In the absence of Minterview Monika, as we refer to her now at the clubhouse, I’ve sought inspiration from George Washington (always best to get hold of him before the holidays) to come up with our next Minterview questions.

You know the drill. It’s an interview.  It’s a [...]]]>

In the absence of Minterview Monika, as we refer to her now at the clubhouse, I’ve sought inspiration from George Washington (always best to get hold of him before the holidays) to come up with our next Minterview questions.

You know the drill. It’s an interview.  It’s a mini-interview:  MINTERVIEW!  So answer these questions yourself – or, even better, interview someone else and post his or her response.  It’s a great way to greet strangers, bewilder friends and family, or achieve a restraining order. (Maybe not that last one.) Keep your answers short and piquant – 150 words or less – and let’s see what we discover about each other in your comment. George Washington’s questions are:

1.  What does it mean to you to be an American?

2.  Which new national holiday would you create and why?

Minterview:  boil it, bread it, fry it, fricassee it, baste it, broil it, grill it, filet it.  Serve it up with fava beans and a nice Chianti.  Better yet, make it into bright green jelly and serve it with roast lamb.  What’s a Minterview?  It’s an appetizer, if you [...]]]>

Minterview:  boil it, bread it, fry it, fricassee it, baste it, broil it, grill it, filet it.  Serve it up with fava beans and a nice Chianti.  Better yet, make it into bright green jelly and serve it with roast lamb.  What’s a Minterview?  It’s an appetizer, if you will – a thought-whetter, tapas for your  mind, an amuse-bouche for your brain.  Below you’ll find two questions.  Answer one or both in the Comments box – OR, the most delicious option of all! – ask someone else.  We can’t wait to taste your answers.

1.  I’ve heard it said that everyone has a “landscape of the soul” – a place on the planet (or maybe in our imagination) that feels most like home.  Where’s your landscape of the soul?

2.  Which would you rather be:  Happy but not know it, or stupid but not care?

Small + interview = smalterview? No, that’s not right. Little + interview = litterview?  No, that’s even worse, and might incur a fine. OK, I’ve got it:  Mini + interview = Minterview! It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s enlightening, and we’ll still respect you in the morning. Answer [...]]]>

Small + interview = smalterview? No, that’s not right. Little + interview = litterview?  No, that’s even worse, and might incur a fine. OK, I’ve got it:  Mini + interview = Minterview! It’s fun, it’s fast, it’s easy, it’s enlightening, and we’ll still respect you in the morning. Answer one or both of the questions below, OR – even more diverting – ask someone else, and post their answers in the Comments box below. You’ll be glad you did. Probably.

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1. What was the first thing you did that made you realize you could never be President of the United States?

2. What five verbs and five nouns are the most essential for your survival? If you only had ten words, what would they be?

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Batter up!  Who’s on first?

In this ever-changing world, we need a few things to count on.  Dear readers, you can rely on us!  We’ve decided to post new Minterview topics every Wednesday, no matter what, to help you get over the mid-week blahs.  (I mean, I’ll post every Wednesday unless I have a [...]]]>

In this ever-changing world, we need a few things to count on.  Dear readers, you can rely on us!  We’ve decided to post new Minterview topics every Wednesday, no matter what, to help you get over the mid-week blahs.  (I mean, I’ll post every Wednesday unless I have a horrible accident with a can-opener and lose one of my fingers, or if I poke myself in the eye with an unpeeled banana.  Although I suppose I could still type with my remaining nine fingers, and squint at the screen through my one good eye…)

Here’s how to play:  Pick one of the questions below, and either answer it yourself, or – much more entertaining – ask someone else, and relay his or her answer to us in the Comment box below.  You might be surprised at what you discover (although we can’t be held responsible for the repercussions).

1.  If you could go back in time and talk to yourself at age 15, what would you say?

2.  What were you thinking?  (. . . this is extremely open-ended, along the lines of a previous Minterview question, “What went wrong?”)

Tally-ho, the hunt is on!

