This is so helpful yes! Wow so zoom and then voice to text - ok that makes sense. I would love to go straight for podcast interview but I don't have the bandwidth to learn that, figure out how to write and finish creating my YouTube channel. I have listened to every historian I love's podcast interviews and it's definitely those more personal / journey ones that I enjoy the most. I feel like it's already been done recently but hopefully I can add more creative questions. Have you ever heard of writing questions and having them write them back and then publish that?
You’re so welcome! I haven’t particularly done that route, but I have done that previously for academic purposes (interviewing an expert to be quoted in a written work.) I totally get the podcast learning curve - I’ve joked previously that I wouldn’t mind *being* on a podcast, but I absolutely do not want to have to figure out how to set it all up. I’d go with whatever is the path of least resistance at this point! You can always evolve later.
Absolutely! I am by no means an expert, but I'll tell you what my process has been thus far.
I have a narrow scope for these interviews. I'm not specifically interested in the work that writers/artists/creatives have done, but how they've gotten to this point. The impetus was this - when I decided I wanted to be a writer at age 9, my parents actively tried to discourage me from that. I understand why now; they wanted me to be safe and secure and happy, and they had no model for what a working artist looks like. So I focus my questions specifically around that idea: how did you get here? What did you study? Was there anyone who supported you? Do you consider yourself a working artist? etc.
In terms of actual format, I record the interviews on Zoom (I have access to a premium account) I then paid for what I lovingly refer to as a phone robot (Otter.AI) to do voice-to-text-transcription. I'd say it's about 90% accurate, so I then go through and format the interviews into what you see in the posts. I remove any filler words, correct spellings, clarify statements, etc. At that point, I send them to the interviewee. I'm not a journalist, so I have no problem with them reviewing what I'm about to publish. That also gives them a chance to clarify any of their comments, and give me any photos they want used and links to their work.
I've found so far that folks are really generous and willing to sit down and chat. I hope this helps but I'm happy to answer any more questions!
This is so helpful yes! Wow so zoom and then voice to text - ok that makes sense. I would love to go straight for podcast interview but I don't have the bandwidth to learn that, figure out how to write and finish creating my YouTube channel. I have listened to every historian I love's podcast interviews and it's definitely those more personal / journey ones that I enjoy the most. I feel like it's already been done recently but hopefully I can add more creative questions. Have you ever heard of writing questions and having them write them back and then publish that?
Thanks so much
You’re so welcome! I haven’t particularly done that route, but I have done that previously for academic purposes (interviewing an expert to be quoted in a written work.) I totally get the podcast learning curve - I’ve joked previously that I wouldn’t mind *being* on a podcast, but I absolutely do not want to have to figure out how to set it all up. I’d go with whatever is the path of least resistance at this point! You can always evolve later.
I would love any tips on a "written interview" I would love to interview some of my Author /historian heroes this way but not sure the process
Absolutely! I am by no means an expert, but I'll tell you what my process has been thus far.
I have a narrow scope for these interviews. I'm not specifically interested in the work that writers/artists/creatives have done, but how they've gotten to this point. The impetus was this - when I decided I wanted to be a writer at age 9, my parents actively tried to discourage me from that. I understand why now; they wanted me to be safe and secure and happy, and they had no model for what a working artist looks like. So I focus my questions specifically around that idea: how did you get here? What did you study? Was there anyone who supported you? Do you consider yourself a working artist? etc.
In terms of actual format, I record the interviews on Zoom (I have access to a premium account) I then paid for what I lovingly refer to as a phone robot (Otter.AI) to do voice-to-text-transcription. I'd say it's about 90% accurate, so I then go through and format the interviews into what you see in the posts. I remove any filler words, correct spellings, clarify statements, etc. At that point, I send them to the interviewee. I'm not a journalist, so I have no problem with them reviewing what I'm about to publish. That also gives them a chance to clarify any of their comments, and give me any photos they want used and links to their work.
I've found so far that folks are really generous and willing to sit down and chat. I hope this helps but I'm happy to answer any more questions!