Coming from an interviewer background (mostly musicians) this is fascinating! I always see three types of methods like you explain: 1. Only talk about their work (album, novel, etc), 2. Completely ignore it and ask about their philosophy, cultural perspectives, and work process 3. Just have a normal casual conversation not related / with any aim at all. Talking about what they did today, yesterday and just let the conversation flow.
And this brings me to what I would want to articulate. Is there a way to conduct meaningful conversation, while highlighting their current work? Or will it always be some sort of a artificial, surface level conversation if you ask them to explain their work?
When I read novels that I really love, I instantly go on Google to find out more about the authors. That’s my approach to author interviews too. I don’t really want to know about how they work, I want to know them. How does their mind work? What are their interests? Why do they feel it is necessary to write? The most recent research I did was on Adolph Huxley, and I must say it was very satisfying.
Loved the video and happy to see you on Substack. I am planning to add interviews for my Substack/YouTube channels, and this post and video have made me rethink the whole process. "What Would Dua Lipa Do?" is my new mantra.
I'm so glad that my YouTube algo brought me to the Dua Lipa vid (I can't NOT click on a Dua Lipa vid) and then linked me back to Substack. It was nice to discover your stuff.
Interviews of novelists are always so much more of a crapshoot than interviews of nonfiction writers, usually because they are harder to summarize and therefore reveal lazy interviewers who haven't done the reading.
I think interviewers should take notes here- the people love a freewheeling interview, especially when the guest can give a fresh take on something. Staged promo spots are always going to be awkward, repetitive, and generally less fun than a real convo.
Coming from an interviewer background (mostly musicians) this is fascinating! I always see three types of methods like you explain: 1. Only talk about their work (album, novel, etc), 2. Completely ignore it and ask about their philosophy, cultural perspectives, and work process 3. Just have a normal casual conversation not related / with any aim at all. Talking about what they did today, yesterday and just let the conversation flow.
And this brings me to what I would want to articulate. Is there a way to conduct meaningful conversation, while highlighting their current work? Or will it always be some sort of a artificial, surface level conversation if you ask them to explain their work?
When I read novels that I really love, I instantly go on Google to find out more about the authors. That’s my approach to author interviews too. I don’t really want to know about how they work, I want to know them. How does their mind work? What are their interests? Why do they feel it is necessary to write? The most recent research I did was on Adolph Huxley, and I must say it was very satisfying.
I'm surprised you did not include the masterclass Richard Ayoade gave during his interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy about his book in this video.
Here's the video if you haven't seen it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjC3ycS_2js
Explaining interviews through comparison was a great hook—it got me here!
Loved the video and happy to see you on Substack. I am planning to add interviews for my Substack/YouTube channels, and this post and video have made me rethink the whole process. "What Would Dua Lipa Do?" is my new mantra.
Fantastic and hilarious.
Love your research and inspired me to be curious and dwell in magical novel world 🙏
I'm so glad that my YouTube algo brought me to the Dua Lipa vid (I can't NOT click on a Dua Lipa vid) and then linked me back to Substack. It was nice to discover your stuff.
Interviews of novelists are always so much more of a crapshoot than interviews of nonfiction writers, usually because they are harder to summarize and therefore reveal lazy interviewers who haven't done the reading.
I think interviewers should take notes here- the people love a freewheeling interview, especially when the guest can give a fresh take on something. Staged promo spots are always going to be awkward, repetitive, and generally less fun than a real convo.