My rule: Never,
ever, let the subject (interviewee)
see a draft of your story.
Several times in my career, this has happened and most of
the time it can be disastrous, adding more work, headache, and time. Let me explain.
Case in point. This just happened with a heterosexual couple
I interviewed who are both actors. I will explain later why it’s necessary to
use the term “heterosexual.”
When I interviewed the couple at their home, they presented
themselves as open and free ~ or at least this is how I perceived them. A week
later I was approached by their publicist who explained that they were not
offended by some of my questions, but
had some doubts as to “what” kind of story I was writing. They asked to see a
copy. My managing editor submitted it.
I learned long ago not to do this as it jeopardizes the
integrity of the writer and can result in the “sanitization” of the piece. This
happened back in the early 90s when I was writing my gay role model book,
STRAIGHT OUT. I interviewed Don Bachardy and he asked to read the piece. This
rookie journalist acquiesced. Don returned 5 pages of meticulous edits!
Oftentimes, the interviewee will say things during an
interview that they later regret or ponder why they even said such and such.
This is normal for anyone. My gift
is that I possess an air of trust and am easy to talk with. The couple revealed things that they
only wanted to stay in the living room but
. . . I am a journalist.
During the interview with the acting couple, I asked: “What
celebrity would you like to have wild animal sex with?” They squirmed, paused, then decided not
to answer. That’s fine. It was an
inappropriate question for them. I’m not used to interviewing straight couples,
or any couples, for that matter. I
commonly pose this question to men – gay or straight – and there’s never an
issue.
After the couple saw the early draft of the story, they
handed back their edits ~ with the zealous help, I’m sure, of their publicist. Arguably,
some edits were appropriate. But they overstepped their bounds, changing
adverbs and adjectives which described my impressions of them. They wanted to
present themselves in the light THEY
saw themselves, not the writer. The
piece was compromised.
