How to Handle Any On-Camera Interview

Most writers probably feel more comfortable expressing themselves with the written word rather than speaking. I get that.

But the truth is it’s you publishing the work, so you also have to be able to speak about what you do and what you know. I know this from personal experience.

As an author and a former TV producer, I’ve been on both sides of the interview process. So I know that you need to prepare for on-camera interviews, whether or not speaking is your first preference.

I’m regularly hired to speak or am interviewed as an expert for my usual topics—video, media, and my books: Listful Thinking and Listful Living. However, I still prepare talking points. Yes, every single time! I know it’s the best way to nail any interview. This video will walk you through how I do it.

From my years of experience, I have a few other tips and tricks that I come back to time and again—before the interview, during it, and after it’s over.

Before:

Craft the Questions

Start by thinking about what you’ve been asked to talk about. Is it a new topic or something you’ve been asked to discuss repeatedly? Check out the previous episodes of the show you’ll be on and make sure you have a good sense of what questions you’ll likely be asked. This will determine how you approach your brainstorming.

Write the topic at the top of your notes page. Then write down everything you think of that could possibly be related. Just get all your thoughts down on paper. Once all your thoughts are down on paper, you can go back and edit. Cross out things that are not relevant, add anything you forgot, and see what’s left.

If you’ve handwritten the notes, start a fresh new page and put your notes in a logical order. If you type your notes, copy/paste and reorganize your bullet points. My free resource 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer is a great way to narrow down what you decide to speak on.

When preparing how to answer the questions you anticipate being asked, I like to use a strategy that I call the Accordion Method. You want to have a short answer, a medium answer, and a long answer to the questions you think you’ll be asked.

The short answer is the headline: a soundbite that takes just a sentence.

The medium answer is just a little longer, still starting with a bang and then adding a bit of context.

The long answer builds on the medium answer with a few specific details. Once you have these worked out, the next step is to practice. I really mean it. Practicing is essential.

It is also imperative to practice how you’d answer uncomfortable questions in the moment. Get the rocks out of your mouth, so to speak, so that you don’t make a mistake and say something you’ll regret later. Practice with someone who knows publishing: a media trainer, your agent, other authors, a member of your publishing or publicity team, etc.

How do you know which length of answer is required? You’ll know right from the beginning when you know what kind of interview it is and how much time you have. Always ask before an interview how long you have. If it’s a podcast and you have 20 minutes or so, you can definitely use your long accordion answers. For TV you’ll probably use both short and medium answers because those segments are likely under five minutes. But also watch the interviewer, take cues from them on when to wrap up your answer.

In this episode of my live-stream show Inside Scoop, I walk you through how to use the Accordion Method. If you’re ready for an even deeper dive into this I have a whole training called Media-Ready Author available for you here.

No matter how many speaking engagements you do, you have to practice. Practicing out loud is important because sometimes things make sense on paper but sound weird when you’re talking. And it’s better to find that out when you’re alone or talking to a friend than on TV!

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During:

During the interview, it’s time to make sure your hard work pays off. Remember to slow down, smile, and trust in your preparation. You have valuable information to share, and the audience wants to hear what you have to say.

And remember … kill those filler words! Focus on what you’re saying and be OK with a little silence here and there. Um and like are not your friends during an interview.

After:

Don’t let your interview disappear as soon as it’s over. I see this happen all the time—someone spends lots of time getting ready for an interview, nails the appearance, and then … poof! I never see it posted or shared anywhere.

Promote yourself! People won’t know what you’ve done unless you tell them. So don’t be shy about getting the word out. Send out replays to your email lists and post on social media about it.

And always stay in touch with producers. A “thank you” email or handwritten note goes a long way. Producers are always more likely to ask someone back on the show who they have developed a positive professional relationship with.

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For more tips on preparing for on-camera interviews, you can check out my free resource, Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.

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