Ask and You Shall Receive:
The Basics of Interviewing

By Christine Ballew-Gonzales

Many would-be writers spend hundreds of hours researching markets and writing queries, terrified that a proposed article might be accepted and they will have to follow-through on interviewing sources for the piece. The solitary nature of authors and the writing life in general do not do much to encourage a writer to get out the door or on the phone for an interview, either. 

Still, interviewing skills are a very important weapon in the writer's arsenal, for several reasons. The first and most obvious reason is to gain facts for a story, article or book. Interview conversations, whether on the phone, in person, or via email, yield valuable information that you might not be able to find through hard copy or Internet research. Perhaps even more important than 'just the facts,' the quotes gleaned through an interview bring a personal touch to the knowledge, and make your article come alive. Quotes add a dimension to your piece that can't be gained anywhere else, and editors will know if you've skipped the step of asking questions of a real, live person in-the-know. Without good interviewing skills, many a would-be working writer might as well be thought of as a glorified researcher. 

There are other benefits to interviewing, some that might not occur to a writer at first, and some that won't materialize from every single interview. For instance, the impression you make and the rapport you build with an interviewee could turn into writing assignments for their company down the road. It's important to note, however, that a writer should not go into an interview situation looking to pitch an idea for a trade article or advertisement. Just know that if you are professional and personable, they might very well remember you the next time they need a writer. Future story ideas are another positive byproduct of the interviewing process. Often, in the course of asking questions related to the article you're writing, an interviewee will reveal something that savvy writers will write down to pursue later. Many past conversations with people I've interviewed have sparked subsequent article ideas -- and that means money in my pocket. 

Interviewing professionalism starts long before the actual interview. It is vitally important that you be professional on the phone, in person, or via email when making the initial contact and setting up the interview. Be polite, return calls and emails when promised, and be on time for the interview. 

Professionalism in dress, specifically for an interview, involves attire appropriate for the situation. For example, it would be inappropriate for me to wear a suit and high heels when I interview farmers for the agriculture publication I write for. Likewise, jeans and boots would have drawn more than a few frowns at the press conference held by Brad Pitt when Meet Joe Black premiered in my hometown. 

Nothing will destroy your credibility faster than to arrive at an interview unprepared and scrambling. Make sure the batteries in your tape recorder work, pop in a fresh tape, and get your notebook and pens organized beforehand. It is also wise to do some pre-research before the interview to give you enough background material to be able to formulate some initial questions.

• Don't walk in, sit down and begin firing questions at your subject press conference style. Introduce yourself, shake hands, and chat for a minute. This breaks the ice, and puts the interviewee more at ease. Then, start with the basics. Get correct spellings of names, correct dates, etc. Leave nothing to chance. Then begin with the predictable questions - who, what, when, where, why and how.

• If you do not understand something, clear it up right away. Nothing is worse than sitting down to write an article, looking at your notes, and finding ambiguity staring you in the face. Many, many times during your writing career, you will be writing about areas you know nothing about. Keep asking for clarification until you understand what the interviewee is saying. Lots of writers avoid pursuing additional explanation for fear of looking stupid. This attitude is unprofessional and leads to inaccuracy.

• Learn to ask open-ended questions. These are questions that require more than a yes or no answer, and they are very useful in drawing out a reluctant interviewee.

• Ask your question, then shut up. It's extremely important that you allow your subject to answer you completely without interrupting. Avoid editorializing during interviews. There's nothing wrong with a bit of discussion within the context of an interview (in fact, it might even help build rapport), but too much talking on the part of the interviewer leaves too little time for listening. It also leads you and your subject off-task, and wastes time. 
  

Don't be shy about asking your subject to slow down a bit so you can get everything on paper. I usually say, "I just need a second to catch up with you." Some interviews might require taping; just be sure the subject is aware that you are recording their answers.

To wrap up an interview, I usually say "Is there anything else you'd like to add?" or "Tell me what you'd like our readers to know about you." Sometimes I get some of the best and meatiest quotes using this technique. Then I thank them for their time and input, shake their hand, and tell them when I think the article will appear. 

Don't be discouraged if your first few attempts at interviewing ramble, and leave you tongue-tied and feeling less than professional. Strong interviewing skills do not develop overnight, and the only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice. When insecurity strikes, remember that nearly every writer has been there. And remember, too, that the meat of your story might lie in the interview other writers are too intimidated to ask for.

   -- CBG
   ©1999 Christine Ballew-Gonzales

Christine Ballew-Gonzales is an award-winning freelance writer. The author of hundreds of published newspaper, magazine and corporate articles, she is a regular contributor to six regional publications. An associate editor of a southwest Missouri newspaper, she also writes extensively about contemporary parenting issues. Her most recent parenting articles will appear in spring and summer editions of Vallykids Parent News and Tuesday's Child.