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Writing Notes

General Purpose Interview Questions

1. Who influence you most in your life?
2. If you weren't doing this, what do you think you might be doing?
3. What's the most important thing in your life?
4. What do you see yourself doing 20 years from now?

Interview For

1. Goals, Obstacles, Solutions & Start Over (review previous subjects) + Evaluate & Why [G.O.S.S.E.Y]

Angles

• information
• service
• how to
• personality
• profile
• essay & opinion
• think piece

Queries

1. introduction
   1. examples
   2. anecdotes
   3. stats
   4. quotes
2. middle
   1. nutshell of idea
   2. focus and viewpoint (& slant!)
   3. word count (contradictory advice found)
   4. photos?
   5. willing to write on spec
3. With the editor clued in to the "what" and "why," it is time to tell the editor the "how" of information gathering.
   1. What sources might consent to be interviewed?
   2. What documents can be consulted in libraries, government agencies or business archives?
   3. Are reference books available?
   4. If possible, work in a telling anecdote, a case history, or a statistic already in hand--and simultaneously demonstrate your passion for the topic.

Leads (hook & slant)

1. ask yourself
   1. What is the single most important thing I have to say in my article?
   2. What is the most interesting or the most astounding fact in the article?
   3. What is there about my article that makes it different?
2. elements
   1. make a statement
   2. Narrative
   3. Creating a scene
   4. Character, action and dialogue (or any one or combination of the 3)
   5. Anecdotes
   6. Quotes
   7. Surprise or suspense
   8. Questions
   9. Imagery
   10. Atmosphere (set a scene)
3. approaches
   1. tension / (development) / resolution model
   2. get attention / make an inviting promise / move to a solid follow-through

- from Writing compelling article leads (The Writer, Nov95, Vol. 108 Issue 11, p18, 4p) and Writing great leads (The Writer, Oct93, Vol. 106 Issue 10, p18, 5p)

How to Divide Time

1. Writing - 50%
2. Business - 10%
3. Edutcation - 10%
4. Marketing - 15%
5. Submitting - 15%

Another good interview question:

1. Did you learn anything about yourself that you didn't know before?

- from FreshAir?

See Also:

• AWritersGuideToGettingPublishedInMagazines
• HowToWriteIrresistibleQueryLetters