As a freelance writer you’ll likely need to interview people for articles, especially if you’re writing for newspapers or magazines. You need to do this well so you write a great story, impress your readers, and, just as importantly, impress editors who will give you more assignments.
Before the Interview
Thoroughly research the person you’ll be interviewing so that you can formulate the best questions possible. Don’t waste the subject’s time by asking basic factual questions about her career when you can easily find the information on her website or in the autobiography she wrote. (Note: also read about the best ways freelance writers can land and schedule an interview.)
11 Tips for the Actual Interview
1. Have your list of questions prepared and rehearsed well in advance.
2. Arrange the questions in a logical order and star the most important ones to make sure you get them answered.
3. Be willing to branch out from your prepared questions as the interview develops.
4. Let your subject talk at length as long as it’s on topic and will give you good information for your piece.
5. Be conversational, but remember that it’s not about you: it’s about her. Your subject should do at least 90% of the talking.
6. Dress appropriately. Better to be a bit overdressed than even slightly underdressed.
7. Ask questions that will spur your subject to talk at length. Don’t ask questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” Build on journalism’s who-what-where-when-why-how system to create the best questions.
8. Only ask factual questions that you can’t find through research and that you know are relevant to your story.
9. Bring a recorder and pens and notepad. Record the interview so you can get accurate quotes and information. Write down important info as you go along and note the approximate time on the recorder so you can refer to the recording later.
10. If you do the interview over the phone, make sure to take good and accurate notes. If you’ll be doing many interviews in your career, learn shorthand.
11. Consider doing the interview via e-mail. You submit the questions and the subject writes answers and sends them back. Depending on what you need from the interview, this can be a very good way to go.
After the Interview
After the interview you still have more to do (besides actually write your piece, that is):
- As soon as the interview is complete, make sure that you actually have a good recording of the conversation. If the recorder missed some parts, fill in from memory.
- Contact the subject with any other questions you have.
- Ensure that any facts given to you by the subject are in fact accurate.
Your Take
Any tips to add to the list? Any personal stories about what went well or what went wrong with your interviews?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: @keepupweb
Great checklist for conducting an interview John. As I was reading this, I couldn’t help but think that this list could also apply to someone being interviewed. My daughter is currently conducting a job search and she already knows to research the company that she’s applying to and to try to impress them with what she can bring to their organization not what they can do for her. I’m going to forward this article to her. It’s always nice to get advice from someone other than your parent.
Sherryl Perry recently posted…If Your Website Was a Wheel – Is Your Blog the Hub or a Spoke
Excellent observation Sherryl. There are two sides to any interview, and what’s good advice for the interviewer is usually good advice for the interviewee.
I hope your daughter can use the advice here, and I also hope she lands a great job.
John Soares recently posted…Edit Old Blog Posts to Boost Search Engine Optimization and Traffic
Twitter: @kikolani
I’ve never conducted an interview before, but this will be my go to guide if I do.
Kristi Hines recently posted…Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z Review & Chance to Win
Thanks Kristi! There’s also some good suggestions in the comments below.
John Soares recently posted…Google’s Plan for Your Ebook Reading
Good tips, John. As a person who has taught and done investigative and job interviewing, I have used all your tips. The part about recording the interview is important. Be sure to use a good recorder (I use a Tascom) that you have tested, and ask the interviewee’s permission to record. Never record surreptitiously, especially on the phone.
And if you meet in person, ask the interviewee where a comfortable place to talk is, and go there. If you have time, before the interview gets going, it’s best to chat with the person a bit, get some levity and rapport. Also, if you can, let the interviewee see the questions in advance, so she can prepare. Surprise questions can flummox or piss off the interviewee. Also, the person being interviewed may want to talk about certain things. Encourage them to go for it.
Finally, don’t assume all background facts are correct. If something in your research is contradictory or just really interesting, be sure to ask about it. People who are famous sometimes have people write things about them that are wrong, and they would like to get the “truth” out.
