When I’m not promoting the historical dynamo that is Sarah Josepha Hale (My children’s book comes out on September 1, by the way!) or working on a story ideas about the disgusting habits of Fluff Monkeys, I get paid to edit an alumni magazine. It’s a wonderful job where I get to interview a number of fascinating people who have great stories to tell.
I also interview teenagers, and, well, that’s sometimes a different story. It’s not that the kids aren’t smart or have nothing interesting to tell me – they are and they do. The problem is that some of them don’t yet know how to answer questions about themselves. Even the most casual interview environments make them uncomfortable.
This discomfort often manifests itself in one of two distinctly teenage ways:
1. The teen (a girl, usually) goes on a caffeinated ramble, filling the briefest of silences with lots and lots of words. Any words will do, really.
2. The teen (a boy, obviously) grunts to say “yes.” Or maybe the grunt was a “no.” Maybe it’s a “maybe?” Or maybe it wasn’t a grunt at all; maybe Mr. Teen just has gas.
All teens I speak with aren’t this way, of course, many really do shine in an interview. But I’ve encountered the above types often enough to wish that I had some kind of crystal ball to get inside their heads and pull out what I need.
Fortunately, I have one!
I first decided to get a Magic 8 Ball after watching an episode of Friends and noticing that Chandler had one on his office desk. I’m not a huge fan of either Friends or Chandler, but I loved the idea of having an 8 Ball of my own. I had one when I was a kid, but in my tweens I purged it with my other toys. I was under the impression that a toy-less room would make me more of an adult; instead it just made me a sullen teen with an un-fun room.
My plan was to keep the 8 Ball on my desk at work and, whenever one of my colleagues suggested an idea for a magazine story, I would consult it by asking, “Is that idea stupid, or what?”
My antics with the 8 Ball were good for a few laughs. Soon thereafter it became part of the landscape, just another thing on my desk.
Little did I know that my 8 Ball would soon be important tool of the trade. This epiphany came less than a week after I brought it to work.
I had to interview a senior who conveyed all the signs of the Type One teen I mentioned above. She was blathering before she could even finish wrestling her book bag through my office door. She told me that she was having a crazy day and she was tired because there’s a test coming up and she’s nervous about it and she would very much like to check her email if it was okay with me and it would only take a second and she’s so sorry that she’s late and keeping me waiting this way and blah and the blah blah blah and blah.
While this little train wreck was playing itself out, she sat herself down in the chair next to my desk and started to play with the 8 Ball, shaking it with vigor and peering into the viewfinder.
I interrupted her. “What did you ask it?”
This stopped her monologue cold. “Ask what?”
“The ball.”
“Oh” she looked at the ball in her hands as if for the first time. “Nothing. I was just…” And then she trailed off. I could tell her answer was honest. She grabbed the ball just to do something with her hands.
“Nothing?” I sputtered. “I hope you realize that you are holding in your hands a powerful piece of black magic. You don’t hold a Magic 8 Ball and ask it nothing. It is not done. You gotta ask it something or it will get annoyed.” (And yes, I really said this. My tone suggested I was joking and not crazy. It’s the same tone I use on my six-year-old son when I want him to get into a giggle fit.)
With only a little more cajoling, I got her to ask the 8 Ball a question.
“You have to say it out loud,” I explained. “It needs to hear you.”
“Oh,” she said. She paused and asked, “Did I get into Brown?”
The ball replied with a “Most Likely,” and this report actually relieved her. We talked about Brown and about what made the university so important her. Then we talked about that test and what she was up to these days and yada yada yada. The formal setting of the office was not as intimidating as it was a few minutes before. We were just having a friendly chat. A friendly chat where I was taking notes.
When she began to slip back into her old conversational habits, I reintroduced the 8 Ball, which forced her to focus her mind on a specific, single idea. Then the 8 Ball forced her to sit still and wait for an answer to the question she asked.
I interviewed that young woman several years ago. At the time I had about 10 years of professional interviewing experience under my belt. In other words, I knew how extract information from people. But I had never, ever, seen anything like this before.
It was, well, magical.
On this blog I like to write about a lot of different things. But I always make an effort to keep all of my posts thematically linked under the common umbrella of “Creative Thinking.”
Creative thinking can come in many forms. Sometimes getting your mind to work in a new and innovative way takes a great deal of conscious effort. Other times a great idea comes by way of a happy accident. My Magic 8 Ball was one such happy accident.
Could it have been my happiest accident? I’m not sure. But according to one inside source, “All Signs Point to ‘Yes.’”
Hey, Look! A Writer Fellow! 
Oh, yes. I also interview quite a few teens. I’m impressed with how many of them come across as very mature. I spoke with one boy last summer before his exchange trip to Indonesia, and again this summer about his experiences. I wish I could be that mature.
But with both teens and adults, I find that the most effective way to elicit interesting answers is by opening up about myself. It’s weird how that works… but the interview becomes so much more like a chat than like… well, pulling teeth. I haven’t tried the Magic 8 Ball yet. But I must procure one.
I am currently investigating the interviewing powers of the Slinky. No luck so far.