It’s mini.  It’s an interview.  It’s a mini-interview:  MINTERVIEW!  So fun, so refreshing, so thought-provoking.  Minterviews are easy and non-fattening:  Just answer either of these questions yourself – or, even better, interview someone else and post his or her response.  It’s a fabulous conversation starter – with a cute stranger, [...]]]>

It’s mini.  It’s an interview.  It’s a mini-interview:  MINTERVIEW!  So fun, so refreshing, so thought-provoking.  Minterviews are easy and non-fattening:  Just answer either of these questions yourself – or, even better, interview someone else and post his or her response.  It’s a fabulous conversation starter – with a cute stranger, or even with an ugly stranger.  If you ask someone you love, you might be surprised at the answer.  If you ask someone you hate, then you’re braver than I am.  Keep the answers brief – 150 words or less – and let’s see what we discover about each other! Answer in the comment box below.

1.  What’s the worst, most bald-faced lie you’ve ever told – and did you get caught?

2.  What was your favorite childhood toy?

Easy to participate.  Answer either of these questions yourself, or, even better, interview someone and post their response.  Great way to meet someone of your preferred gender or start a conversation in a room full of strangers. 150 words, here are your questions. Pick one or the other or [...]]]>

Easy to participate.  Answer either of these questions yourself, or, even better, interview someone and post their response.  Great way to meet someone of your preferred gender or start a conversation in a room full of strangers. 150 words, here are your questions. Pick one or the other or both.  Answer in the comment box below.

More than anything else, what was the last thing you wanted your life partner to know about you?

And, two, in these tough times, what one family heirloom would you refuse to sell, and why?

It’s How do I Do this time! It’s Saturday!  Time for the next question for min-terviews.  Answer this yourself, or ask a friend or stranger, and then post your answer directly in the content box.  Seemed to work well with having two questions last week, so why not two [...]]]>

It’s How do I Do this time! It’s Saturday!  Time for the next question for min-terviews.  Answer this yourself, or ask a friend or stranger, and then post your answer directly in the content box.  Seemed to work well with having two questions last week, so why not two this morning? (It’s a few minutes to midnight in Oceanside, California where A Word with You Press lives and tans)  One of the delights I have found is that a serious question can be answered frivolously, and frivolous question can suddenly take on depth and meaning.  So, with a limit of 150 words, the minterview topics this week:

1.  How do you explain to a five year old where God lives?

2.  If you won the lottery, how would your best friends spend your money?

“Min-terviews”

Each week I will post a new topic.  It’s a mini interview.  You can answer the question yourself, or ask it of someone else and post their response.  This could be a great conversation starter at a party, with strangers, at the coffee shop, or on a train. [...]]]>

“Min-terviews”

Each week I will post a new topic.  It’s a mini interview.  You can answer the question yourself, or ask it of someone else and post their response.  This could be a great conversation starter at a party, with strangers, at the coffee shop, or on a train. Get creative and make it a party game. “Hi, I am a writer on assignment, and I wonder if I could interview you with a single question?”  There is no limit to the number of people you interview and post, but there is a limit to length and format, and violate the format at your own peril!

Basic rules:

MUST BE ACCEPTABLE TO A GENERAL AUDIENCE–i.e., could you read this to your mother?

INTRODUCTION MUST BE BRIEF.  “Hi, my name is Arthur.  I live in the Pacific North West where I (attend school, rob banks, crab, raise kids).  NO SPECIFICS that could lead to stalking–I’m still on probation!  First names only of people you min-terview. Make it clear that they remain anonymous. (They might even be more willing to share a secret)

THIS IS NOT ADVERTISING.  This is writing.  If you are a professional writer, in your introduction you can say at you option: ” I am a writer and you can find me on the “Our Friends” of this site”, where I am building a directory.  You can send me a few lines about yourself and a link to your email or website and I will be happy to pimp you there at no fee.

THIS IS NOT A CONTEST–no prizes, only surprizes.

THIS IS NOT FILTERED.  Up until now your work has come to me for editing and approval before it gets posted, though comments have by-passed that and are posted in the comment box unhindered.  This feature will only work if people play nice and no time is required on my part except to post a new topic each Saturday.  Do not send me or A Word with You Press your min-terview.  Post directly in the comment box.

AFTER YOUR INTRODUCTION the actual min-terview itself can be no more than 150 words.  I may change this from week to week.

SO…Ready for your first Min-terview?  As a little bonus to get this started, I am offering TWO topics.  Here are the questions to ask yourself or somebody else.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

and

SHOULD ICELAND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGE THEIR VOLCANO HAS DONE?

Post in the comment box.  If nobody responds, I guess I will have to answer the first question myself!

have fun

thorn

inspired-by-this-morning’s-cup-of-coffee-in-chief