Jimmeaha Mack asked Alexandra Robbins:

Good evening Ms. Robbins, my name is Jimmeaha Mack and I am currently a junior in high school. I was wondering, after reading your book, "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth: Popularity, Quirk Theory and Why Outsiders Thrive After High School", how did you conduct your interviews? And is there any more advice you could give to someone just starting out with literary journalism?

Alexandra Robbins Hi Jimmeaha, I'm so sorry I didn't see this question until now! I was in touch with the "main characters" in "The Geeks" as often as possible. Sometimes our discussions lasted for hours.

The most concise advice I can give to someone just starting out as a narrative journalist is to remember that 1) you're telling stories and 2) they are not your stories. What this means is 1) From a writing perspective, you want readers to feel like you're taking them on a journey with a narrative arc. Don't just report facts. Tell a story. Immerse yourself in the details. Make readers care about your sources. Aim to write in a way that makes readers itching to know what happens next.

And 2, From a reporting perspective, really listen to what your sources are saying - and what they're trying to say - so that you can ask them good questions, and do right by them when you tell their story. Transcribe everything they tell you, because when you review your notes later, you'll more often than not spot something that you should follow up on.

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