This Book Encouraged Me to Talk to People Despite Being a Grumpy Recluse

How William Gallagher’s ‘The Blank Screen: Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ improved my interviews and helped me to better connect with fellow creatives

William Gallagher | Image courtesy of 58keys

William Gallagher has a messy desk.

Papers, computer cables, abandoned cups of tea. A Stream Deck sat in front of an Ultrawide Monitor. His office looks like a bomb hit it — a bomb made out of words. Once the bookshelves collapsed and he couldn’t open the door because of all the books.

William Gallagher is a professional writer. This is what I’m saying.

I’ve been watching a lot of writers on YouTube lately instead of writing. That’s how I first stumbled across his YouTube channel 58keys. He talks about writing using Macs and other Apple devices, the latest apps, and other shiny things.

YouTube is full of people who talk about writing as marketing. It’s rare to find a writer on there who gets any real writing done. Mr Gallagher is one such exception. A unicorn in a field full of horses, posing as unicorns, with Cornettos stuck on their heads.

My kind of writer. A writer’s writer. You know the type who actually writes for a living? One of those.

He once took a typewriter with him on holiday.

Respect due.

Bowties are cool

William Gallagher is a versatile freelance writer. He has worked in journalism and television including tech, drama, and a lengthy stint for the BBC.

He’s also sci-fi royalty, as far as I’m concerned, given his work on Doctor Who.

He made a significant contribution to the Whoniverse. In the main through his work on Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish Productions. He’s almost as beloved by the fandom as the Fourth Doctor loves jelly babies.

In case you can’t tell, I’m a Whovian.

I’m on a Doctor Who pilgrimage at the moment. Rewatching all the available classic era Doctor Who. I even hunted down the audio from the missing episodes so that I can listen to them while out walking.

Yes I know I should be writing.

58keys and the Blank Screen books

I often watch Mr Gallagher’s videos while I try to avoid thinking about starting to write.

58keys has become a staple in my writing procrastination routine. So I jumped at the chance to read one of his books about writing.

The Blank Screen books aim to help writers overcome common challenges. ‘The Blank Screen: Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ is the latest in the series. It’s a practical guide to interviewing people as a writer.

This is daunting to a writer like me who’s terrified of public speaking.

‘Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ covers the essentials. Whether you need to interview for research, content, or publication.

Despite my reluctance to make mouth noises at other humans, I found it useful and encouraging.

Wait, do you mean that I actually have to talk to people?

This book is straight to the point and full of good advice.

What’s immediately striking is how practical it is. It’s the kind of book that smacks you round the head with its practicality.

It’s conversational and down-to-earth. Like you’re sat with a friend who’s been around the block a few times and wants to show you the ropes.

There’s no fluff.

I’ve followed Mr Gallagher’s work for some time now. His attitude to helping other writers is admirable and inspiring.

He wants you to write well and connect with other people.

It’s good to talk.

Practical wisdom

‘Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ is an approachable guide. 

It walks you through the interview process step-by-step. All the way from prep work, before during and after the interview, to what to do when the mic’s off and you’ve gone home. There’s even a knack to getting interviews in the first place.

Be polite, punctual, and persistent.

The book also covers basic interview techniques.

How to find someone worth talking to, how to listen, and how to draw them out of their shell. As well as journalistic stuff like when to go on the record, off the record, or deep background.

What you can do with the things that people tell you and what you can’t.

How to shape the story

Don’t think about winging it.

You need to do serious research and planning. Know what you want to get out of the conversation before you sit down to talk. This isn’t about trying to trip people up. It’s about respecting their time and not wasting yours.

You need to get the facts straight; but you also need to get the story. Regardless of whether the interview is content, part of your writing, or for broadcast.

You shape by what you quote.

And then what happened?

The key is building genuine rapport and making your subject feel at ease.

Unlocking someone’s story starts with this. Active listening and smart follow-up questions can keep your conversation flowing.

But what if you hit a brick wall or dead end?

You need to find a way to get round it or know how to handle awkward silences and evasive responses.

Sometimes the best thing to do is say nothing until they fill the dead air for you.

Tools of the trade

Once the interview part is over, Mr Gallagher doesn’t leave you hanging.

He walks you through the best ways to organise and use the material. Transcription, fact-checking, and how to weave quotes into your writing. How to store it and back it up. Even how to name files and folders.

As much as Mr Gallagher loves certain apps, his advice is tools agnostic.

Can you take notes? Do you have a microphone? Do you have a camera for photos or to shoot video? Do you have a dictaphone or some sort of voice recording equipment? How about audio transcription?

That’s all you need to get started.

Nowadays, you’ve already got all that in a typical smartphone. So if you’ve got one of those then you’re good to go.

We need to talk

Mr Gallagher’s witty asides are fun and anecdotes about his career keep things relatable.

What do you do when it all goes Pete Tong?

How do you interview someone that’s a bit of a pain to deal with?

What do you do when your computer takes a dirt nap or you did the interview but forgot to press record?

