Brainstorm anyone?

[ash48]

I've been toying with this idea and I just, well needed somewhere to think out loud and maybe gets some thoughts on it. (Not vid related)



I've been reading (well listening to) this fic and for some reason I had an urge to approach the writer for an interview. I know. Probably a bit weird, but I thought about asking questions about inspiration for the story, favourite parts to write, most difficult parts etc. and then maybe some personal info. Mostly stuff like what are your first memories of LJ, has being involved in fandom changed you as a person, when was that moment when you knew Supernatural had you hooked...etc.

I then got to thinking that actually they'd be quite a few people around that would be interesting to interview. (Probably because I am a sticky nose!). And maybe if I did others may like to read it.

Then I wondered if I did do an interview where would I post it? I didn't think my journal would be that ideal.

Then I took my thinking a little further and wondered about creating a place where something like that could be posted. An "interview" community as it were. A place where (and I'm not sure exactly what shape this would take) a fan would interview a fellow fan and post the interview for anyone who wanted to read it.

And it wouldn't just be about chatting, it would also give the fan in the "spotlight" an opportunity to post links to various works and then answer any follow up questions any readers might have.

I know the fabulous spnroundtable community feature fans and their work regularly and it's always very interesting. In some ways I suppose it might be like that, but this would feature more direct questions and it would be up to the interviewer to extract the juicy info. Up to the interviewer to shape the content and make the post interesting I suppose.

Of course, participants would have to agree to be interviewed. I was thinking there could be an initial post of all peeps who wouldn't mind being interviewed. A bit the way vid_commentary works. Finding interviewers would be something that would have to be nutted out if this idea ended up having any legs. I figure an interviewer would need to know a bit about the fan and their work in order to give a good interview.

Also (yes, I have spent way too much time thinking about this!) it would be a way to get to know fans around the place. As in, discover someone whose work etc. you might find interesting and wish to follow. If you were interviewed you could then (if you wanted to) link the interview to your page if anyone wanted the low down on you. For newbies it might be a place to go to start looking around. That sort of thing.

So. There it is. I have no issue whatsoever being told that this wouldn't actually be that interesting, or wouldn't work. In fact, that's way I've posted my thinking here. I'd rather know that than try and get something up and running. Or maybe this already exists somewhere?? Or might work in a different way - be part of an existing community for example?.

So.. poll:

[Poll #1566310]

I assure you I will still love you if you tell me I need to have my head checked. Anyone who knows me knows I like to work through ideas rather than just do stuff...

<333

Comments

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

OK - here's my opinion, which really is worth having because, ummm...because, oh just because!

I like the idea that questions are formulated, which probably takes the pressure of the author to talk about themselves, perhaps in a vacuum; although I guess spnroundtable meet the author must give guidelines! It could potentially be an embarrassing fangirling/boying moment for interviewer, with bribery for further instalments, etc! Fun for interview subject, but!

I think the interview should be conducted, and time for cooling off allowed before "publishing", just in the interests of "oh, shit can I take-back" moments potentially popping up. I guess I'm allowing for some real-life, tho' limited, info being included.

Any help I can offer is mostly cheer-leading, 'cos you know my computer skills are second to well, everyone really.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey there! Thanks...

I think if this was to eventuate there would be heaps of things to consider and a cooling off period sounds like a good idea. I suspect the interview process would take a while. It wouldn't be something that was rushed. And it would be a collaborative thing between the interviewer and the interviewee. It would be about them both agreeing on what was said and posted.

Thanks honey. Cheerleading is always nice. (especially when I was about to delete this post thinking thinking I'm just slightly mad, which I know I am.../o\)

<33

[mlebayre.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds fun.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes. I reckon it could be lots of fun. Thanks hun. <3

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

I love this idea! I think it's a really great one. crickets actually did a podcast interview with me in 2007 and I really loved being interviewed like that! I thought it was great then and I still do :D

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh you do? :D I did also think that people might actually enjoy being interviewed. I think people like chatting about what they do. I didn't think about podcast interviews. That could be an option if someone wanted to go that way. :)

Thanks hun. There would be quite a bit to nut out if I decided to go ahead with something like this. But I have to start somewhere I suppose. Thank you.

