Internet and Interviews

[alanajoli]

I've discovered that I get the best writing done when my computer is disconnected from the internet. I've also discovered that it takes me quite some time to catch up on all the author blogs and industry newsletters I read when I do this. Someday, I will find an ideal balance. I hope.

**

On the actual news front, GenCon and my book release are only six days away. I think I am in denial, as it just doesn't seem possible that it's coming up so soon.

As the release date has crept closer, I have gotten interview requests, which astonishes me. One came from the Secret Identity podcast, and the other, from my ninth grade English teacher, who has volunteered to write an article about me for the hometown paper in Charles City, Iowa, where I grew up. I'm extremely excited about both opportunities, and was amazed at the paranoia I experienced while sending an e-mail back to my high school English teacher. Was my grammar correct? Were there typos? Tell me there weren't typos!

The podcast interview will, obviously, take place live, over the telephone. The newspaper interview will be via e-mail, which is of great relief to me. I like being able to consider my answers and then respond in the most intelligent fashion possible. Though I'll acknowledge that I've occasionally written something remarkably silly in a print interview, it gives me nowhere near as much cause for anxiety as a live phone interview. I am and have always been a remarkably chatty person, which sometimes leads to my going right ahead and talking before I fully think through what I'm going to say.

If any of you reading this have tricks for being eloquent in a live interview, I'd love to hear them! Otherwise, general wishes of good luck would be much appreciated.

Comments

interviewed

[exoder27.livejournal.com]

I just got interviewed over the phone recently too, although not for a podcast, but a news article, which is a little easier to edit, and they don't allow you to make yourself sound like an idiot. You also have that Foster gene in you of not thinking before talking.

So do you know when this podcast is out? I'm totally grabbing that when it is out. Also, I'm going to order the book soon, however, would it be better to get it on Amazon, or somewhere else? I want you to get the most amount of money from me purchasing this as possible.

Re: interviewed

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Brian from Secret Identity said they're going to try to release it this week so that we can get some extra promotion out for the book before GenCon. I'll post it here as soon as I know!

As of this morning, the book is still not up on amazon. I'm hoping it will be there soon. The benefit for me is sort of six of one, half a dozen of the other: if you buy it from White Silver, I probably get more money, but if you buy it from Amazon, I get more advertising.

Will you be posting the interview on your site when it comes out?

Internet

[(Anonymous)]

I get my best writing done at two in the morning with a bottle of Jack Daniels. Same thing with being eloquent in a live interview. So I'm not going to be a source of insight for you.

I just wanted to wish you good luck!

Paul O'Connor

Re: Internet

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Oh, you are always a source of insight for me! And thank you for the luck; it paid off. I think I sounded pretty intelligent and interesting, which is really the best that I can hope for, right?

[(Anonymous)]

Use the same idea as with the email interview... of course, it requires them cooperating. Ask for a copy of the questions beforehand, so you can prepare your answers. You don't have to completely script them, but at least you would have an idea of what to say to each question. That makes for much smoother transitions between questions & answers too... since you won't need to pause much before answering, and you'll be much less tempted to "um" your way through pauses.
Jen R

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Alas, I didn't avoid the "ums," but I did use your idea and have him send me some questions ahead of time. Luckily, he was very easy to talk to, and it was more like a conversation for which I was a guest than an interview. Whew!