Crafting Winning Interview Questions: A Guide for Aspiring Writers

Interviews are a great way to practice your writing skills, regardless of the genre you work in. But how do you write interview questions that lead to good conversations? Keep reading to find out how to build an interview process and how to write interview questions that lead to better conversations and writing.

As a writer, conducting interviews is a fantastic way to research stories, gain insights from experts, and bring vivid perspectives to your work. But coming up with thoughtful, engaging interview questions is an art unto itself. This guide will explore tips and strategies to help aspiring writers craft winning interview questions.

Know Your Subject

Thorough research lays the groundwork for an informative interview. Some key steps:

Learn about the interviewee’s background interests and areas of expertise. This allows you to tailor questions specifically to them.
Understand the broader context around the topic. This enables insightful follow-up questions.
Identify interesting angles not covered elsewhere. Your unique questions will reveal fresh information.
Prepare 5-10 questions in advance Impromptu questions can feel disorganized Pre-planned questions provide helpful structure,

With a firm grasp of the subject matter and interviewee, you can develop meaningful questions that advance your reporting goals.

Start With the Basics

Begin with a few easy questions to warm up the conversation before diving deep:

Introduce them. Ask about their job title, background, experience, etc. This gets basic bio information while making them comfortable.
Ask about their passion for the field. What sparked their interest? Why does the topic matter to them? This reveals motivations.
Get definitions or high-level overviews. Ask them to explain key terms or provide a broad lay of the land on the topic. This establishes baseline knowledge.

Think of these early questions as the table-setters to position the key questions that follow.

Follow a Narrative Arc

A good interview should flow like a compelling story, not just jump randomly. Think about building a narrative arc:

Introduce key themes upfront. Lead with your most important questions.
Build and expand upon those themes over the course of the interview. Follow-up questions add detail and perspective to those central ideas.
Save especially thought-provoking questions for later. This builds anticipation and gives previous questions time to sink in.
Close by circling back to early questions or themes. Bookending the interview provides satisfying closure.

This narrative structure keeps the conversation engaging while also driving depth.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Closed yes/no questions jam the flow and limit insights. Well-crafted open-ended questions unlock nuance:

Use words like “how”, “why”, “describe”, or “explain”. These prompts naturally elicit fuller responses.
Ask them to walk through a detailed experience or event. The step-by-step account builds vividness.
Invite them to share stories or examples. Anecdotes add color while also revealing meaning.
Ask for their thoughts on hypothetical scenarios. This sparks imagination and creativity.

Each open-ended question presents an opportunity. Listen closely to identify promising avenues for more probing follow-up questions.

Know When to Go “Off Script”

No matter how carefully you plan questions, the conversation flow will guide impromptu follow-ups:

Ask for clarification on any vague or cryptic points. Don’t leave things murky.
When they touch on something new, ask for elaboration. Follow tangents when curiosity strikes.
If they seem to omit key considerations, inquire about those. Get a comprehensive perspective.
When you need a moment to think, ask them open-ended questions like “What else stood out about that experience?” This buys time to formulate your next thoughtful question.

Remaining adaptable to the real-time dialogue creates space for insights you didn’t anticipate.

Close With Impact

The final questions leave a lasting impression. Make them count by:

Revisiting initial themes/questions and asking how views have evolved. Shows how perspectives developed over the interview.
Enquiring about lessons learned. What wisdom would they impart about the topic?
Looking to the future. How might things change regarding this subject?
Adding a personal touch. Is there anything more they want readers to know?
Expressing gratitude. Thank them for their time and insights.

Thoughtful closing questions provide perspective, depth, and humanity to conclude the interview purposefully.

Master Smooth Transitions

Segueing smoothly between questions keeps momentum flowing:

Build logical bridges between topics. Use phrases like “Speaking of X, here’s a related question…”
Reframe earlier points. “I want to circle back to your point about X…”
Summarize before moving on. “Just to recap, you mentioned X, Y and Z. Now shifting gears…”
Use transitional phrases. “That’s a great point. This leads me to my next question…”
Reset context if needed. “We were discussing A, but zooming out for a minute…”

These bridges maintain continuity while progressing the dialogue.

Pose the “Dumb” Questions

Don’t shy away from simplifying complex topics when needed. Smart questions distill complexity:

Ask them to explain concepts as if speaking to a child. This crystallizes underlying fundamentals.
Request analogies that illustrate abstract ideas. Comparisons boost clarity.
Inquire about the significance behind technical processes. This reveals the “why”, not just “how”.
If lost, admit it and ask them to rephrase. Eliminate confusion.
Have them walk through examples applying the concept. Tangibility aids memory and understanding.

Probing the basics shows intellectual humility and helps readers grasp challenging material.

