When I went on the Big Trip back in ’91 (and yes, I will be continuing that saga shortly, I promise), I had the notion of setting up a table in the town diner of every new town I landed in, putting up a little sign that said, “Tell me a true story, I’ll pay you a dollar.” And I’d sit there with pen, paper, and tape recorder, ready to interview anyone brave enough to sit down opposite me.
I never did it, of course. But I think I will next time I take a long road trip.
In 2006 a blogger I admire, in an attempt to get lurkers to come out of lurk mode, offered to interview readers if they would post the interview in their own blogs. A year and a half later, a more highfalutin’ version of the project (apparently unrelated to my acquaintance’s offer) appeared on another blogger’s site:
Did you ever notice that whenever some expert is being interviewed on Oprah or the Today show, the person just happens to have a book coming out the following week? It’s as it wasn’t important to tell us the cure for cancer until the guy’s book comes out, and then they don’t even tell you the cure so you have to buy the book. I’ve seen some bloggers being interviewed by other bloggers. It’s usually the same as it is on TV. Those interviewed are persons deemed “worthy” of being asked important questions about the world. They have a popular blog, a project coming out, or a specific expertise. We instantly find these people even MORE interesting because someone took the time to interview them. It’s like Obama’s campaign didn’t even start until Oprah sat down to talk with him. All of a sudden, everyone went, “Wow, she finds him interesting. He MUST be interesting.” I know most of you won’t agree with me, but I think anyone who decides to write about their life online is interesting, even those who may not do the best job yet of conveying that on paper. We all should be interviewed, at least once.
Ever the copycat, I’m going to take a slightly different approach from each of the aforementioned bloggers, but I think you’ll find it enjoyable. Here’s how it will work:
Let me know, in the comments section of this post, if you would like to be interviewed. (Make sure your email address is included in the comments form. I’ll see it, but no one else will, and I won’t share your email address with anyone else.) Also include a link to your blog.
I will read your blog, and come up with seven questions—some serious, some silly, whatever I think might be interesting—based on the blog’s contents. Scary, eh?
Take time to come up with thoughtful answers, but don’t dilly-dally. Answer as openly and honestly as you are able. Try to get your answers back to me within a week.
There might be some back-and-forth correspondence if I’d like to explore a topic a little further.
I’ll write it up and send it to you. We both publish the same interview in each of our blogs, with a link to the other’s blog for that all-important cross-linking effect that search engines love so much.
If you think this experiment is fun, you might offer to interview people on your blog, and keep propagating the interview project.
So whatcha think? Anyone want to be interviewed?
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