Donald L Reid BA FSA Scot
Beith KA15 1BJ
Tel: 01505-503801
M: 07814614345
Interview Articles by
Donald L Reid
Beith Correspondent -
The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
Freelance Writer
Introduction
Donald L Reid is a
retired Police Superintendent with 32 years service. He has great experience
listening to and recording stories over the years, many of which ended up in
court! He relishes interviewing people.
Everyone has a special story to tell - human interest stories; new or old
ideas; family; work; social and recreational or general stories relating to
life’s journey.
Donald is
responsible for all the fascinating interviews in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats
Herald entitled: DOWN GARNOCK WAY, weekly features highlighting aspects of the
personal stories of local people living in Ayrshire’s
He can provide an
effective freelance writing service and has many local interest books published
relating mainly to Ayrshire’s
Absolutely everyone
has a story to tell. Many are compelling and totally fascinating. These are
stories of success and failure, tragedy, love won and lost, humour, passion,
struggle and hope - stories that really do touch the heart and pull the chord
strings. He can record your personal story.
Why interview articles?
The article can
act as a family record for future generations to capture important aspects of
personal history which will prove invaluable for those who follow in your
footsteps. A fuller ‘life story’ can also be recorded, albeit it will perhaps be
more time-consuming, but is generally very worthwhile indeed.
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QUOTATIONS RELEVANT POETIC QUOTATIONS CAN MAKE AN ARTICLE COME ALIVE Donald very often includes quotes from
a poem as an introduction to an article and also at the end. It works well. “Aye
free off hand your story tell, When
way a bosom cronie; But
aye keep something to yoursel’ You
seldom tell to ony.” Robert
Burns We
Plug away, we make no fuss, Our feats are never crowned, But
then its common coves like us, that makes the world go round, And
as we steer a steady course, but God’s predestined plan. Hats
off to the almighty force, The Ordinary Man Robert
W Service |
Interview articles
are a great way to tell part of a person’s story. These articles can be used to
enable a parent or grandparent to recount part of their life story which they
wish to pass on for the benefit of their children; the interview can be
structured as a personal promotion - going beyond the regular formal press
release - to introduce the human being behind the talent, the business, the
job, the event.
Booklet Form
Donald L Reid can
compile your personal article into a small booklet, illustrated with photos
selected by you. He will take photographs from your own collection and scan
them, immediately returning them to you, to incorporate into the booklet. He
can also take photographs of the interviewee and family for inclusion in the
booklet. They help to bring the text alive in a very personal and special way and
will be suitably captioned.
Human interest stories
Everyone has a special
story to tell, from far travelled Beith businessman, Alan Richardson to the
inspiring story of Andrew McCallum, sharing his memoirs of life at the
battlefront at
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Says Andrew McCallum (85): “Donald L Reid has the uncanny ability to assist
you to remember the past and bring it alive in a way I never thought
possible. I was whisked back to the war years at |
Subjects areas I am interested in
for interviews
This is YOUR
story.If you would like your story told, you can decide on the areas you wish
to focus on primarily. The list is endless. You could be interviewed about
growing up; memories of your family; school days; games we played; hobbies and
interests; politics; memories of work; human potential; courage and hope; achievement;
spiritual growth; and environment. In short, anything which is interesting, I
am happy to record at interview.
Get your story on the World Wide
Web
Once the interview article is completed I can, with your permission, arrange to
have it placed it on the World Wide Web, for others to read right across the
globe. We know live in a very small world with internet access and
instantaneous news spread via the web. Perhaps you would like to add a picture(s)
to personalise the article.
My speciality – Interviewing
ordinary people about their life & times
Ordinary people
can often lead extra-ordinary lives. Learning about their lived experience can
be humbling and inspiring. Your interview can be used for newspapers,
magazines, newsletters, programs and web sites.
In the interviews
I have completed I hope that the reader will find that it was rather like they were in personal conversation with
the interviewee. They add the human-interest story for promotion, and fill the
human need to know more about them and their relationship with their personal
life, work and hobbies.
These articles
answer questions like: Who are they? What inspired them to do what they do?
What motivatates? Who inspired them? What has life’s journey been like for
them? What do they do when they are not enjoying themselves socially?
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Says Maurice Hughes (83) now of Beith, interviewed about his 9
year boat-building experience: "One very
important aspect of Donald’s ability is his relationship with the interviewee
– they enjoy his interview style because he identifies closely with their
hobby or interest. It certainly took my on a fascinating journey as we sailed
away on the wings of time." |
New technology and doing
interviews
In this world of
instant communication, It is not necessary nor indeed would it be practicable
for me to travel the country to do interviews. If the interviewee is not based
in the West of Scotland the interview can be held over the telephone or by
preparing a list of questions for the interviewee to ponder over, after an
initial discussion has taken place and some basic research has been carried out.
Afterward, I type up my notes into interview format on computer. Interestingly,
most of the local interviews have been held in person and are tape-recorded
then transcribed, albeit I do take notes to help me focus on the key areas to
be highlighted. The interviewee ALWAYS has the final say on the content.
Editing quotes and getting approval
Because we don’t
talk like we write, we tend to jump from one idea, concept or subject to
another, in the normal process of conversation (chatting) perhaps leaving
sentences unfinished. Quotes are carefully chosen and placed in a cohesive
order to let the story flow smoothly, but retaining the personal aspect as
interpreted by the interviewer.
The article is
then sent to the interviewee for approval of content and intent before it is
finalised and forwarded to the client, promoter/presenter or to the specific
publication editor who commissioned the article. In many cases it will be the
case that the interview is simply for the personal benefit of the interviewee
to help them put the past into some kind of context. Interviews can be
therapeutic.
You would like to tell your story?
If
you have a story to tell, or have a family member, perhaps a parent or
grandparent, whose story would be of interest for the future, and you want to
share it with your family or perhaps with a wider audience and even place it on
a web site, please do e-mail me or telephone for information on how I can help
you, and for my rates. Rates vary according to the length of the article; whether
you wish booklets published of the finished article; scanning of photographs; the
amount of research required, and other costs such as travel, if needed.
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Says Harry Young of Beith, interviewed about aspects of his life
story: "I thoroughly enjoyed travelling back
on the wings of time and remembering aspects of my life’s journey and having
in put on paper for son and grand-daughter to enjoy. HMS Terpsichore (Goddess
of Dance) will always be special to me. She was a large part of my life for
over three years, some 65 years ago during the war. I can still see her in my
mind’s eye to this day. Happy days!” |
Thank you for
reading this and you may wish to contact the undernoted for more information.
Donald L Reid BA FSA
Scot
Beith KA15 1BJ
Ayrshire
Tel: 01505-503801
M: 07814614345
E: donaldleesreid@hotmail.com