Prepare Follow-Ups and Prompts

Follow-up questions add depth:

Ask “Can you elaborate on X?” or “Tell me more about Y.” This encourages detail.
Paraphrase back key points. “So in essence you’re saying X, correct?” Confirms accurate understanding.
Play devil’s advocate. Challenge them to defend against an opposing viewpoint. Reveals nuances.
** Pose hypothetical scenarios.** “What if X happened? How might that change things?” Uncovers contingencies.
Ask about examples that illustrate their points. Stories add vividness.

Follow-ups demonstrate close listening while pushing for deeper insight.

Customize Questions

Tailor questions to each interviewee’s unique background and vantage point.

Leverage what you learned in research about their experiences. Craft questions only they can answer.
Phrase questions to resonate with their personality and communication style. Sync with how they naturally talk.
Adjust technical depth of questions to their expertise. Don’t talk over their heads or dumb things down either.
Ask specifically about their personal experiences, passions, and stories. This draws out their authentic voice.
Invite them to share opinions. Everyone appreciates a chance to go “off script”.

Customizing for each person produces more engaging, genuine interviews.

Let Them Lead at Times

Ceding some control lets the interviewee shine:

Ask open-ended questions like “What aspect of this topic is most fascinating to you?” Gives them latitude to highlight what they’re passionate about.
Change things up by requesting they ask you a question. Flipping roles allows fresh insights to emerge.
If they hint at eagerness to discuss something, invite them to dive in. Follow their energy.
Give them time to reflect on certain questions before jumping in. Silence allows thoughtful responses to surface.
Conclude by asking what should have been discussed but wasn’t. Seeds possible future conversations.

By loosening control, you empower captivating perspectives to emerge.

Don’t Fear Mistakes

Stumbles will happen. The key is learning from them:

If you draw a blank, ask if you can revisit the question later. Buys time to re-formulate.
Tell them you misphrased a confusing question and reframe it. Clarifies your intent.
Admit when their expertise exceeds yours. “You clearly have a deeper knowledge here. Can you walk me through the basics?” Shows humility.
Thank them for catching any misunderstandings you have. Demonstrates openness to being wrong.
If you get off track, apologize and redirect the conversation. Get things back on rails.

Being forthright about mistakes models integrity and strengthens rapport.

Close by Looking Ahead

Always conclude by expressing gratitude and asking about next steps:

Thank them for their time and insights. Show you value what they shared.
Ask if they have any other feedback for you. Invites open input.
Inquire if they would be open to following up. Leaves door open.
Exchange contact information. Enables further discussion.
Mention when you hope to publish the piece. Gives them visibility into the process.
Send a thank-you note afterward.

Ask “forward” questions.

Porter Anderson suggests focusing the interview on the here and now and future.

Porter says, “Don’t ask, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ Ask, ‘What will keep you up tonight after this interview?'” Porter Anderson said, “Never ask, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ Ask, ‘Whats going to keep you up tonight after this interview?'”

“The past, unless your interviewee is relatively unknown, is research-able. Remember that as much as we all like to rest on our laurels, jumping off of them into a new pool is always more exciting. The reminiscence interview is never as cool as it sounds. ”.

“Asking, ‘What’s the best part of the next thing you’re doing?’ will get people thinking about the present and the future.” You get a more excited interviewee, who wants to tell you what she or he is into. ”.

When you ask about a job or opportunity in the future, you show that you are interested in more than just what they have done in the past.

Ask about the person’s actions.

“It depends on the person, but usually I ask them about their specific habits and practices,” says Jeff Goins. “Im less interested in what they would write in a book and more interested in how they try to apply the ideals they write or speak about.”

Jeff is trying to get under a persons rhetoric to see the routines theyve cultivated to be successful. You’ll get a better picture of someone without slogans if you ask them to talk about their actions instead of what they think about themselves. Routines can tell you a lot about a person, like how they deal with stress or the habits that helped them become a good leader.

Writing Good Interview Questions for Video Productions – Documentaries & Marketing Videos

What questions should you ask a writer interview?

In this article, we give you a few different lists of writer interview questions, including questions that explore a writer’s background and experience, as well as questions with sample answers to help you prepare. Here are some general questions that an employer might ask about the open writer position: What’s unique about your writing style?

How do you write a good interview question?

Here are some steps to help you create meaningful interview questions: 1.**Consider the Company’s Needs**: – Understand the company’s values and culture. What qualities are essential for success in

What is a writer interview question?

With this writer interview question, the interviewer is trying to understand your ability to work with a team and on your own. Most of the time, you’ll need to be able to do both, especially if you work for medium to large companies. #14Who do you follow in the industry?

What does an interviewer ask about the writing process?

An interviewer asks about the writing process to get a sense of how you approach a project and determine whether your process aligns with the culture and needs of the organization. Provide a detailed look into how you take on a project, including any steps you take to research the topic and get the necessary information.