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Mining Hidden Treasure
One of the most interesting aspects of writing is the interview. Whether providing quotes for an article or getting the necessary material for a profile, interviewing can also be daunting. Quotes help to back up your premise or show how others view your topic. You already have the facts. Now you need personality, little tidbits of gold that will make your article or profile come alive. Here are ten steps for mining hidden treasure. 1. Check your facts. Check to see if any articles have been written about the subject. Magazine and newspaper archives will be a mother lode of information. The Internet is an added source of material. If your subject is a celebrity, you are more likely to find background data on the Internet. Read the articles and take thorough notes. Print them out if it helps. Jot down questions that have been asked in the past. Make your list different. Nobody likes answering the same questions all the time. Your attention to detail will spark your subject’s interest and may open a hidden vein of gold. What interests you about the subject? What would you like to know? If you have read any of their work or seen their movies, which ones were your favorites and why? (Do not turn into an awe struck fan. This is business.) What set your favorites apart from the rest of their work? What have critics said in the past and how does this change or supplement your views? The first interview I ever did was with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney, Benson Wolman, who defended the Ku Klux Klan at the United States Supreme Court. The Klan wanted to place a cross on the Ohio State House lawn one Christmas. In the course of research - and there wasn't much - I discovered the attorney was Jewish. The most obvious question on my mind was why a Jewish lawyer would defend the Ku Klux Klan. I also wanted to know more about the history of the case and how he became involved. 2. It’s in the details. Estimate how much of your subject’s time you will need. Factor in extra time for photographs and for little hidden gems. Keep your deadlines in mind, but be as flexible as possible when scheduling interviews. Your subject is being gracious in sharing their time. Be gracious enough to make it convenient. You will get a sense of their history and you might also get a little of their pain, just as I did when I interviewed a woman who lived in a Japanese Interment camp in the Sonora desert in Arizona during World War II. Karen was only five years old when she and her family were torn from everything they knew. They were different and the bombing of Pearl Harbor made people afraid of all Asians. Karen shared her pictures and her life. She also shared a view of the camps I could not get from all the background material I read before the interview. By the time I met Karen, I had written several profiles. I was a lot less nervous, but I was also prepared for anything. I got it. I found a story with more personality and humanity than anything I had planned. 3. Visual Appeal. Pictures will add a dimension to your profile or article that you cannot get with a thousand words – and most magazines and newspapers have very strict guidelines about space for words. Get permission to take photographs. Some subjects may also have photographs they will loan you. Ask. Keep a backup camera, enough film of various speeds, and the right sized batteries. Be prepared. You never know what kind of weather or circumstances you will find. I got lucky with Benson Wolman. On the wall behind him in the conference room where we met was a large American flag. It proved to be the perfect backdrop for the article. Be flexible. Take advantage of interesting features. 4. Voice appeal. There is only one thing more reliable than taking notes – taping the interview. Buy a good quality recorder and plenty of tapes. If you can afford it, a voice actuated recorder will save you time and tape. Voice actuated recorders activate only when someone is talking. Know the length of the tapes and keep an eye on the time. There's nothing worse than getting home and finding you missed the best part of the interview. Keep extra batteries on hand just in case. If you are not sure how old the batteries in your recorder are, put in new ones. You may want to tape phone interviews. There are several stores that supply inexpensive equipment and instruction. Always ask, whether on the phone or in person, if you may tape the interview. Very seldom will the subject say no. When it comes to backing up the subject’s statements, there’s nothing more convincing than hearing their own voice. Make copies. Type up a transcript of the tape and keep two hard copies: one for your computer and one for your files. You never know when they might come in handy. Ever hear of libel? 5. Check your list twice. Go over your list of questions. Know them backwards and forwards. Professionalism is in the details. Pack film and your camera. Double check your batteries and supplies. Take a stenographer's notebook or legal size tablet to take notes. In fact, take an extra little notebook to take quick notes. Even the best recorders fail on occasion. Check your equipment again. 6. You’re on. When you arrive at the interview (a little early) or make your phone call, thank your subject for their time. Ask if you may take pictures and record the interview. If you’re doing the interview by phone you don’t need a camera, recorder, or batteries. Keep your notebook handy or have your word processing program open. 7. Cue senses. It’s easy from here. Now you just need to pay attention to the subject and just listen. The best interviews are in the details. Take note of your surroundings. What are you smelling, seeing, hearing, feeling or tasting? Sensory details make the difference between a dull story and one that glitters. 8. Relax. Be flexible. Sometimes what you don’t say is more important than what you do. An interview is two people getting to know one another. When your subject comfortable, the conversation takes on a life of its own. Stick to your guidelines, but don't be rigid. Enjoy yourself. You are meeting a very interesting person. Whatever questions you had in mind, they are not as important as what your subject has to share. If the conversation veers off track, mark the important questions and let the rest go. If you have time to get them in, go for it. If you don't get to ask them, don't worry. What you end up with may be more interesting. Your willingness to listen will often make the subject feel magnanimous. They may even offer you a few extra minutes or be willing to reschedule. 9. Listen. People enjoy talking about themselves. They offer you what is near and dear to their hearts. You will share their special moments. Be open and you will get a story with personality and humanity. Take a deep breath and relaxed. Your subject will relax and the experience will take on a life of its own. 10. Wrap it up. Type up your notes while they’re still fresh. Transcribe any tapes and date them. File questions, research material, pictures, negatives, tapes, and notes together. Review your notes. Write your article. But remember you’re writing about a person; include their personality and surroundings. Check the article against your notes. Recheck your facts. Expect the unexpected. Make the most of the experience. Above all, be prepared to listen. You're about to mine hidden treasure. Remember, the article is not about you. You get the byline; the subject gets center stage. One last bit of advice: No matter how average the person thinks they are, everyone has a story they want to tell. They’re waiting for you to ask.
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