Wednesday 2 October 2013

Lessons from a Literature Festival

Many thanks to all those who encouraged my Spanish efforts, in my last post. I am doing my best - honestly!

Last weekend, when I wasn't struggling with the language, I spent some time at the Literature Festival held, as some of you know, in the lovely market town where I live. And what fun it was, devoting time to bookish things. (Actually, I devote nearly all my time to bookish things anyway, but this time I did it with other booky people. And wonderful it was, too.)

I'm not going to review everything I saw - that would be tedious. But I've come away with a thought or two that might, just, be useful to remember when we are all famous. Some of it I knew anyway - from public speaking in my former life (I did lecturing and other learned stuff as part of my Child Protection work). But knowing something and seeing it work in practice are so very different. So here are some reflections.

The event that really didn't work was an interview with a writer who has been around for decades. I won't give names - maybe she and her interviewer had a bad day. But I felt she had no real idea what the purpose of the interview was - she had no new book to promote, no clear story to tell, and so fell back on disconnected anecdotes. But the real blame (for want of a better word) lay with the interviewer, who was unprepared. She had no list of questions, no idea of where she'd like their discussion to lead - so she said things like, 'You must tell them about the time you ...' as if she were prompting a recalcitrant student. She fluctuated between obviously floundering as she tried to think of something to say - and so suddenly asking something unrelated to the previous discussion, or interrupting because she had an idea and maybe it would fly away if she didn't use it soon.

It was the best illustration I've ever seen of what happens if you're not prepared.

This contrasts with Claire Tomalin, who spoke about Dickens and Queen Victoria. She had mislaid a page of her notes - and spent about ten seconds riffling through her papers and then carried on from memory. She knew - and loved - her subject, and she was fascinating, prompting equally fascinating questions.

And the star - Jackie Kay. She is a real presence on a stage (I'm not sure we can learn that - it's something some people just have), spoke with confidence and humour and compassion. She makes a point of never speaking ill of anyone - which is a huge achievement when writing a memoir. And I felt this was not simply a device so she could look compassionate - for instance, her birth father refuses to have anything to do with her (though she sees her siblings), yet she is still able to talk of him without resentment. She seeks to understand rather than pass judgement. She spoke about being adopted, about her race and sexuality, with such refreshing openness - she's the sort of woman you'd like to live next door to. The hour passed too quickly, and we all left wanting more.

So the big lessons - to share with any of my followers destined to win the Booker Prize - know your stuff. And make a point of being kind. (Can it really be that difficult?)

12 comments:

  1. Very wise advice - and I agree, I have always thought that the responsibility for great interviews lies with the interviewer. Sadly, asking great questions, and ones that draw authors out of themselves, is a rare art

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    1. It's an art, yes - and most of us do the best we can, but we're better if we prepare a list of questions,and have some idea what you hope your interviewee might like to talk about!

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  2. That first interview sounds like one of those horrendous dreams you're relieved to wake up from. When I was a teacher my recurring nightmare was being faced with a class of kids and not having a clue what I was supposed to be teaching them. *shudders*

    Glad the rest of the Festival was enjoyable :-)

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    1. I think all of us doing teaching/lectury stuff had those dreams, Ros - but this woman actually did it!!

      (And if you ever have a chance to see Jackie Kay - take it!!)

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  3. It's great to sit and listen to an interesting speaker,not so great one who makes you cringe a bit inside.

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    1. The speaker might have been better if the interviewer had a clue what she was doing, Anne!

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  4. What good insights, Jo. Be prepared (both sides), know your stuff and avoid negativity. Good things to keep in mind! A lovely event in any case!

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    1. I know we all know this stuff, Val - but sometimes seeing it in action brings it home!

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  5. Sounds like a great experience... doing booky things with a bunch of other booky people. As for that first speaker, (s)he shares the blame for such a poor performance. If an interviewer isn't doing a proper job, it falls on the interviewee to step it up a bit and turn things around. But as you said... (s)he obviously wasn't prepared.

    Me, I'm usually over-prepared, and am disgustingly "nice". Now all I have to do is write a book worthy of a Booker, huh? Piece of cake. Riiiiight.

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  6. Without having seen the well known writer, Jo, I would hazard a guess that it is almost certainly the interviewer's fault. Writers are writers, and don't necessarily set themselves up as public speakers - although I suppose some do. Many, though become writers I believe in order to avoid having to show themselves off in person. I personally would be terrified at being interviewed, although I have done enough interviewing to take control, I suppose - unless the vibes were too difficult.

    People who agree to conduct an interview, are supposed to get interesting information out of your subject.. I'm just so sorry for this writer being caught by someone else's incompetence.

    OMG I do envy people who have the knack of dealing with an audience. What a gift, and as you say you have it or you don't. I know I don't. Though I wonder if it might be learned - at least up to a point.

    Have you considered putting yourself forward to speak next year? Your own experiences are very interesting and most of the locals won't have read your blog.

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    1. You're right, Jenny - it was largely the interviewers fault.

      As for putting myself up - we'll see. You know where I live, and my face doesn't always fit with the high and the mighty (who run the festival!)

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