The most important question

This is from another blog I write for, hpu2009.blogspot.com.  The blog is required for my feature writing class.  i wrote this today and I think it is a pretty good entry, enjoy!

I went for my interview for my profie story. Greg Stevens and I chatted for 30 minutes about his life in the restaurant business. Here is a man that spend over 30 years involved in restaurants!

He had stories about opening restaurants, learning how to operate restaurants and owning his own restaurant. I thought I had some good stuff about, well, restaurants.

I don’t know if all writers do this, but when I interview someone I write the story in my head. “Oh, ok, this is a good background information.” Then the lead will come somewhere during the interview. It really works well for me.

So there I sit in Harrison’s, Greg’s restaurant, with my recorder on the table and my notebook in my hand. I’ve taken notes on everything he’s said. I’ve asked what I think are some of the most important questions. I’m done, story complete, time to leave.

I ask that final question, “So, that’s all I have. Is there anything you like to add?”

Now remember, in my head I have written this story. I have the lead, middle and kicker done. I just need to put it on the computer. Another hour of work transcribing my story and I’m done.

He says, “Yes actually I do. This is something I have said for over 30 years, Bryan….” He goes on for another five minutes about his life philosophy.

That question of, “anything else to add?” turned out to be my best question of the day. There he gave me the lead, transition pieces, structure, kicker, etc. He gave me my story in five minutes. A story better than the one I had “written” in the previous 30 minutes!

I have come to find that this tends to be true more often than not. In most of my interviews that final question really gives the interviewee a chance to say something they had been thinking but I never asked. It really gives them the interview in a fashion they feel comfortable leaving.

After all, it is the most important question.