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I can't use Zoom as my internet connection's often a bit rubbish. But I suppose interviews could be conducted through messaging and a draft sent to the interviewee for approval. I also like the idea of a 'Desert Island Discs' approach for poems, either as an interview or for a writer to provide a list, with as much or as little explanation for their choices as they like.
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With my first one I did it all by email - I close-read a poem donated by the author, and sent across five specific questions that came from the close-reading of the poem (including about technique).
The second one was better, though, because over zoom we got to discuss a bit more - it was less passive - more scope for the poet to go; 'no, that wasn't what I meant at all'. And we got to pull an audio file from the conversation.
Another thing I've seen that worked was a really simple 'ten questions' format. Lots of different poets were asked the same ten questions. The questions ranged from serious to rather silly.
That's really fun to read if you're as shallow as I am, and want to find out whether the poet in question likes buttered toast & The Psychedelic Furs for breakfast or if they're more muffins and Mahler. That kind of thing could be done over email, too.
Sarah-Jane