Comments on: Why ‘Going Blind’ is Best for Expert Interviews http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Thu, 17 May 2012 03:19:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Angela http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58378 Angela Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:05:24 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58378 Though I don't write white papers (yet), I read your blog because of the great writing suggestions & ideas I find here. I do a lot of interviews with filmmakers, and they're for publishing to our <a href="http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/default.php">website</a>, newsletter and blog. For those that are controlled by a public relations person and are limited to a short amount of time (12 - 20 minutes), I try to do some research beforehand, including reading current interviews, because I want to find the unique angle that hasn't been explored. When I have the chance to spend more time (up to 1 hour) with a subject, I have a few general questions I always ask that seem to get the ball rolling. Then I just talk with them like I'm trying to get to know them personally, and let the conversational ball roll where it may. That has resulted in some really interesting remarks and quotes. Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights! Though I don’t write white papers (yet), I read your blog because of the great writing suggestions & ideas I find here.

I do a lot of interviews with filmmakers, and they’re for publishing to our website, newsletter and blog.

For those that are controlled by a public relations person and are limited to a short amount of time (12 - 20 minutes), I try to do some research beforehand, including reading current interviews, because I want to find the unique angle that hasn’t been explored.

When I have the chance to spend more time (up to 1 hour) with a subject, I have a few general questions I always ask that seem to get the ball rolling. Then I just talk with them like I’m trying to get to know them personally, and let the conversational ball roll where it may. That has resulted in some really interesting remarks and quotes.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and insights!

]]> By: Shannon Evans http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58377 Shannon Evans Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:45:07 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58377 I find it the only way to conduct interviews and fact finding missions. If I go too prepared I find that the only answers I get are the predictable ones...but if I go with a rudimentary idea of the information I am seeking I get more usable information. I find it the only way to conduct interviews and fact finding missions. If I go too prepared I find that the only answers I get are the predictable ones…but if I go with a rudimentary idea of the information I am seeking I get more usable information.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58376 Michael Stelzner Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:17:48 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58376 Shannon and Jim; To do this you must be very sharp and very fast. Yes it is an adventure. However, this is how you find real gold. It is about engaging with people in regular discussion, yet guiding them down a clear path. Have you both tried it? Mike Shannon and Jim;

To do this you must be very sharp and very fast.

Yes it is an adventure.

However, this is how you find real gold.

It is about engaging with people in regular discussion, yet guiding them down a clear path.

Have you both tried it?

Mike

]]> By: Jim McMullen http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58375 Jim McMullen Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:37:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58375 Flying by wire offers opportunities in interviews that seldom come along, concerning both sides. It's like easing through a swamp in waist deep water. One is not sure if there is a gator underwater or not upahead. But the adventure of interviewing blindly can cultivate one's mind in creating as you go along. Isn't the key here to be able to think on your feet in seconds, Mike? I mean, talk about focusing! Flying by wire offers opportunities in interviews that seldom come along, concerning both sides. It’s like easing through a swamp in waist deep water. One is not sure if there is a gator underwater or not upahead. But the adventure of interviewing blindly can cultivate one’s mind in creating as you go along. Isn’t the key here to be able to think on your feet in seconds, Mike? I mean, talk about focusing!

]]> By: Shannon Evans http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58374 Shannon Evans Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:42:53 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58374 I call this flying by the seat of my pants. It works well for me, too. Perhaps that is because I have to truly listen to the responses so I don't sound like an idiot posing the next question. This does not mean that I am totally unprepared for the meeting. If I was not aware of the person's responsibilities, role within the company, etc I would be remiss and fall flat on my face. Due diligence does not always mean hours and hours of pre-reading; however, it can mean sitting still and thinking for 20 minutes about who you are interviewing and what they might bring to the table. Good information! Thanks again for making us think. I call this flying by the seat of my pants. It works well for me, too. Perhaps that is because I have to truly listen to the responses so I don’t sound like an idiot posing the next question.
This does not mean that I am totally unprepared for the meeting. If I was not aware of the person’s responsibilities, role within the company, etc I would be remiss and fall flat on my face.
Due diligence does not always mean hours and hours of pre-reading; however, it can mean sitting still and thinking for 20 minutes about who you are interviewing and what they might bring to the table.
Good information! Thanks again for making us think.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58370 Michael Stelzner Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:50:45 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58370 Hi Chad; I can understand your concern. If you only had one interview for the entire project, this might be an issue. In my case, I have a minimum of 5 interviews for a 10 page white paper project. The interviews are broken down by topic. This allows a lot of deep discussion on different aspects of the project. Mike Hi Chad;

I can understand your concern.

If you only had one interview for the entire project, this might be an issue.

In my case, I have a minimum of 5 interviews for a 10 page white paper project.

The interviews are broken down by topic. This allows a lot of deep discussion on different aspects of the project.

Mike

]]> By: Chad | ProFreelancing http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58369 Chad | ProFreelancing Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:38:18 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/01/21/why-going-blind-is-best-for-expert-interview/#comment-58369 I've always spent a lot of time preparing before interviews so that I have valuable questions to ask. While I can see the benefits of going in blind, I'm wondering if this would require a second interview? Typically, the more I know about something the more questions I want an expert to answer. Certainly I would learn more from the initial interview, but I believe it would raise more questions once I was able to get my mind around what I had heard. I’ve always spent a lot of time preparing before interviews so that I have valuable questions to ask.

While I can see the benefits of going in blind, I’m wondering if this would require a second interview?

Typically, the more I know about something the more questions I want an expert to answer. Certainly I would learn more from the initial interview, but I believe it would raise more questions once I was able to get my mind around what I had heard.

]]>