AMOM Day 6: Ask the Source
When you find someone who’s great to interview, has specific knowledge about an industry or problem, and has proved to be a great asset for your article, don’t hesitate in asking for further help.
I often end up finding new tangents and story ideas from people I’ve interviewed in the past simply by asking them to elaborate on something, or asking for copies of their books, or by simply visiting their websites (which is something you should be doing for fact-checking anyway).
I recently interviewed someone for an article I was doing on dream interpretation. Turns out, she’s very keen on spirituality and natural healing as well. She sent me copies of her books and URLs for other websites, and I’ve found at least three more ideas for topics that I had never thought to even consider. And my expert is not only thrilled that I’m interested in her work, but sends me new information on the subjects as soon as it becomes available.
For today, look through the backgrounds of some of the people you’ve interviewed in the past, and see if there are any hidden gems waiting to be discovered.