Interview with:Steve Amoia [steveamo]
PROFESSION
 | What is your profession? What is your title printed on your business card? Freelance writing.
Steve Amoia, Writer. |
| Which languages do you speak, and how have you learned them? English is my native tongue.
During high school, I studied Italian and Spanish. |
| How do you feel about speaking in front of an audience? What experience have you had in this arena? I believe that public speaking is a difficult yet very rewarding experience.
When I worked for a software company, I gave presentations each year during our annual user's conferences. My topics were Online Help, Ergonomics of Healthy Computing, Gender Communication Styles, and Financial Planning. |
CREATIVITY
| You are as good as your last idea. Wouldn't you like to have a more secure type of work? The more security that you seek, the less that you actually have. |
ART
| How do you feel about the fact that the pieces exhibited in contemporary art museums are often of artists already deceased? It teaches us that art is perpetual and to be relished. |
WRITING
| What did you first read? How did you begin to write? Who were the first to read what you wrote? As a child, I read stories by Ernest Hemingway. I was also attracted to sports journalism at a young age by reading newspapers and magazines.
Like most, I began to write term papers in high school and college. Teachers and professors were the first to read my work, and encouraged me to develop more writing skills.
My first professional writing job was as a technical writer for a software company. I developed online help and user manuals. |
| What is your favorite genre? Can you provide a link to a site where we can read some of your work or learn something about it? David Halberstam said "You are who you interview." As writers, we need to develop a curiosity about a variety of topics. Interviewing subject matter experts, along with others with unique perspectives, can assist in this process.
My writing and interview portfolios can be found at http://www.sanstefano.com. |
| What well known writers do you admire most? Alive or dead? :-)
Jokes aside, as a child, Ernest Hemingway was a strong influence. He seemed to paint images in his stories that resonated with me. His use of language, descriptions, and local color taught me that writing was a serious craft.
As an adult, I have come to appreciate the works of Frederick Douglass, James Michener, and Paul Theroux. All were/are masters of the English language, and had great observational skills, along with a heightened understanding of human nature. |
| Deep down inside, who do you write for? For my ancestors who lived their lives in quiet dignity. Most came to the United States unable to read or write, and their example has always been significant to me. |
| Does reader feed-back help you? It helps to develop thicker skin; however, understanding the needs and desires of your audience is essential. |
| What are you working on now? An e-book for a martial arts program called World Dragon Kenpo. |
| What do you recommend I do with all those things I wrote years ago but have never been able to bring myself to show anyone? I would suggest to read them again with older and wiser eyes. If these projects remain hidden, you will never know their potential impact. My advice would be to share them.
Fortunately, I saved most of my term papers from college. Our earliest writing can provide a benchmark of sorts. Actually, a few of my college research papers are still in my current portfolio. |
JOURNALISM
| What is your specialty? What subjects do you deal with? Alternative health.
Career-related themes.
Historical figures.
Italian and international soccer.
Martial arts. |
| Please list a web address where where one can view an example of your work. |
| To you, what is objectivity? The ability to write about an emotive topic from a completely neutral point of view. Knowing how to keep your personal opinions and ego outside of the equation. Writing with integrity and balance for your target audience. |
| What headline would you like to see printed one day in the newspaper? "The United States Men's National Team Wins the World Cup." |
| Do you feel that analytical and investigative journalism is being lost? |
| What can you teach us about the art of the interview? I am still a student of the genre myself.
Sometimes, the questions you don't ask are as important as the ones you do ask. It helps to treat the interviewee as a client.
Last year, I wrote an article for Football Media called "The Art and Science of Interviews."
Here is the link:
http://footballmedia.com/the-art-and-science-of-interviews (...) |
| Please list well-known people you have interviewed. Andres Cantor of Futbol de Primera and Telemundo.
Enzo Francescoli, CEO of GolTV.
Steven Goff of the Washington Post.
Andrew Jennings, investigative journalist, reporter, and author.
John Koskinen, former President of the US Soccer Foundation and the Y2K Special Adviser to President Clinton.
Alexi Lalas, former professional soccer player and President of the LA Galaxy.
Don Mullan, investigative journalist, author, filmmaker, and humanitarian. |
| Would you say the journalism blog is revolutionizing the profession? We now have many more informational choices and outlets than existed ten to fifteen years ago. Anyone, with or without influence or resources, can get their message out and circumvent the traditional media apparatus. |
INTERNET
| What is your specialty in the interactive world? International soccer and martial arts. |
| Where can we see some of your work online? |
| Lessons learnt on user interface design Know and respect your target audience, ask for their feedback, make things intuitive, grab their attention quickly, and provide unique content that is visually appealing. |
EDUCATION
| Who was your most influential teacher and why? Actually, it was a basketball and baseball coach, Mr. Bill Smith. He was a former professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals.
He always carried himself with dignity, and treated players as adults from a young age. He told you exactly what he expected, and calmly explained what you did correctly or incorrectly.
Unlike many youth coaches, he never became angry or criticized you in front of the team. He made you understand your place in the larger scheme of things. He led by example. |
PERSONALITY
| In moments of tension, what techniques work in calming the mind? Deep breathing, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong. |
| Which actor would you like to be? Sidney Poitier. |
| 
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[steveamo]
Steve Amoia
Washington, D.C. USA
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