I'm revamping the interview questions we send out to writers, agents, producers, editors, magazines etc etc. They're a generic set, which has worked really well in the past as it allows people huge flexibility to respond however they think fit- and it also means that writers' answers can be grouped and compared/contrasted. So I think we'll stick with that, but what I'd like to know is this; as I rewrite/revamp the questions themselves, what would you like to ask writers/agents/editors etc that we currently don't ask? maybe something quirky...something oddball...or something extremely literary. Anyway, post ideas here- I can't promise I'll incorporate them all, of course, but I'll certainly do my best.

To see the current questions, loook at pretty much any recent interview.

There's always the classic Desert Island Discs one:
Which novel would you take to a desert island, and why.

<Added>

Or you could go for the subtly soul destroying:
"Do you think your novels fit comfortably into that genre?"

<Added>

Or the marriage wrecker:
"What does your partner think of your writing?"

Ha! I think the DID one might be good...and actually, one about what family/friends think about what you do is a goodie, too...anyone else got any ideas/questions they'd like to see writers, bestselling or not, agents, editors, magazines etc answer? Now's your chance..

Have you ever heard of/learnt/followed the supposed rules of writing eg show not tell.

Do you ever base your characters/settings on real people/places or is it all imagination.

What was your first ever novel like and where is it now, if you've kept it!!

What have you done with all your rejection letters

Do you every consider using chatrooms or messenger or something to interview an author and uploading the transcript? - or how about the good old telephone? I'm just wondering if a naturally progressing conversation would lead to questions more relevant to that particular writer and get a more spontaneous response. WriteAway website used to (maybe they still do) invite authors to come online at a set time so members could post questions directly to them. Quite fun.

Colin M

How about a phone in/ live podcast?

Now that really would be cool, because you can't convey tone of voice, jokes and sarcasm very well in a transcript. It would be so much better to hear the author talk about their work in their own voice.

But one thing a lot of our interviewees really like is that they get time to think about their answers, can change them before they send them, and it isn't edited in terms of paraphrasing/stitching up etc, so they feel very free to say what they like.

Yes, I would much prefer to write answers, in my own time: un-editable recorded interviews are very different.

Emma

Rowan Atkinson doesn't do many interviews, and when he does people are surprised that he's quite a quiet spoken, fairly serious person. He says that people expect him to very funny and witty in conversation, to which he replies, "It's Ben Elton and Richard Curtis who are the funny, witty ones. I just say the words they write down"

Yes, he's very much your actor-comedian who needs a script, isn't he, not a stand-up funnyman. And with blank, neutral face to match - I once stood behind him in a cashpoint queue for ages before I realised it was him.

Emma

Ooh, Emma, did you surreptitiously touch his arm, or anything??? (um, not that I would, of course)

Re interview - could writers be asked whether or not they show their wip to anyone, and if they do - who/what/how etc,
p

Why did you choose to write in the genre you do and what are the problems/joys specific to it?

Or, even, did the genre choose you?

<Added>

- yes, I would be interested to know whether they have had to mould their writing to fit the genre, or whether they were lucky to have a writing style that suited the commercial requirements of the genre in the first place.

Also, - and I haven't checked to see if this is already on the list - but how much (unpublished novels left in the bottom drawer) did they have to write before they got their big break?

did they get noticed through the slush pile, or through their social circle? Too many people seem to worry that you can only get somewhere if you know the right people. I know I used to.