Wednesday May 13th, 2015

The exercise:

Write an (or about an): interview answer.

Feel free to answer a question you asked in haiku form yesterday and consider this a little two day theme if you wish. Or you can take this in another direction entirely. Up to you, as always.

Me? I'm answering the question in my first haiku.

Mine:

"Is... this a hypothetical question, or...?" I trail off because my brain has frozen and I can't come up with the opposite of hypothetical.

"I think you meant theoretical," the interviewer (Oh good, I've blanked on his name as well) replies with a wan smile. "Regardless, just answer the question please."

"Well... I guess my response - to the client, that is - would depend on who was asking." I'm trying to buy myself some time as my brain slowly comes back online.

"How so?" The smile has disappeared now. I'm not sure if that's a good sign or not.

"If it was just some guy my answer would be a quick and forceful No," I tell Ian. Yes, that's his name. Good. "You don't get involved in something like that with some blue-collar nobody, obviously."

"Mmhmm. Except we don't take on cases for nobodies."

"Of course not. Therefore my response would be dictated by two things." I lean forward and give Ian my hardest stare. "First: just how high up in society is this client? Clearly, the higher he or she goes, the more the scales tip towards Yes."

"And your second... consideration?"

"I'm surprised I even have to say it, Ian." I smile and relax back into my chair. "Before I bury any bodies, I'd want to know exactly how much the client plans on paying me to do his or her dirty work."

"Indeed." Ian regards me with a face devoid of expression for about five seconds longer than I'm comfortable with. Then he smiles, a dark and dangerous thing, and says, "Welcome to the firm, Mr. Lee."

Thursday September 9th, 2010

The exercise:

Let's have some fun with: the interview.

So there's a new Group over on Protagonize that I think has a lot of potential. It's called Protagonize Author Interviews and it's exactly what it sounds like - any Protagonize member can interview any other member and then post it in the Group. I think it's going to be a great way for us to get to know each better.

Jason, the fine fellow who came up with the concept, asked me to be one of the first interviewees and I was happy to oblige. You can find the results here, if you're interested in finding out a little bit more about me.

Mine:

Dressed in his best,

Just like the rest,

He sits quite still

As his sweat spills.

He needs this job,

Or else he'll rob

A bank or two -

His rent is due.

They call his name

To play their game.

He plays his part,

Speaks from the heart.

But they want more,

Show him the door;

Oh he's not done -

He buys a gun.

Now he's in jail,

For his plot failed;

At least now he

Can live rent free.