of your interest. The best chance for success involves reading the guidelines point by point and following them precisely as you prepare your submittal package. Magazine guidelines are frequently found on their website under About Us, or Contact Us, at the bottom of the home page.

In addition, the “Writer’s Market” is an excellent resource to find the magazine that fits for your piece or interest. Note:
•    Contact information for departments for freelancers,
•    What they are looking for,
•    Conditions for query letters,
•    Word count requirements,
•    Pay rate, and
•    Tips for landing an assignment.

Resources for online market information include: 
•    “All Freelance Writing”
•    “Funds for Writers”
•    “Freelance Writing” e-zine: https://www.freelancewriting.com/

Kerrie Flanagan’s book is an informative resource as well as her article on WOW:
“Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing”  by Kerrie Flanagan
“5 Things You Need to Know to Write for Magazines”  http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/42-FE2-WriteforMagazines.html

This series offers tips and ideas for magazine publishing: a list of genres or categories and where we find ideas (posted 5.25.18), research tips (posted 6.25.18), standard templates for essay and article pieces (7.25.18), query letters (informal known to editor 8.25.18) and (formal query tips 9.25.18), guidelines for submission (posted 10.25.18), and contract & copyright tips.

Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author of Creative Non-Fiction. She writes articles, essays and stories. She is passionate about caring for the mentally impaired through creative arts. Visit her web-blog: Deborah Lyn Stanley : MyWriter's Life .  

Write clear & concise, personable yet professional. 
Know your reader. 
Use quotes & antidotes often.

Five Ways to Get Your Writing Unstuck

By W. Terry Whalin

Throughout my day, writers will email me for help with their writing. One of the key reasons is because of the words in my Twitter profile: “I love to help writers. Let me know how I can help YOU!”  I include my email in my twitter profile to encourage such correspondence.

As an acquisitions editor at a New York publisher, I get a lot of email every day. Yet I make a point to answer each one of the emails from writers who are asking for help. From my 20+ years in publishing, I know it is hard to navigate the publishing world. I've sent my share of emails and letters into the system which have gone into a void—or so they seem because nothing came back from my careful shaping and sending them. It can be discouraging.

Recently a ministry leader wrote me about being stuck. He had started writing a book but gotten stuck at the second chapter. What actions should this leader take to move forward on his dream of writing a book?

Many times writers are stuck and unsure how to move forward. It happens with book projects because they are not simple 30 minute or an hour in length. To write a book takes a great deal of consistent effort and energy. When it comes to writing a book, one of the best tools is to first, write a book proposal. The key portion of the proposal that will keep you writing and moving ahead is the chapter-by-chapter outline. This simple outline is the structure for your book. You can even print it out then cross off the chapters as you write them. 

If you are stuck in your writing, here's five ways to get unstuck:

1. Evaluate Your Goal. Are you committed to this writing project? I've always found if I've made a commitment, then the writing will get handled. OK. I've committed to write a book or a magazine article or an online article or a press release. Think about the type of consistent effort will it take to accomplish your goal. For example, books are not produced overnight but will take a consistent effort.

2. Set a Goal You Can Accomplish. Be reasonable with yourself and set a writing goal that you can achieve. From my experience it is often a certain number of words such as 500 words a day or 5,000 words a day (which is a lot of intense writing to reach 5,000 words a day but it can be done). 

3. Move Consistently toward Your Goal. To accomplish any goal you have to move forward. I like what one of my writers friends told me about creating a 400+ page novel, “No little elves come out at night and write my pages.” No one else can do the work for you. You have to find the time and simply do it. If it means getting up an hour or two earlier or staying up late at night or skipping some television, then you have to work at it to meet your goal.

4. Periodically Evaluate Your Goal. If you are having success, then take moments to celebrate. Each of us will celebrate differently. It is important to evaluate and celebrate if you are moving toward your goal. If you measure how you are doing with your goal and you are not making progress, then possibly it is time to readjust your goal and make it more reasonable or something that you can actually accomplish. Don't beat yourself up that you have to readjust. Simply acknowledge it and keep moving forward.

5. Get an Accountability Partner. Yes maybe you could accomplish your goal on your own. From my experience, it is better if you have someone else asking you periodically about your goal and how you are moving toward it. This person can be someone that you speak with periodically on the phone or email or best physically see often. 

I know I was only going to write five ways to get your writing unstuck. I'm throwing in a bonus sixth method. Maybe you are stuck in your writing because you have been trying to accomplish a long piece of writing such as a book or a novel or a workbook. If you have been chipping away at completing a longer work, here's something to consider in this process:

6. Diversify Your Writing. While many people want to write a book, there are many ways to get published—outside of books. Often books take a long time to get into the market—especially if you go through a traditional publisher. 

Magazine articles are short and fun to write plus you can get them published a lot quicker than a book and it will reach many more people than the average book.

People like me who are in publishing want to see that you have been published. Your magazine publishing credits will help you attract the attention of a literary agent or book editor. My updated version of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams has a great deal of information about publishing to help you get unstuck.

Use these five methods to get unstuck and move forward with your writing. Take action today. 

When you are stuck in your writing, how to you get unstuck? Let me know in the comments below and I look forward to reading your tips.

Tweetable:

Are you stuck in your writing? Read five tips from this prolific writer and editor. (Click to Tweet)

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W. Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. His work contact information is on the bottom of the second page (follow this link).  One of his books for writers is Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, Insider Secrets to Skyrocket Your Success.  He lives in Colorado and has over 210,000 twitter followers.
 

What Marching Armies Lack

I thought I'd share a little inspiration today.

It comes from an interesting YA novel, a historical fiction/fantasy mash-up where the narrators talk directly to the reader and play really fast and loose with the facts of the history...and science.  It's My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.

Here's the quote I loved, by our bookworm heroine who's bored on a long military march:  

"Armies aren't very good about carrying libraries with them. I can't imagine why. We'd fight so much less if everyone would just sit down and read."  

Ah, how true it is.  So, my fellow writers, keep on writing.  Maybe someday, somewhere, somebody will sit down and read your work instead of engaging in other more unsavory pursuits.  It's a long shot for world peace...but I've always believed in the power or books to open people's minds and change their hearts.