I inevitably have to interview teens when I help them with their college admit essays. Maybe that would help them calm down enough to think clearly. I find that most of my students look at the big “Tell us Something about yourself” topic as really daunting and wind up feeling like nothing they’ve done is “college essay worthy”.
Well, Ellen, you can always borrow my 8 Ball and find out!
That is a great gimmick, Mike. You could be a guidance counselor with that kind of approach.
I love my Magic 8-ball. I’ve had it since I was about 10.
Many thanks, Madame!
I have been slowly reacquainting myself with the toys I threw out oh, so many years ago. Many of these reunions have been happy ones. (The best, I think, was Silly Putty; one fine afternoon my son and I spent hours dropping that wonderful, bouncy thing down a flight of stairs.)
That’s a great idea. I’m always looking for ways to engage teenagers because part of my day job involves going out to schools and working with groups of teenagers on study and revision skills. There are usually a mixture of your number one and number two types in each group, or sometimes it seems the whole group is one or the other. I shall have to think about using the ball in a group setting, I think it could work…
That’s a neat idea! I’ve only used the 8 Ball in a one-on-one situation so do let me know how it goes.
I wonder what the magic ball has to say about Sarah Gives Thanks?
I don’t know what the 8 Ball thinks. I did, however, ask my Sarah Hale bobblehead if the book would be a success. I’m pleased to report that she nodded with enthusiasm.
And yes, I really do have a Sarah Hale bobblehead: https://mikeallegra.com/2012/01/29/230/
Was this a good blog post?
All signs point to yes.
Glad you thought so, Max. And welcome!
Brilliant!
Many thanks!
I’ll be right back. I’m off to buy a Magic 8 Ball.
A good investment.
Great post. I often feel like a scattered mess too. When I get crazed, I stop to read my horoscope. It is always spot on. I’m not sure if I am just a perfect Sagittarius or if the horoscope writer is actually my stalker.
I’m a Sagittarius, too. When I read my horoscope, however, I often find myself saying to the newspaper “You don’t know me anymore!”
OOH – check out “our” horoscope today: “Don’t question where your ideas are coming from. Just listen carefully, even if you’re not sure what you are listening to. Write down everything you hear today; you will understand more in due time.” Mysterious.
We’ll have to compare notes.
“All signs point to yes” —omg— I forgot how awesome the Magic 8 Ball was. I think I need to purchase one again, for old time’s sake!
Oh, and I love that you mentioned fluff monkeys in this post. I haven’t been able to get the fluff monkey story out of my head since you first mentioned it. LOL
I threw in that Fluff Monkey reference just for you, Erin.
Thanks for stopping by my Badminton and Birds post. Fun blog you got here, Mr. Mike. I also write (mostly) for teens and children, AND I teach high school. I absolutely grinned reading about the caffeine babble eminating from the girl. Spot on about the guys, too. Definitely will be following. Are you a member of the SCBWI?
Happy Pages,
CricketMuse
Thanks for the kind words, Ms. Muse! Glad you liked the post.
And I am always delighted to meet another children’s book writer. Are you submitting your work to editors at this time or are you still working on your first book?
I am a member of SCBWI. You?
Yup, been a member for long time. I’ve got several stories published (you can check by published page) but sadly no books yet. I’m sending out to both editors and agents. Just waiting for that “Yippee!” moment in my mail box.
A nice list of credits! Your “yippee” moment will come soon, no doubt.
Thanks, I celebrate with you your own “yippee” moment. Keep us posted!
I love your writing style and you have obviously have a great way with teens (magic 8 ball or not!) 🙂 Thanks for visiting my blog and for filling out my questionnaire – very much appreciated! Will be checking out your book when it comes out!
Thanks for the kind words! I look forward to reading more from you, too!
Wow! Now if I could only do my interviews in person, I could use your idea. I will keep it in my bag of tricks should I be in a face-to-face in the future. Thanks!
I have to do a number of interviews over the phone, too. I do so prefer the face-to-face chats; it’s the only way to make a real connection, I think.
By the way, did you see the butter cow yet?
Yes! We are now headed out on a last-minute camping trip to Northern California. Will be posting as soon as I have time to breathe and download the photos.
I eagerly await them.
Enjoy the rest of your break!
I had a deprived childhood…no magic 8 ball 😦 Teenagers have the weirdest language like ya know?
Yuh huh, like, dude, I know, right?
Hmmm, this seems like a great approach to ‘breaking the ice’ with teens. Since I sub in various classrooms in various schools throughout the school division, I wonder if I can fit an 8-Ball into my purse or backpack? 🙂
I’ve never used the 8 Ball in a classroom setting. Let me know if it works!
Great post, Mike. Just realized the Voice in my head usually sounds like a teenage girl — time to invest in a brand new 8 ball so I can get some peace.
My inner voice sounds like a crusty old man. You know, the kinda guy who would say “Get offa my lawn!”
Ah, the 8 ball. If only I would have read this when I was raising teens. Still maybe it’s not too late to get one for my desk and whenever I get off track, I’ll let the 8 ball guide me! 😀
A good plan. The Magic 8 Ball provides wise counsel.
I want a ball like that too!!!
(great post by the way 😉 )
Trust me. It is a wise purchase.