Naomi Dawn Musch

     Once again I’m about to do an interview—not giving an interview, mind you. That would be much easier for me. No, I’m on the question-asking end. I know that some people dread the idea of being interviewed. I, on the other hand, get completely bottled up about making that initial contact, meeting, and asking the questions.

     I’ve gotten to interview some amazing people in my life. It’s something I began doing over 30 years ago when I was in High School. I even won a state-wide award and two scholarships for feature writing. That doesn’t happen without learning to interview.

     Nowadays, I’m blessed to write features on several fronts, and one in particular calls me to step out of my comfort zone to do interviews. In the process, I try to help the interviewee feel at ease. Kind of ironic, isn’t it?

     So here are some tips if you find yourself in a similar mode:

• 1.) Don’t put it off. The biggest mistake I make is hesitation. I know when my deadlines are, and I tend to hold off on making that contact phone call until I’ve thought it to death. That only winds me up and rattles my nerves more. I don’t know why that initial contact is so hard for me. I’ve never yet met anyone who was unkind. Many of the wonderful folk who’ve picked up the phone on the other end are more nervous than I am. They are worried about how their story will be told. They are the ones who are really putting themselves out there into the public eye, not me.
• 2.) Script yourself. You’ll introduce yourself first, and possibly get an answering service, so have that initial introduction written out so that you don’t fumble. “Hi, this is Naomi Musch, the writer doing your story for XYZ Magazine (or – a writer who’d like to talk to you about an interview for XYZ Magazine). Sorry I missed you. I’ll try calling back later, unless you’d like to call me when you’re free. My number is 123-456-7890. Thank you!
• 3.) Plan Thoroughly. There’s nothing worse than going into an interview feeling unprepared. If you are going to meet a recognized community member or any personage whose name is known for business or other purposes, Google them. Read what you can about them. If they’ve written a book, read it. If they’re part of an organization, find out about it. Approach them as someone who already knows them at some level. You’ll be more confident and comfortable.
• 4.) Be friendly. Even if meeting new people is difficult for you, you don’t have to let them know that. Take a deep breath. Suck in your stomach and put a smile on your face. Shake hands and then let the breath back out. Relax. Want to meet this person. Desire to know them better. Be personable and demonstrate trustworthiness and caring. You’ll find that when you do these things, not only will your subject be more comfortable and candid, but you will be more at ease yourself, and you may actually build a new friendship. There’s nothing wrong with that!
• 5.) Think about what hasn’t already been asked. Some of the people you interview may have been interviewed many times before. They’ll have pre-conceived ideas of what to expect. What can you ask them that they’ve never been asked before? How can you dig a little deeper into their stories to see their heart?
• After I make the phone call or complete the interview, I always feel euphoric. I start to think of what a great story this is going to be, and how I get the privilege of telling it. Then I also feel a little chagrined. I still have all my appendages; no one has bitten them off. The party I interviewed is now probably one of my Facebook friends.

     So make the call. Ask the questions. Show compassion. Don’t let a little nervousness or Satan’s attempts to hold you back—well—hold you back.

     Write on!