How to Interview Novelists

To see into the mind of a novelist is a tough thing, and so is the job of an interviewer. Whether you want to publish a short interview on a blog or you have grander visions of publishing an interview with a famous writer in a major market, these steps will guide you in the right direction.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find novelists you can interview. Make sure you get in touch with the author. You can do this via the publisher or by going directly to the author’s website. It is doubtful that Stephen King will sit down with you for a blog interview, but many authors are more than willing to get free press. Can you meet this author? Try finding local authors, since this interview could be published in a newspaper—like a small college paper looking for content, or a local free paper.
2. Read the novel. It may be going downward, but it’s far from forgotten by its writer. If you read a good novel, you may love interviewing the author. It can be a fun experience to explore why the person wrote it. Give the novel a good chance; if it doesn’t grab you well into it, move on to the next novel.
3. Ask questions from the beginning. Does it fit into the theme described on the back cover? What ideas does the author bring out? What does the author detail more than anything? Move toward what the author's original vision for the novel was. This leads you down the road of the interesting questions.
4. Choose the right questions to ask the author. After reading the novel, coming up with five to 10 questions shouldn’t be too hard. Always go for as many as possible. For example, if you think five questions will be good, shoot for a few extra just in case the author says something very interesting. Never interrupt during an answer or try to elaborate on what the author is saying. Simply listen, writing down or recording the answer. When the novelist is done speaking, then ask a follow-up. This is also a good way to get a few extra questions in; the novelist will always have something to say that you want more information on.
5. Consider the market. You’ve typed up the interview, and you are ready for success. Interviews are actually a simple thing to publish if you can find the right market. Many online sites love publishing feature interviews, like Salon or major book review sites. However, if you are looking for payment, it will take some work. Consider the theme of the novel, how famous it is and where an interview would fit. For example, a science fiction author interview might find publication on Salon, but something smaller like Strange Horizons might give you a better shot.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the author for ideas where you can publish. He might know a good market.
• Specializing can be good. If you interview literary authors, for example, you can build credibility and interview top authors.
• You won’t get rich publishing interviews, but if the interview is good, it will be published. Few writers publish book reviews for high pay, and the same is the case for interviews of novelists. Don't expect a lot of money. Just have fun.

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