By Lis Garrett
Keywords: freelance writers, interview
I once took part in an exchange on a forum with fellow freelance writers in which someone asked the question of how to handle an uncooperative interview subject. At the time, I had yet to interview anyone for an article, but I felt qualified to offer a different perspective. I went on to recount how a new journalist from one of my town's small papers had contacted me by phone for an interview on green living. At the time, I was writing for a site whose focus was practices in sustainable living, and he thought I could offer practical advice.
As is the case with most children, however, my three lack a sufficient amount of phone etiquette. Like Pavlov's dog, the shrill ring of the telephone has trained them, rather successfully, to act like monkeys when I am on an important call. Most parents understand this phenomenon. But the journalist, intent on getting a scoop and meeting a deadline, failed to recognize his bad timing and insisted on moving forward with his questions, plowing ahead despite the background noise and his subject's incessant pleas to "hold on a minute."
Early on in the interview, I requested that we conduct it via e-mail. I was very aware of my poorly constructed answers, and the last thing I wanted was to appear a dimwit in the local paper. According to the journalist, however, e-mail interviews were not his practice, and he was perfectly fine with recording my answers on tape. I felt as though I were working for him instead of with him, as he was definitely the one in charge. Perhaps I should have pointed out that he was the one to contact me and it would be in his best interest, for the sake of the article, to obtain my answers in a way that was most comfortable and convenient for me. Had he acquiesced, I could've sat down at a later hour once I had tucked my children away for the night and had a chance to clear my head to answer his questions adequately. Instead, I was forced to flounder for words while being preoccupied with my less-than-cooperative children.
During the interview, I mentioned a liking for fresh vegetable soup using ingredients from my backyard garden. "It's my own recipe," I offered. He then requested the full scoop on the soup and a lowdown on the recipe.
"You mean you want me to tell you how to make it over the phone?" He did, indeed, and that's where I drew the line. "Listen," I said. "I can't do this over the phone. I cannot dictate a recipe to you because, for one, I have to dig it out from under piles of papers in my junk drawer. Secondly, you've completely caught me off guard, and I don't feel prepared at all."
By that time, the interview had lasted more than 30 minutes. We might have conducted an interview in half that time had my children not been present. The reality is, however, my children are an ever-present factor in my life, and they are loud.
As freelance writers conducting an interview, you have responsibilities toward your subject. First, you must agree on a time to conduct the interview that meets your subject's needs. If possible, send your subject a copy of the questions you will ask so that she can have the opportunity to prepare some answers and know the type of information you seek. Next, when you do call for an interview, be sure to establish that the timing is good. You never know when you have caught someone whose toilet is overflowing or whose dog is rummaging through the garbage. Alternatively, perhaps your subject is just having a bad day. There are any number of reasons why a person might not be attuned to the interview, and her inattention will affect the overall quality of your article. Finally, clarify that the basic information is accurate and that you have interpreted it correctly.
Freelance writers are more likely to get what they are looking for in an interview if they are able to assess what the subject needs to feel at ease.
Lis Garrett is a work-at-home writer living in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. In addition to her work as a contract writer for Writers Research Group, she writes site and product endorsements, maintains a blog for novice freelance writers, and edits a school newsletter.
.