the interviewer is the reverse of an inspiration, because you are afraid of him

Y'all have all seen this, right?

Newly Published Mark Twain Essay, 'Concerning the Interview'

(The "newly published" bit is because of that whole thing Mark Twain did where he forbade his autobiography from being published until 100 years after his death. Also, the article has images of the original handwritten draft, which makes my geeky heart happy.)

I was cracking up, you guys. Especially at the paragraph starting "The Interview was not a happy invention," because my god, how many terrible interviews have I read where the interviewee was clearly mentally flailing and going around in circles, and that paragraph is exactly why.

I love Mark Twain. You know you're good when you're publishing from beyond the grave and still making people laugh. ♥