The writing life (1)

Cub reporter lesson No. 1, learned the hard way: Don’t put out a call and then run an errand because you don’t expect the source to get back to you soon. And, as the Boy Scouts say, be prepared.

Friday, in my new life as a writer at the Monitor, I volunteered to report and write a brief interview for the rail. The rail is the box that runs down the left side of page B1 each day. Hans Schulz, the city editor, suggested I do something on a group called the Creative Coalition, which is putting on a forum Monday in Manchester between the two presidential debates.

I looked at the program to see who would be speaking. From the list, I decided to request an interview with Creative Coalition member Richard Schiff, the actor who played Toby Ziegler on West Wing. I called coalition headquarters, but the executive director was out of the office. The woman on the phone said I should email the director my request. I promptly did so.

Then I ran downtown to get fitted for a tux for my son’s wedding in three weeks. The helpful fellow there had just put the correct-size coat on me when my cell phone rang. I asked the man on the other end if I could call back in 10 minutes. He said no, this was it, Richard Schiff was waiting on the line.

Thunder was clapping and a flash downpour had just begun, but I couldn’t do the interview inside Mr. Tux. The Concord High prom was that night, so the shop was full of parents picking up tuxes and self-conscious young men modeling for their girlfriends. I asked the caller to hang on. I slipped out of the jacket, ran out the door, high-stepped to my car and jumped in. It was steamy inside, but because of the rain I didn’t dare open a window. I put my cell on speakerphone and grabbed a pen and notepad. I wanted a tape recorder, but of course I had none with me.

I first spoke with Robin Bronk, executive director of the coalition. Clearly she expected to be interviewed, too, and I guessed maybe she was screening me for Schiff's sake. I asked Bronk about the coalition’s goals. In a nutshell, these include promoting two issues – arts in education and media literacy for young people. The coalition also helps its members, who are professional communicators, learn more about issues they care about and about opposing points of view.

Pretty soon, Schiff came on. Our interview was cordial and candid. I heard nothing of the dark side Schiff brought to the character of Toby Ziegler. He did question my premise when I asked if he was as partisan in his own politics as Toby had been. Maybe he was thinking of the coalition’s nonpartisan nature – it has members from across the political spectrum. But from his answers it was clear that Schiff would have been comfortable in a real Jed Bartlett White House.

Throughout our chat, I scribbled and perspired. When it was over, I looked at my phone and saw that the call had lasted 24 minutes. The rain had stopped, and I went back into Mr. Tux to get my vest and shoes fitted.

Mission accomplished, but what an ordeal!