Excellent suggestions Eric. I especially like how you stress the importance of double-checking important or controversial background information with the interviewee.
And it’s definitely important to let the interviewee pick someplace comfortable and suitable for the interview.
John Soares recently posted…Time Management and Television- The Real Costs of Watching TV
Twitter: @annewayman
John, I don’t think I really have much to add… #5 is most important in my mind and maybe it’s 98% about them and only 2% about me.
Love both Sherryl’s comment – when I’m interviewed for a gig I also want to know about them… it is a two way street in many cases.
Eric has a good point and I have a spot in San Diego that is lovely and most people don’t know about since it’s a tourist spot: San Diego Hilton at Mission Bay… really great outdoor area and indoors let’s you look out as well.
Anne Waymn recently posted…Just For Today – Writers Worth Week
I’ve read too many interviews, and especially seen too many interviews, where there’s too much focus on the interviewer.
Usually a Hilton is fancy enough to suit just about anybody. When I lived on Kauai I’d occasionally just go hang out at the Hilton in Lihue.
Interesting that you mention San Diego. My partner Stephanie and I are looking into getting a house-sitting gig in that area next winter.
John Soares recently posted…How to Minimize Eye-Strain from Computer Use
Twitter: @annewayman
I’ll buy coffee here… just let me know when and where. Would really like to meet you f2f if it works.
Anne Waymn recently posted…Just For Today – Writers Worth Week
That sounds great Anne. We have one potential lead, but we won’t likely know until late in the year.
John Soares recently posted…Just Released — The Second Edition of My Writing College Textbook Supplements E-Book
Good advice John. As a person who has been interviewed and misquoted more than once, I would love it if the person doing the interviewing would run the article or whatever they’ve written by me before going to press. I know it’s not always convenient or even possible, but it sure would be nice. And it wouldn’t have to be over the phone, an email would be fine. Another thing I wish interviewers would ask me is this: What would you most like people reading or hearing this to know about you (or the topic you are being interviewed about)?
I know how you feel Gene. I’ve been misquoted before and I didn’t like it. I have run quotes and information by the interviewee before just to be sure I was correct.
A bit of an aside: When I wrote magazine articles on outdoors topics in the 1990s, there was one time the editor of a major publication didn’t show me proofs of the article and there were significant problems with the choice of photos. We both looked a bit bad on that one.
John Soares recently posted…House-Sitting and the Location-Independent Freelance Lifestyle
Twitter: @lavenderuses
Hi John
Some excellent tips here for interviewing. In my role as a senior nurse manager I conducted heaps of interviews. One of the things I liked to do before interviewing candidates for a position was do my homework on them.
Check references and other relevant information so I would have background information before the interview took place.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia@lavender oil recently posted…Alexa- have I upset or offended you!
Doing the homework ahead of time is crucial and greatly increases the probability of a top-notch interview.
John Soares recently posted…Over 2500 Listeners to My Recent Podcast
Twitter: @delenasilverfox
Hi John,
This is an awesome checklist for interviews. I write nothing but interviews for a blog for one of my clients, and after everything else is out of the way and we’ve had a great interview (one thing I ALWAYS do is email them a list of the questions I plan on asking, or some form thereof) the one question I always highlight is, “Is there anything else I should have asked but haven’t yet?”
This gives my interviewee the opportunity to fill in the gaps somewhere, revisit something we didn’t get to talk about in much depth earlier, or add anything that I wouldn’t know to ask since I’m not the expert in their particular niche. It’s really unearthed some gems in every interview.
Delena
Delena Silverfox recently posted…Weight Watchers Online Promotion Code
“Is there anything else I should have asked but haven’t yet?” I love this Delena, and it’s so important. I use it in interviews, but also in other situations, like when I’m discussing a writing project with an editor, or even when I’m talking with a health professional or a car mechanic.
And it’s always a really good idea to submit the interview questions ahead of time.
John Soares recently posted…How to Hold Highly Effective Meetings
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