Sunday, March 25, 2012

Bits of Inspiration and Interviewing Hints

Monday, March 26, 2012: I’m writing today from a sparkling clean office—the result of three days of cleaning out file cabinets, cupboards, desk drawers, and bookcases—and tossing or donating a lot of things I’m not using anymore. Is it cleaning time for you?

Thought for Today:

Gracie Allen, who played the scatterbrained wife of George Burns, once called in a repairman to fix her electric clock. The repairman fiddled with it for a while and then said, "You don't have it plugged in." Gracie replied, "I don't want to waste electricity, so I only plug it in when I want to know what time it is."

When I read this I wondered, Do I just call on God when I submit something and pray that it sells? How about praying before we write something, as we write it, and for the right market to send it to?

Interview Hints:

Do you have an assignment to interview someone and you don’t have the faintest idea how to begin? The following hints may help you. (These are explained in more detail in my book "A Step in the Write Direction—the Complete How-to Book for Christian Writers.")

1. Call for an appointment

2. Give reason for the interview

3. Call or e-mail the day before to confirm the appointment

4. Prepare ahead (find out as much information about subject as possible)

5. Send list of questions ahead of time

6. Take time to get acquainted

7. Use recorder wisely

8. Stick to the subject

9. Send thank-you note after the interview

10. Don’t forget, you’re a Christian first, a writer second. Remember the Golden Rule, and treat your interviewee as you’d like to be treated if you were being interviewed.

2 comments:

  1. Great tips, Donna. Most people would think of #10 as an afterthought, but I think it's the most important.

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  2. Looking forward to following your blog.

    ReplyDelete