Toi here and welcome back to Lit Carnivale.
Today, I want to talk about interviews vs conversations.
If you’re tuning in from Substack, be sure to check out today’s poll.
1. I think I’ve mentioned before that I consider myself an omnivert. I’m an introvert with some extrovert skills. I’m good at public speaking but I struggle with crowds. I use vending tables as security blankets when I have to socialize with strangers. I’m not really a people person, but I care a lot. I’ve worked as a trainer, instructor, and teacher for years, which put me face-to-face with many people, so I’ve learned how to fill my creative cup and recharge my mental and physical batteries after intense social interactions. But, a one-on-one conversation is just my speed.
2. For as long as I’ve been blogging, author interviews have been a thing, but podcasts have helped a lot to revive and reinvent this a bit. Still, sometimes, even I find that they can be boring- asking the same questions over-and-over. Years ago, I made a small name for myself, in an extremely tightknit niche, for entertaining author interviews. I had fun challenging authors to stop trying to sell their books and just have fun talking about writing and their creativity. It worked for a long time, but I eventually burnt out. As well as it was going, some authors constantly resisted and just wanted to stick to same old “sell my book” approach. They weren’t interested in a conversation. I needed to step away from trying to offer something, for free, that too many just didn’t want.
3. Fast forward a few years, I launched the Read Local and Read All Over Shows on YouTube. I knew from the start that fun was my focus and that I would do it only as a limited series. I didn’t skyrocket to fame or become a person of mass influence, but I had a good time. So, I did it again, and had just as much fun but then my health started to dramatically derail. I had to step away from blogging, vlogging, writing, and podcasting.
Since then, I’ve been slowly rebuilding what little audience I had, but mostly I’m just trying to reconnect with the community that brought me so much comfort in the past. I’ve missed having really fun author conversations and sharing them with the world. So, that’s my aim moving forward.
Question: Do you enjoy conversation? I’d love to know.
If you, or someone you know, is an author or aspiring writer interested in being featured on a podcast, please click my Be Featured links on social media to learn more.
Until next time, stay safe, keep reading, and be blessed.
Credits
Lit Carnivale Season 1, Episode 11.
Staring Toi Thomas.
Featuring no one else at this time.
Topics Discussed: Talking to People in General, Interviews vs Conversations
Produced by Toi Thomas in association with The ToiBox of Words and Lit Carnivale.
Directed by Toinette “Toi” Thomas.
Thanks again to the Lit Carnivale Community at Substack, YouTube, and wherever you can hear this podcast.
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