It’s not often I decide that I have something writerly to share. Today, however is your lucky day 🙂 As I have gotten ready for the release of my book, I have offered to do interviews and asked other bloggers if I could be on their sites. I had many people offer to be let me be on their sites, but fewer asking to be interviewed or doing a guest blog. Why? I don’t bite.
I think people are afraid to put themselves out there, as if they are being judged for having the audacity to feel they are worthy of being on someone’s blog. I know I felt the same way.
This is silly. Not only do I get to learn more about someone, which could easily turn into a character in a book one day, I also get a blog post I don’t have to figure out on my own, and I have gotten at least one new follower for every interview I have done.
Yes, I want to help my fellow authors, and yes I am a blessed saint for doing so, but I also get a lot in return. So the next time some offers you a chance to be on the blog don’t be all shy and nervous, jump at the chance!
Now this part is just personal opinion, but I like interviews that help me get to know the author better.
I don’t want to know more about their process. I’m a writer I understand how it works.
Desperately type words to make word count.
Ignore that they’re crap and move onto the next chapter.
Read and edit finished book wondering what drugs you were taking at the time, patch it the best you can, offer to critique group and try not to cry as they tell you it needs to be re-written.
Throw a temper tantrum.
Rewrite the damn things, take back to group, more editing and revising, lather, rinse, repeat. I won’t get into publishing because that part can be even more of an emotional roller coaster.
Isn’t this how everyone writes?
To prepare for doing my interviews I sat down and thought of 30 questions. Okay, boy child and hubby helped. They’re odd, some have to do with books, some zombies, some food, whatever, but all of them help the reader get to know the guests as people better, which gives them the chance to feel connected to the reader.
When someone agrees to be interviewed by me, I send out the whole list and let them pick what they want to answer. If there are things they want to talk about which are not on the list, then they go ahead and make up questions for themselves.
See it’s not so hard, and it’s fun. As the host I read through them, troll the internet for picks to brighten everything up, and voila! a blog post.
Now for your Monday Music
I completely missed when my interview appeared! Just seeing it now. Sorry.
No worries 🙂
Alica, I never read anything about you wanting interviews and I read all your blogs. I must have missed something??? I’d love to host you. Get in touch with me.
Patti
Liked the song!
Most of them have been at the bottom of the post and more offers to have people on my blog then me on theirs. BUT I would LOVE to be interviewed by you, and return the favor. I’ll email you!
You make such a good point. Since I’m not published yet, I immediately assume I’m not a candidate for an interview, and I still believe that to some extent. But then I think, hey, I’m not alone in writing, polishing and ‘actively planning’ to publish my first book. I’d be thrilled to learn more about other writers like me who aren’t published yet, but will be. If I get to know them now … I’ll be in the front of the line to buy their book the moment it’s available.
Thanks for giving me this perspective. I’ll be open to this opportunity and I hope to see more interviews w/ writers in the trenches navigating this turbulent publishing gig. 🙂
I would love to have you guest post or interview!
Thanks Ginger!
Alright, I’m going to put myself out there. I’ll DM you. 🙂
YAY!!!
Alica, I’m with Ginger. I don’t think I qualify (and I’m stil a bit shy), but I’m eager to learn more about other writers.
Your interview process sounds great!
(btw: finally I was able to log in and comment with my twitter account… sorry for the absence).
No worries commenting can be far to challenging some days. don’t stress or push yourself, just remember that both people gain from having interviews ad guests posts and when you’re ready go for it!
I feel the same as Ginger. I don’t know why anyone would want to read an interview of me. I’m not published. But, I think Ginger would make a great interview. I’d love to pick her brain about exercising and healthy eating. And as someone who is new to blogging, the idea of doing guest posts or interviews is a little too scary for me. Maybe once I’ve been doing it for awhile. But for now, it’s baby steps for me.
Don’t rush yourself- just know guest posts and interviews help both parties 🙂
Aw, thanks, Emma! I’m going to do an interview. Now you’re required to read it and pretend I’m very interesting. Haha! Oh, and you can pick my brain about fitness/nutrition stuff any time. If something I saw helps someone, I’m happy! 🙂
Alicia–got the questions. I’m excited!
Being so new to this blogging thing, I didn’t catch on when you were setting up your virtual book tour. If you would like to pimp your book at my stop you’re more than welcome! I’d love to hear more about you and your book. You can DM me and we can talk.
Thanks Debra! I’d love to stop by your blog. And it wasn’t a hard core push for a blog tour so it was easy to miss.
Alica, you really do know how to put yourself out there. You go girl!
I’m glad that Ginger is going to do a guest spot with you. I too would like to know more about her. Very cool. See, this opened people up. And I did see your post over at Colin Falconer’s site. Very nice post Alica! I really enjoyed it.
Take care and keep up the great work. We need you to pump us up! We’re all a little shy. 🙂
Thanks Karen, I understand being shy, and I’m happy to be a cheerleader. 🙂 I hope when you’re ready to do guests posts you remember that it helps everyone involved.