I had a rather interesting experience on Monday. I got interviewed by a reporter that works for the local newspaper, regarding the two novels I recently published: https://www.liberalfirst.com/local-sports-4/15169-liberal-author-announces-new-books%E2%80%99-releases
I must say, that was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life, worse even that dealing with the flow of people in a big airport (I used to work for the TSA and was trained in a couple of big ones).
I'm really glad the reporter was able to make something coherent out of my nervous jabbering.
Has anyone else ever been interviewed about their writing? Now that it's over and the article is out, I find myself wondering if there was something more I could have done to prepare myself, so as not to be a nervous wreck. Though if I had to guess, that's probably normal for a first interview with a reporter.
Released novels, available for purchase: Troll Song and Forgotten Legends. More books are on the way, waiting only for cover art.
Congrats on the novels and the interview.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: Submitted, WIP, ?, ?
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
Congrats on the novels and the interview.
Thanks. I hope the newspaper article helps with sales. One can only hope that people that read newspapers like to read novels.
Released novels, available for purchase: Troll Song and Forgotten Legends. More books are on the way, waiting only for cover art.
I'm really glad the reporter was able to make something coherent out of my nervous jabbering.
Has anyone else ever been interviewed about their writing? Now that it's over and the article is out, I find myself wondering if there was something more I could have done to prepare myself, so as not to be a nervous wreck. Though if I had to guess, that's probably normal for a first interview with a reporter.
Hey OwenTyme, congrats on the interview! 
To answer your question about interviews - I have never spoken to a reporter/journalist about my fiction writing, but I have done many, many interviews over the years about science, and in case its helpful, I think my main thoughts on that are probably pretty transferable.
The reporter is not out to get you, they don't even care about your book/science, they care about the story. And by story, I mean, whats the hook, whats the human interest angle, etc The best way to you to help them make a successful story is for you to stay in control. Which sounds odd, but you are the one with all the answers! Most journalists are actually going to be grateful for this as it makes it easier for them
- i say I'm going to need to approve any quotes attributed to me before press. I've never had a real journalist refuse that. This avoids giant forehead slaps when you read the article and it says something you never wanted published or was completely misunderstood, misquoted or taken out of context
- ask them for a list of questions in advance
- type out your responses to their written questions and send them back to them. This means you get time to think about what you want to say, and choose your words. Also means the journalist doesn't have to transcribe a recording or scribble furiously so they are usually more than happy with this
- in the response, whether their questions asked for it or not, I give them the hook - with science that's 'why is this important and who does it impact but for your novel this is probably the one liner pitch and you probably want to say what genre, age group and who its going to appeal to.
- I send them those materials as far in advance of the live conversation as possible, usually no less than 24 hours, otherwise they wont have read it and its a waste of your time
- We then only need to use the live interview for clarifying questions. Thats usually pretty short, they generally just ask you personal human/context questions to give the article a human side, and as you've already done the majority of the answers in written form that makes this just a relaxed conversation rather than an anxiety provoking mess that you blank on what you said 5 seconds later (the latter was my experience before I did these things)
anyway, hope this is the first of many interviews and book sales! Not sure if the above will help you, for me it transforms it from stress to something at least approaching pleasant!
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2025: 1 submitted 0 acceptances
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
- i say I'm going to need to approve any quotes attributed to me before press. I've never had a real journalist refuse that. This avoids giant forehead slaps when you read the article and it says something you never wanted published or was completely misunderstood, misquoted or taken out of context
I love that tip because I was interviewed a couple of times when in a band, and the journalists took shorthand notes that when printed weren't like how I talk at all!
35: - R R R | 36: R HM R R | 37: HM HM HM SHM | 38: HM HM HM HM | 39: HM HM HM SHM | 40: HM R SHM SHM | 41: R HM SHM R
5 SHM / 13 HM / 9 R
- i say I'm going to need to approve any quotes attributed to me before press. I've never had a real journalist refuse that. This avoids giant forehead slaps when you read the article and it says something you never wanted published or was completely misunderstood, misquoted or taken out of context
I love that tip because I was interviewed a couple of times when in a band, and the journalists took shorthand notes that when printed weren't like how I talk at all!
omigod, yes, I remember being quoted once many years ago, and the quote was both clipped and decontextualized. Maddening!
"Never tell me the odds!" -Han Solo
@gideonpsmith super spot-on advice, thank you!
"Never tell me the odds!" -Han Solo
