If I can find the thing, I also would be more than happy to bring my battery-operated tape recorder that uses mini-tapes (the dictaphone type of tape) and type up an interview.
It would *not* be published in any major newspaper--unless they offer, since I am a science fiction author and not a journalist. I do commentary that many people have liked well enough to suggest I seek a gig doing same, but I don't do columns for pay.
Still, while I would edit the interview for length and relevant content, because there would probably be more material than I was willing to type up, and I have never taken any journalism class, people who know me well know that even somebody I hated I would attempt to report on straight up and right down the middle.
I *would* seek commentary from program critics and survivors to balance the content.
If a news outlet offered to pick it up, either for pay or for a byline, I'd probably take them up on it and I'd want a signed release for the photos and interview saying you knew you were being recorded and I could use the stuff at my discretion and I would own the photos and content unrestrictedly.
But you can ask anybody on Baen's bar---even if I don't like somebody, if I'm talking about something that happened, I'm fairly good about sticking to the facts unless I am editorializing (which *is* usually what I do) and going straight up the middle on the facts.
If I quoted you or any of the students, I'd do it straight, just like if I was quoting for a research paper--same rules, straight brackets for inserted words, elipses where I edit out stuff, etc.
A straight interview and non-professional photo shoot from a critic is the best offer you're going to get from anyone.
I don't really need the money, and I'm not planning to actively shop it to magazines or newspapers, but I *am* a pro writer, so if some media outlet offered, I'd sell it at freelance rates, and you'd need to understand that up front.
Well, exception. Amy has contacted me about something else, and I *would* ask her if her people would be interested, etc. Which they might bite on if it's good and meets their standards, because there wouldn't be travel expenses because I'm local.
And you also need to understand that I *am* a critic and while I'll be what I believe is fair, fair has an unavoidable component of opinion.
There's the deal. If you are as open as you say, you'll take it. If you don't take it, the critics are going to know you aren't as open as you say.
You have my permission to print out my offer and forward it to the appropriate people at Darrington if you think there's any possibility of them following up.
Let me *also* say I expect imminent contract arrival on another collaborative novel and a solo series, and as an NYT bestselling author, even if *my* publisher unexpectedly declined, I anticipate no problem selling---hence even if I sold the article freelance, I expect it to be at a much reduced return on my writing time than I would get versus working on either the collaboration or the first series book, and would thus represent me taking a loss on my time. So it's about my personal interest in the issue, not money. I'd *take* a sale to defray my costs, but I'd make more money turning out more words, in the same time, on one of my novels in the works. Effectively, if I do it, even if it sells, I expect I'd be losing money on the deal.
Are you really that open? Put up or, well, you don't have to shut up, but the credibility you're seeking by saying you're so open would be shot.
You won't get a better deal.
And as a professional writer who might do columns someday, or do other freelance articles, I have a vested interest in being straight-up fair--within the context that I obviously have an opinion and a writer's opinion inevitably colors her work, no matter how carefully she tries to be fair. And, again, I *would* seek balancing comments from WWASPS critics. But I have an obvious vested interest, as a pro, in doing the piece straight.
Take it or leave it.
Timoclea
(Julie Cochrane, co-author with John Ringo, _Cally's War_, hit 31 on NYT hardcover fiction list for a week back in October)
Disclaimer: None of my writings on this subject represent the opinions of John Ringo or Baen Books or anyone's opinions but my own. Any resulting article would represent solely my own work on a freelance basis.
Every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm, that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master; that the representatives of the people are superior to the people themselves; that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid."
--Alexander Hamilton
