How to interview a writer: December 2024 (BOOKED OUT)

Free one-hour online class:

Chairing author panels & conversations

If you’re a writer or involved in the book industry, it’s likely that at some point you’ll be asked to interview an author – or several of them at once.

We’ve all seen it done brilliantly (or poorly) at festivals and literary events. So how do we build up the skills and techniques we need to feel confident, and to do it well?

Well, let me show you.

This introductory online class is designed for people who chair author panels or interview writers and illustrators at festivals, book launches, community events, bookshops or libraries. It will also help literary podcast hosts and event MCs.

We’ll cover:

• The interviewer’s role
• Preparing for the event
• Managing your panel
• Managing the audience

This is a one-hour online session, open to any writers, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, or industry people who would like to improve their skills in planning and managing an author panel or conversation.

Details

Date and time: Tuesday, 10 December 2024, 7pm (Melbourne/Sydney summer time: AEDT)/9pm (Auckland summer time: NZDT).

Where: The session will be online, in Google Meet, accessible only to people who have booked. (I’ll send you a link a few days beforehand.)

Cost: The session is free but places are limited, so you do need to book. 

The first session booked out in 24 hours, so if you want to do it, jump on board.

Why is it free?

Participating in events, helping friends launch their books, chatting with other authors while complete strangers watch and listen – it’s all part of the writing life. Doing it well is a great way to contribute to our writing community, build your profile, and be respectful of readers and audiences.

So I’m happy to support others to sharpen their skills or perhaps simply feel more confident – so many people feel nervous even when they have all the skills. It’s one of the ways I can pay back the writing community for all the support I receive.

And frankly, I’d rather see it done properly than suffer through too many more excruciating festival panels.

Writers who participate will also receive an invitation to our private online writing community to keep in touch with each other, access a range of resources, and stay up-to-date on writing and publishing opportunities.

Closing date for bookings: 6 December 2024 unless booked out earlier.

Your host: Kelly Gardiner

I’ve chaired author panels at many festival and literary events over many years, including the Melbourne, Bendigo, Blak & Bright, and Emerging Writers Festivals, bookshops, libraries, launches, awards, and my university Writers on Campus events. I also hosted the Unladylike and Imagining the Past writing podcasts, and have trained panel moderators for festivals and writers’ organisations.