My favourite is how he salvaged a bad interview when the recording failed and he’d got nothing. Sat in a nearby McDonald’s trying to write down everything he could remember.

He knows whereof he speaks.

The astonishing privilege of being a writer

It’s clear Mr Gallagher loves talking to people and is respectful of those he gets to interview for his work.

The following passage from the book sums up his general attitude:

“If you haven’t already gathered, you very soon will: interviewing is important to me and actually I think one of the most astonishing privileges of being a writer is that I get to talk with deeply fascinating people. Plus we get to pretend it’s work.”

I’ve watched some of his interviews on 58keys. I was also delighted to discover both his appearances on the Mac Power Users podcast, which I used to listen to back in the day.

As you might expect they’re more like friendly chats than anything confrontational.

William is as affable and friendly sat either side of the table. Both when interviewed and when interviewing other people.

So it’s great that comes across in the book.

The long and the short of it

It’s hardly a criticism of a book to say that you wish there was more of it but it is a short read.

There’s one area in particular I wanted to see expanded. The book is an excellent primer for any writer looking to sharpen their interview skills. But it doesn’t dig deep enough into how to deal with difficult people that you have to interview no matter what.

Speaking to important people can be like trying to get blood out of stone.

Trying to get a politician to answer a straight question is usually like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

I wanted more insight into high-stakes interviews. The kind where one wrong question could shut down the entire conversation. Or complex interview situations where, for one reason or another, you’ve only got one shot at it. The sort of make-or-break moments that can change your life.

I’d also have loved a chapter dedicated to grilling people — as a rhetorical device I mean, not for a barbecue.

I swear I don’t like to put people on the spot, but I still want to know how to do it well.

If you’re after a quick read with actionable advice, the book delivers. But if you’re hoping for a masterclass in the craft of interviewing, you might end up wanting more. If you’re a seasoned interviewer it skims the surface where you might want to dive in and explore.

This book won’t turn you into Jeremy Paxman — or Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It — but that’s no bad thing.

Take care of yourself, write more, and I’ll see you soon

I can’t say enough good things about William Gallagher. He’s funny, talks about writing, and drinks tea — what more do you want?

Do yourself a favour and grab a copy of ‘The Blank Screen: Interviewing for Authors and Writers.’ Or any of the other Blank Screen books for that matter.

All the Blank Screen books deserve a spot on your shelf.

Are you a writer staring down the barrel of a blank page? Start with ‘The Blank Screen.’ Do you need to talk to someone as part of getting your work done? Read ‘Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ first instead.

You can find his books through his website or wherever you prefer to buy books these days. Am I allowed to suggest Amazon?

Mr Gallagher’s other content — such as on Patreon or YouTube — is helpful for any writer.

So while you’re at it, subscribe to 58keys on YouTube and consider supporting him on Patreon. You won’t regret it — your writing will thank you.

As he says at the end of every episode of 58keys: “Take care of yourself, write more, and I’ll see you soon.”

Three biscuits, a cup of tea, and a secret

My favourite part of 58keys is the Three Biscuit Guides where he does a deep-dive on one subject. So named because you should be able to watch them in about the time it takes to get through three biscuits and a cup of tea.

The words you’re reading need a full packet of ginger nuts and several mugs of tea. Or at least they did to write them. But in the same spirit, there’s one more thing I’d like to tell you.

‘Interviewing for Authors and Writers’ came along for me at the right time. It improved my understanding of interviewing and, dare I say it, has even given me the confidence to try.

It made me realise that it’s high time I start connecting with other creatives. I have as much right to put my work out there as anyone else.

I could start a podcast — despite having a face for radio and a voice made for the shipping forecast. I know things. I have thoughts. People are generally nice and interesting to talk to.

Or I could start a YouTube channel, because who wouldn’t want to watch my ugly mug stare at a screen while typing? (That was a rhetorical question.)

How many biscuits will it take me? I don’t know. I’ll get right on it — right after I put the kettle on for another cup of tea.

Thank you, I’ll be here all week.

Tea Talks

I was so inspired by Mr Gallagher that I decided to take a leaf out of his book.

I’m an NCTJ-qualified journalist but I’ve never had what you’d call an impressive career.

I trained as a journalist but all I got was this lousy t-shirt, a bunch of debt, and a crushing sense of imposter syndrome.

I’m a freelance writer, but I’ve started to think about how far we’ve all come. Anyone with a laptop and a phone is their own media company now. You can write online, podcast, shoot videos, make films, and publish books.

So why don’t I do things on my own terms?

I joke about getting right on it because it already feels like I don’t have time to do anything.

But why not, eh?

Why not interview writers and artists of all stripes online? No doubt over Zoom or whatever it is the cool kids use nowadays. Record it as a video, podcast the audio, and write up the good bits. I’d love to have friendly chats with creatives while we drink tea.

Tea Talks, if you will.

So that’s the plan. Let me know if you’d like to take part.