I thought the Art of Interviewing chapter was helpful because it prepares a writer for every type of interview such as telephone interviews and even celebrity interviews (though I could not imagine having a celebrity interview). I was glad the author reminded me that “good research is good armor.” A writer knowing their source before they walk into the interview is the key to asking great questions.
But, when the author discusses that being persistent is essential when a reporter needs to get important information for a story, I felt slightly uncomfortable. I understand that the information is significant to writing the story, but maybe there is another way to go about gathering information from sources. Honestly, I would feel like Veronica Corningstone, the hardcore journalist, from the famous comedy, Anchorman.
The overall theme of this chapter does speak volumes: Good things happen when you let people talk. Interviewing is an art form in the sense that the interviewer is letting the interviewee speak for themselves.
In telling True Stories, the debate was to tape or not tape. I personally admire the tape recorder and all of the wonderful things it can do that I cannot remember or write down. Although I remind myself to be a good listener with the tape recorder on, it is my safety net in capturing everything my source says.
As I read the seven phases of interviewing, I was surprised by how effective these phases could work in a real interview. Phase three: moment of connection and Phase six: declaration stick out to me the most because they are turning points in the interview. They reveal the most valuable information to add to the story.
Feature Writing 