Wednesday, October 31, 2012

WRITER WEDNESDAY: the interview

(Picture take during 3rd photo shoot for the BROKEN trailer)


So, you're active in the YA world. You're a reader, a blogger, a writer. Heck, maybe an agent or editor out scoping the Net for info on an author you're considering. (I've heard they do that...) Someone posts a link to an interview. Do you go check it out? Do you even like interviews?

Having done two interviews for various sources in the past week, I'm curious how much play these things really get in our world. Are interviews just people talking about things you aren't interested in? Are they page-fillers people skim on their way down to the almost always coinciding giveaway? Do readers actually care enough about the authors/interviewees to read the interview? and, if so, what kind of questions do you like to see asked and answered? Do you prefer them short, or long? If you go to a blog and find a looong interview, do you stay to read it all?

This could help us tailor how we do interviews, and maybe give readers more of what they want to see. Let's talk about this!



16 comments:

  1. To be perfectly honest ... for me, as a reader and a hopefully-published-author-someday ...

    I really only read interviews from authors whose book I've already read and enjoyed. If I love a book, I want to read more about the author, the author's feelings on the book, the author's process of writing/revising/etc., and a little bit about the author's personal life. I'll read an interview of probably any length if it's an author I've already read.

    An author I haven't read yet? Probably would not read the interview. (but might come back AFTER I've read a book!) I'd have to be really, really excited about a book to read an interview from the author before having read anything by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm the same way, Christie. And even then, whether an author I know or one I want to, I skim for topics that interest me in the interviews. I like ones with pointed, more thought provoking questions, too. If I see an answer start with, "Good question!' I will definitely read it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have to be honest. I really don't think people care about the interviews. I run the YA Book Club on goodreads and have managed to land interviews with authors every month now. These interviews the members can participate in, so the readers ask the questions along with me. I have over 5000 members in the group.. and HARDLY anyone cares to participate. Even if they read along that month. For example coming up NOV 14th Sarah J Maas is stopping by for a Q&A and this is the participation so far: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1078368-q-a-with-sarah-j-maas

    It is sad ... even when big authors come by like John Connolly! There wasn't as much participation as I thought. Unfortunately I don't think author interviews are that popular. Even though I personally think it can really add to the story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great questions, Ann. I didn't find that my interviews got as much traffic or interest as reviews (or the fun guest posts I did). Of course, it's hard to make people review your book, but you are in charge the fun stuff you put together for a guest post. Instead of fearing them (because they are more work than answering interview questions), I'd suggest authors embrace guest post opportunities to really give themselves a chance to show their personalities and writing style.

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