I'll have to try the stuffed animal, along with my old standby of having a script or notes in front of me. Still, I wish I could just do everything by email. So much easier.

I despise calling people, even people I know. I always feel like I'm intruding and htat if they wanted to talk to me they'd have already called. That said, if the sources are used to out-of-the-blue requests and this is for a legitimate business purpose, you've got the comfort of semi-formality.

Also, being asked for quotes is inherently flattering, as it implies your thoughts are important. That is a GOOD reason to be called.

I know. And I should be fine as long as I write out my introduction first. I'd say I don't know why I'm this way, but actually I do--I'm not scared of email or letters because I can rewrite until I'm satisfied before sending them out, and I'm not afraid of face-to-face interaction because I can pick up on nonverbal cues, but the phone offers neither advantage.

I made phone calls on the campaign, ok? In the course of that effort, I: -asked to talk to three dead guys
-got mistaken for one drunken ex
-got cursed soundly for daring to call a NeoCon house...maybe five times
None of this will happen to you, I swear. It'll be okay. I am now almost free of the Phone Anxiety, and I only say almost because I still don't want to call CG's house and get his gf, lest I spend the next month thinking how much better she sounds than I. Or vice versa. Other than that, I believe I could call about most things.

Susan, what's the piece about?

And yes, totally do it - a win-win, there.

Interlibrary loan as a research tool for writers--I just want to call the Seattle library staff and ask them some questions about what's the most unusual request they've gotten, if they have tips for patrons, etc., and then to call the Farmington, NM library because a disproportionate number of the books I request come from there, and I want to find out why they have such a good military history collection.

That'll be good.

I don't have any trouble calling people for an article. People like to be interviewed. No one else in their life will ever listen to them the way you will. I basically have two personalities: Ginger the Intrepid Reporter, who can call anyone, and Everyday Ginger, who hates to talk to strangers.

I like that.