6 tips for writing better interview questions

The past, unless your interviewee is relatively unknown, is easily searchable online. Keep in mind that as much as we all enjoy our successes, looking back on them is never as interesting as diving into a new experience. An interview about memories is never as interesting as it seems.

Asking 'What's the best part about the next thing you're working on?' instead, it will project it into the present moment and into the immediate future. He'll be thrilled to get back to you, because he wants to tell you what he's up to.

Asking about what he will do or his potential goals communicates to your interviewee that you are interested in more than what they have accomplished in the past.

3. Ask open-ended questions.

The goal of an interview is to get the interviewer talking, so avoid closed-ended questions that require only a short answer.

Try to ask open-ended questions that can't be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Ask the people you interview, even to explain some aspects to you. For example, 'describe how you developed this idea or project'.

Often also 'how'. For example, imagining you're interviewing a retired footballer 'How was your first day of training?'"

What a great idea: to get them talking, write the word "HOW" in bold at the top of the list of questions. Every time you watch it, you ask: "How?"

"How do you do that? How do you feel about it? How did it go?"

Asking "how" opens up the conversation to learning and process.

4. Ask stupid questions.

Silly questions are my favorite. Asked someone, 'Um, what does that mean?' when using an abbreviation. You don't have to be afraid to ask stupid questions.

If you're confused, don't skip to the next question. Ask for clarification, even if you fear sounding stupid. You don't want to start writing your article and then realize you don't know what you're talking about because you missed something during the interview.

You also stroke people's egos when you tell them they're the experts and you want to learn from them.

Let's reiterate again, in a conversation, don't ask a series of questions without stopping. Your goal is to understand the person better, so don't be afraid to ask for an explanation when you need it.

5. Ask focused questions and lighter, light-hearted questions.

When preparing for an interview, go beyond asking questions about the topic of the interview and try to muddy the tone of your questions. Don't be afraid to ask tough questions, but also consider questions that are less serious, lighter, or light-hearted.

Try to ask some pointed questions, even on some awkward or embarrassing topic. It's always good to take a peek, provided, however, that you don't go too far, putting your interlocutor in a closed position. From time to time he throws some lighter and more carefree questions to calm down and lighten the mood.

This is a good way to tailor your interview to your audience. Do your research and see what the person has already covered in previous interviews. Then consider your audience and what parts of your interviewee's story or experiences they might be most interested in.

6. Ask short questions and then follow through.

Don't try to wrap all of your questions into one super mega question. Instead of asking a long-winded question, split it into two parts. Follow-up questions can be key.

Not only are shorter questions easier for your interviewee to process, but they ensure that you get answers for all parts of the question instead of limiting the person's response to just one part, most often the last.

Now it's your turn to ask the questions

Whether you're working on an essay, a memoir, or even a novel, interviews are a great way to grow your creative writing and communication skills at the same time. Do what you can to make the people you interview feel comfortable, and use these tips to write some questions for your interview.

You might be surprised not only by all you can learn from answering questions, but also how much you enjoy asking them.