Interview-dependent book: how to pitch?

Welcome!

As you know, NF is based on a complete proposal but not necessarily the completed manuscript.

Not knowing the specifics of your topic--and knowing it's all "mentally planned" at this point--I think you would certainly need to get a few interviews written so you yourself know what you're dealing with, and an agent would also want to see what you plan to provide.

Because you don't know the length or the exact format, I'd get some interviews finished so you have enough for maybe 2 or 3 chapters (if they are short) or a total of 10 pages.

I'd start with the contacts you are most friendly with--the easy gets--and explain to them how a proposal is NOT a guarantee that a book will be published. I would think/hope they would be "honored" to be asked first, etc.

As you interview/write, I think you'll have a better sense of what the book will be like, which will help with the proposal.

So, yes, I'd get 2-3 interviews done (just so you know it "works").

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Sjohnson, I'm so glad to see your question! I was just about to post (almost) the same one! I'm also in the "mental planning" stages of an interview-dependent book; however mine will be the stories of people who work for a certain sector of the government, retold in my voice. And yes, I do have contacts in the government who can help me get these interviews. After doing my homework (this will be my first book ever), I figured I probably need to do 2-3 interviews to show agents I'm not full of it. And, heaven forbid, nothing comes through, at least I'll only look like an idiot to 2-3 people instead of 10 or more, and perhaps could sell those interviews to a magazine or something.

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice or experience with changing the name of someone you've interviewed? Since the people I'm planning to interview work for the government, there's a good chance some of them may not want me to use their real names. Does it detract from the credibility of the book to refer to someone as Jane or Joe the whole time? Or should I insist on using their real names? I don't want to scare potential interviews away.

Also, for an interview-dependent book, has anyone ever had their interviewees sign a release form beforehand? I'm kind of paranoid, and the last thing I want is one of my interviewees to get upset or retract anything they said later on down the road. Once they say something to me, does that info belong to me? Am I being overly cautious? Again, I don't want to scare anyone off.

Does anyone have any other advice for this type of book?

Welcome, Caroline!

My book is about one of the most brutal cults of the 1970s and I interviewed 17 people, all adults. Some wanted their real names used, some did not.

The way I handled it was that anyone whose real name I used was referred to that way--"Bobby Eaton was in the cult from 1970 to 1993, and Bobby said..."

Anyone who didn't want their real name used, I just made up a name and only used the first name, never a last name. "Carl was in the cult from 1972 to 1980, and Carl said..."

It worked fine for me--just be sure your made up names are not at all close to those of the real people you interview. (In other words, if Carl Smith is a real person, don't use a made up name like Carol---use Debby or something.)

And because everyone being interviewed knew the sensitive nature of the book---there was sexual, physical and emotional abuse--those who wanted to use their real names found it very freeing, while others didn't want their real name used.

So, for me, no releases were needed. I think if you apporached the people and let them decide--for those not certain, you can always tell them you'll write up the interview and let them review it with the fake name, and see if they want to use their real name or not.

And before you reach publication, you can always ask the people one last time if it's okay to use their real name.

Again, because of the sensitive nature of my book, I worked very closely with the people to be certain I captured their experience exactly as they remembered it. Then I sourced the book and had it vetted by an attorney, so it's pretty "iron clad."

Now, my agent will land it with the right publisher!

Good luck!

sjohnson,

As Derek said, your proposal should be complete. After being read by agents and/or an editors they should pretty much know exactly what you have done, plan to do, and how you will do so. And when done, it should be relatively easy for you to answer any questions they may have.

Your proposal not only tells them what you have done, but what and how you plan to execute the entire work, and why you are the one (i.e., Overview, Specifications, Market, Platform, Competition, Bio, Published Books or Credentials, Chapter Outline).

I think it would be a mistake to submit a proposal without the names (and without you having a written agreement from them agreeing to participate on whatever terms you come up with) of at least one-half of those you plan to interview. Your concept for a book may be very good, but without the participants what good is it to anyone, including you? It sounds as if your book and certainly your proposal are dependent on the interviewees. As far as the other one-half of the interviewees not listed as definite, I suggest a list of many others you plan to approach for interviews with a brief verview as to why, and why you believe they will to happy to participate.

As Derek also said, it's critical that you have completed, edited interviews on hand ready to send to an agent upon request (some may ask for it with the proposal -- check their guidelines). And again, although i'm anything but a literary rights attorney, I would imagine you will need some sort of written agreement from them before it's safe to do so. Derek may be right when saying at least 2-3, but I would want to have more done -- probably 10. Don't worry about looking like an idiot, you won't. Tell them what you're trying to do and they are likely to have great respect for you, especially since you've chosen them to interview.

Caroline,

If the names of the people in government are recognizable to the layman, I don't think you should even think of changing them. For example, if you interview Colin Powell I'd probably want to read it, and the name would sure attract agents and editors. If you change the name to (same interview) one nobody heard of, can associate with, and couldn't care less about, it losses all this and IMO definitely detracts from the credibility.

As for the release or whatever is needed, I, as a humble writer, think you need written permission. Whatever your legal questions I strongly suggest you only listen to an expert in such matter -- an intellectual rights attorney. It will cost you some money but I don't see any way of avoiding it.

Derek and Scope, thanks for your input. I'm going to talk to a lawyer before I even begin this project. And, Scope, I think you're right about it detracting from the book's credibility if I change the names of the people I interview. Even though most of them won't be houshold names (unfortunately Colin Powell isn't on my list yet!), I agree that nobody gives a darn about a story that happened to someone called Jane Doe. Derek was in a unique situation where anonymity of the people he interviewed was understandable, and in some cases, necessary. For my project though, I think I'll just stick with their real names.

In my past life as a newspaper reporter, I frequently interviewed people in government, and the vast majority of the time, none of them had a problem with their names showing up in print. Hopefully I'll have the same ease and luck with this project!