Okay here's a question for you...

You're asking if it's lame for her to have a scene where she does a live skype interview?

I don't see why it would. Skype is totally a thing, after all.

Or, am I completely missing what you were asking?

I think it would be fine to have that. If I were doing it I might not mention Skype; I might just say a live interview online or something similar.

annaheyerdahl said:

TomKnighton I'm just wondering if people would find it boring for the MC to do that in a book. Like, if I should just say she did it and move on or actually do the scene to show how much she loves books and this particular author

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It's as boring as you make it. So... make it not boring.

By that I mean, don't just have a longwinded interview that has absolutely no bearing on the plot, just to show that she loves books and this author - because if it's just characterisation, those two things in themselves aren't really exciting enough to sustain a long scene. But make the interview somehow significant to the plot as well as engaging and entertaining, and you've got a perfectly justifiable reason for making it a scene.

annaheyerdahl said:

So...would it be terribly lame if the MC was to do a live Skype interview IN the novel, and I wrote the scene in? I think it would help show how much she loves her blog and books, and definitely goes towards showing the reader as much

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Nothing wrong with that idea, but make sure it isn't just there to show what she does. It needs to be part of the story, which means it needs to have conflict and tension. Otherwise it will be boring.

I agree with alleycat: probably better to not mention Skype by name. Lest your story end up in the company of all those works of popular culture ca. 2006 that mentioned Myspace.

I agree. I wouldn't say Skype, so that you don't make your book dated, but the scene will be as boring or exciting as you write it.

If it's just about being a gushy fangirl, it seems redundant, especially if you've already established how she's so into the books that she's actively working to promote her favorite authors. Just mention that she does the interview and keep it off-screen.

If it serves a purpose - if something comes out in the interview that changes her relationship with an author, or makes her reconsider a life spent promoting others instead of herself - then show the interview. (Maybe the author forgets they're live, and makes a face or a comment to someone in the background that makes her realize what they really think of her... sort of a wake-up moment where she realizes that her gushy feelings aren't being reciprocated. Or she's struggling to interview them and they're coming across like an idiot - some brilliant writers can't interview worth a darn - and a little of the fangirl luster falls away as she realizes they're just as human as she is.)

I agree with the others. It's really what you write it to be. If you're bored while writing a scene with a Skype interview, the readers going to be bored while reading it. If you don't think you can write it to not be boring, just say it happened.

Stay away from using the words Skype or other products unless the story absolutely needs it. As to the actual idea. Its no different than any other dialogue, just slightly quirky. Go for it. It'll work based on how well it is written.

kenpochick said:

I agree. I wouldn't say Skype, so that you don't make your book dated, but the scene will be as boring or exciting as you write it.

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Books get dated as soon as you write them. What we take as wonderful-technology-which-will-last-forever...

Just does not work. Ever. Unless you have a crystal ball and you can really see around future's corner.

(But what's wrong with mentioning myspace if the book is set in 2006? It's a real thing that people really enjoyed and used. It's perfect for setting a book right in the middle of that time period. No different than setting your story in 1950, 1850 or 1055.)