| Back to Back Issues Page |
 |
|
Tips for the research interview: Editor's Notes #357 January 26, 2022 |
| Hello, It is poking and prying with a purpose. —Zora Neale Hurston In this issue: 1. Tips for the research interview 2. Tickled my funny bone 3. Interesting Web site 4. Writing prompt 1. Tips for the research interview Whether you interview someone to gather primary source material for a non-fiction book or you gather information on how something is done so your fiction rings true, attending to the following tips is likely to improve the information you collect. Although you may find yourself informally interviewing a fellow traveller on a commute to work or on a vacation flight (yes, I do believe the activities of the "before times" will come back in some form), and such an interview can yield wonderful and surprising results, you are more likely to interview someone by appointment. Start with a solid plan. Do as much research ahead of time as you can. It’s not fair to ask the interviewee to give you time you could have used to educate yourself. Read what the interviewee has written if possible. Talk to others who know the interviewee. Read other material on the topic. Allow for spontaneous detours during the interview, but have at least a skeleton of questions to guide your conversation. A few good questions are better than many vague or unfocused questions. Put the questions in an order that makes sense to you. Then be prepared to skip around if the conversation dictates that you do so. Be sure whatever recording device you use has fresh batteries, and, if possible, have a back-up device. Ask permission to record. Write notes to yourself about the situation and any other questions or thoughts that come to you during the interview. This is where you go beyond the words of the interviewee. Do not argue your own point of view. Instead, ask the interviewee to explain his or her point of view. "I would like to give you a chance to address…." It is okay to repeat a question, but I would leave the question after one repetition. No one is duty-bound to tell you anything. When the interview is over, say, "Thank you." Ask if the interviewee can suggest anyone else who can fill in blanks for you. Follow up with a written thank you. The more interviews you do, the more skilled you become as an interviewer. Start with these tips, and as you gain more experience doing interviews, build up your own best practices for conducting interviews. =========== 2.Tickled my funny bone Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, "I’ve lost my electron." The other says, "Are you sure?" The first replies, "Yes, I’m positive." =========== 3. Interesting Web site If you need to know whether to treat an interview as a primary or secondary source, this article might help. https://paperpile.com/g/interview-primary-source/ =========== 4. Writing prompt Write a set of questions you wish an interviewer would ask you. If you have time and the inclination, write out your answers as well. =========== Join Writer's Helper Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WritersHelperEditor Follow me on Twitter @AudreytheEditor Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.) =========== If you know a writer who would appreciate receiving Editor's Notes, forward this issue. If someone has passed this on to you, you can get your own free subscription by signing up at https://www.writershelper.com/newsletter.html |
| Back to Back Issues Page |