3 Tips for Successful Radio Interivews

I've had periods of high intensity promotion surrounding a book's release where I’ve participated in a couple radio interviews a week. Radio is a format I really enjoy. Think about it, no one can see if I’ve got make-up on and I don’t have to go anywhere. They can’t see how messy and jumbled my desk is. Radio also keeps my complicated life a wee bit simpler.

Unfortunately, I know it’s a format that stresses many people. Whether or not you’re an author, you may find yourself in need of an interview. Here are some tips to help you succeed in this format.

1) Think in sound bites. Radio interviews can be anywhere from five minutes to an hour. Whatever the length of time, if you keep your answers short (think a minute or less), the host and audience will enjoy the discussion more if it’s not one run-on sentence. It also allows for more of a conversation versus question/monologue. Another thing short answers allows is for the interviewer to guide the conversation to topics that interest his audience.

2) Stand up and move. Even though no one can see you, they can hear you. If you move around, your voice is usually more engaged, and it’s easier to avoid a monotone. Movement also helps keep the blood pumping which helps your engagement. I’ve been known to make a bed, fold clothes, clean a bathroom — just make sure you choose something quiet! You want listeners to hear you, not the vacuum.

3) Be prepared to talk about something other than your book. A good interview will cover other territory…offer something to listeners other than “please buy my book.” If they like you from the interview, it adds to the positive feeling they will have for you when they see your book. But spend some time thinking about what you have to offer. For me it’s often the idea of balance because I’m a mom doing lots of different things. Other times the focus has been homeschooling, World War II, writing.

And if you’re interested in listening to the radio show where Sarah Sundin, Tricia Goyer and I talked about writing, World War II, and life, be sure to check it out here.

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Cara Putman

An award-winning author of twenty books, Cara is a lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a second-generation homeschooling mom. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana.

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Tuning Into A Brainstorm: Exercising Your Mind's Eye

on freedigitalphotos.net by tiverylucky

During our annual twelve hour trek down south for Christmas, my husband turned to his typical entertainment, NPR (National Public Radio). I am NOT a talk radio fan. I absolutely am not. I'd much rather engage in conversation with good music in the background. But it was early and I was tired, and I did not protest his choice.

As we ventured into the plains of Kansas and Oklahoma, and watched the temps climb higher and higher, the radio took us to new places altogether. We stepped into the worlds of Northeastern fishermen, Mexican Corn farmers, British actresses, Christian musicians, and Oklahoma tornado victims.

on freedigitalphotos.net by James Barker

Opinions.

Conflict.

Personalities.

And....

Settings only developed in my mind's eye. 

Just like a book. Just like a newborn idea for a story. 

As I sat and listened to the the stories, strained my ear to hear the background noise on location, I realized I wasn't just hearing a good story, but I was experiencing new characters--trains of thought I might've never considered, scenarios that presented outpours of emotions in new  ways-- AND, an opportunity to imagine God's hand in each situation. 

What happens when a writer is exposed to a new perspective, a new setting, new conflict?

Perhaps, just perhaps, a wild rush of God-inspired breath stirs up our creative ocean and causes a storm of new ideas and untraveled waters for our characters to explore...or unique, fresh characters welcomed to our story world.

on freedigitalphotos.net by David Castillo Dominici

Studying the world around us is so much more broad than what authors of the past could've imagined. We have media that transports us to different places and cultures, and gives glimpses at the human condition in a vast amount of scenarios.

If you ever feel like your creative juices have dried up, and you are just writing the "same ol' same ol'", perhaps you aren't utilizing all the wonderful tools at your finger tips?

The mere turn of the dial on the car radio brought color and potential to my mind's eye, proving that I've hardly begun to fill my creative bank with ideas and study cases for new stories.

on freedigitalphotos.net by feel art

The most brilliant thing about exercising your minds eye is, once you allow the stories to transport you into the shoes of the particular person spotlighted on the radio [or t.v. or magazine....], you'll begin to tap into your own emotions and stir your own opinion...using  common human fibers to comprehend someone different than yourself. 

Exercise your mind's eye. Awaken your writer's heart to new passion that might drive you to your next brilliant story idea! 

Any good ideas lately? Any places or people you'd like to write a story about and experience life in their mind's eye?

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Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous, mothering days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across historical cultures and social boundaries. Angie is an ACFW member and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.