I love hearing about your editing process on the interview. Weird to edit human speech, which is so damn human! Back in the day I edited the Playboy Interview (also a renowned q&a) with Michael Jordan, which Mark Vancil conducted across a season of Bulls games, especially on the road, when Michael actually had time to talk. I received a dozen transcripts, and had to knit them into coherent talk. Which I tried valiantly to do, while honoring Michael’s actual words. I was super nervous when we published, because in some sense I had created Michael Jordan in the editing process. Reassurance arrived quickly: Michael said it was the best piece about him ever done. He later turned the interview into a coffee table book. Whew!
Amazing, Peter! Wow. Sooo cool. Talk about epic--Playboy interviews are fantastic.
And what an honor to hear that from Michael Jordan.
Did you know Plimpton and Heffner were friends? Heffner started Q&As because Plimpton had shown the way for the long-form interview and because they needed a certain amount of text in the text-to-photos requirement for the magazine to be shipped through the mail. I just love that.
What a wonderful description of the interviewing process. I did it with much less famous people at the beginning of my career, loved the results of a good interview but decided I was a lousy interviewer. I ended up planning studies, hiring seriously good interviewers, editing the results from transcripts (which I was good at) and writing a number of books using this process. I invented a book form that I later realised had already been invented by the much more famous Studs Terkel from your fair city, explaining views using almost nothing but the interview material. It is definitely a strange process to interview people, as you say, but a very rewarding one.
Your experience as an artist, engaging such an exhilarating-intimidating challenge as writing your interview with another artist, he of world renown... excellent story. The parallel processeses of artist with artist, and now, your writing about your subjective experience of that. What perspective, sensitive and insightful, Ms. Fay. Brava!
I really enjoyed this, Sarah! I would like to read the interview.
Interestingly, back when I was twenty years old and studying in Madrid, Javier Marías was my professor in a course on translation. At the time, he had only written maybe two novels and hadn't reached that rock-star status yet. It was a pleasure working with him, though I also can't say that I got to know him as a person.
I love hearing about your editing process on the interview. Weird to edit human speech, which is so damn human! Back in the day I edited the Playboy Interview (also a renowned q&a) with Michael Jordan, which Mark Vancil conducted across a season of Bulls games, especially on the road, when Michael actually had time to talk. I received a dozen transcripts, and had to knit them into coherent talk. Which I tried valiantly to do, while honoring Michael’s actual words. I was super nervous when we published, because in some sense I had created Michael Jordan in the editing process. Reassurance arrived quickly: Michael said it was the best piece about him ever done. He later turned the interview into a coffee table book. Whew!
Amazing, Peter! Wow. Sooo cool. Talk about epic--Playboy interviews are fantastic.
And what an honor to hear that from Michael Jordan.
Did you know Plimpton and Heffner were friends? Heffner started Q&As because Plimpton had shown the way for the long-form interview and because they needed a certain amount of text in the text-to-photos requirement for the magazine to be shipped through the mail. I just love that.
I knew they were pals, but I hadn’t heard the interview connection. Glad that worked out for both of us!
Am excited to read the interview you did with Marias now that I have the inside scoop! I love your Kenzaburō Ōe interview.
Thank you, my fried!
What a wonderful description of the interviewing process. I did it with much less famous people at the beginning of my career, loved the results of a good interview but decided I was a lousy interviewer. I ended up planning studies, hiring seriously good interviewers, editing the results from transcripts (which I was good at) and writing a number of books using this process. I invented a book form that I later realised had already been invented by the much more famous Studs Terkel from your fair city, explaining views using almost nothing but the interview material. It is definitely a strange process to interview people, as you say, but a very rewarding one.
Being a good editor of interviews is such a talent. It's so hard to cut anything when you've been in it.
Ah yes, we all have to murder our darlings, whatever we write. I love the challenge of editing interviews to keep to the original but get them right.
Oh, I love this story, Sarah! I can picture it all… a wonderful painted memory.
Thank you, Barbara!
Your experience as an artist, engaging such an exhilarating-intimidating challenge as writing your interview with another artist, he of world renown... excellent story. The parallel processeses of artist with artist, and now, your writing about your subjective experience of that. What perspective, sensitive and insightful, Ms. Fay. Brava!
Thank you so much. It means the world to me.
I love the “artist with an artist”. So apt here!
This was wonderful to read. Definitely want to hear more about interviewing Jack Gilbert, one of my fave poets!
No way! He's my absolute top.
Sarah Fay, you continue to slay me. You've done it all with style and humility.
Thank you, Martina. I so appreciate it.
Love reliving this memory with you, Sarah, and learning more about you in the process. This interview was a fun one! xo
Hello, my friend! Such a treat to have gotten to work with you.
I really enjoyed this, Sarah! I would like to read the interview.
Interestingly, back when I was twenty years old and studying in Madrid, Javier Marías was my professor in a course on translation. At the time, he had only written maybe two novels and hadn't reached that rock-star status yet. It was a pleasure working with him, though I also can't say that I got to know him as a person.
I am quietly envious of Javier's library of books! That's like a lifetime collection. I want that💝
Loved reading this behind the scenes Sarah! I a now gonna look for these Paris Review interviews!