<33333

[feather-touch.livejournal.com]

I like the idea.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[deirdre-c.livejournal.com]

I'm always interested to read about people's process (whether they're writing or vidding or arting or what), so this could be really cool! GO YOU! :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. (Of course I have far too much on to be even contemplating something like this!! *headshake*)

But thanks for the support.
(And you'd be so on my list to interview!)

<33

[smilla02.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea, I'm bad at deciding if something will work or not, but I know that rec_hymenated does something like this (only for the Dean/Castiel writers). I don't know if there's something similar that does the same for the whole fandom apart from Ask the Author.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey. Thanks hun. I'll check out that comm and see what they do. Ask the Author is a nice format as well, though I would see this as someone taking charge of the all the questions (prior to posting of course) and then have general follow up questions if there was a need.

Thank you so much for your feedback.
<33

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Interesting idea and yes, I could lend a hand. Not sure what I might do, but I'm here.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The thing I would need help with the most is actually setting up the community. I haz no skills in that area at all. I'm lucky to run my own LJ. Even though I am involved in a couple of comms, I didn't actually set them up. (in terms of making it look pretty etc.)

So, yeah. If you know that stuff. \o/ :D

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Gotta say I barely have my LJ up and running. I don't pay attention to the finer points. Hell, I'm still running the same layout as when I started with the same header picture.

So I have to say I'm lacking in that skill-set...

[yourlibrarian]

I feel that spn_roundtable should actually expand their ask the vidder/author/etc. with at least a brief interview instead of just leaving it open for questions. It's not that the guests don't often say something about their works to start with, but I think it's a bit different.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I really like the format of Ask the Author, vidder, artisit etc. but I agree that actually having someone ask specific questions might get more out of a person. That's my thinking behind this idea really.

I suppose because spn_roundtable all ready exists with a similar idea, there may not be room for another one.

I'm still in two minds. I'm thinking I might conduct an interview and see how it goes. If I feel it's interesting enough to post I might create a comm. Though I've also been thinking about approaching spn_roundtable to see if it's something they might like to incorporate in their posts..

*eek* I don't know. I'm hopeless at making decisions.

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

(ooh and thanks for your bid.. :D)

[yourlibrarian]

*g* I'm sure there will be more.

I'd wondered if you'd put out any feelers to the roundtable yet with the idea. This is just my own POV, but I always wish people would do more with existing communities than starting up new ones all the time. It's very hard to raise sustained interest in communities (no matter what they do) and my own sense is that part of this comes from the balkanization of interests. It's very hard to keep track of hundreds of communities -- I keep seeing announcements of a new one every day or two in the Newsletter. My bet is that most of these never really get off the ground.

But I see no reason not to go ahead with an interview even if you have nowhere to post at first.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I certainly considered seeing what roundtable thought, because I agree about about the number of communities and it seems like the right kind of comm for this sort of thing. Though they do have quite a lot of stuff going on.. so it might be too much. I suppose it won't hurt to check.

Equally, I suppose, it might not require a "community" at all. Could just be something I do here. Though I just don't know enough peeps (or enough about what they do), to conduct a worthwhile interview. Hence I thought it could involved a number of different interviewers. Anyone, in fact, who wanted to do it.

All good food for thought. And really why I wanted someone to nut it out with. So thanks!! :)

[yourlibrarian]

Well, one drawback to using the Roundtable is that it's monofannish. I could see something like this being of multifannish interest because many writers are, (and even more vidders and artists are). So there's one argument for making a new community (assuming one doesn't already exist that none of us know about!) Also, a multifannish base allows for more contributions, since that's what you're going for.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I do like the idea that this could be multi-fannish. I mean, I suspect it would cross over anyway because a lot of fans were around doing stuff before Supernatural. I just don't have an "in" to other fandoms. (though I have some peeps on my flist that are multifannish, so that might help).

Hmmm... *thinking, thinking*

Thanks! :D

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

I'll mix the "yes, sounds like an interesting idea" with "I offer you hugs". *g*

I would sub to that community and read.

:D:D

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yay! Hugs! :D

Thanks hun. I'm still trying to decide what to do. I might do an interview and see what happens.

Cheers.
<3

[geckoholic]

I love the idea, and I'd be MORE than happy to offer assistance. :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you're interested in leanding a hand? Yay! If I do decide to go ahead I will definitely let you know. :)

[geckoholic]

Yepp, I am, just give me a shout. ;)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Happy to attempt to help if I can.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

\o/ (Just got in - looking at your PM now.. :D)