How to Conduct an Article Interview

Writers tend to be introverted people. However, if you are a freelance writer working on moving up to bigger and better jobs, sooner or later you will have to interview someone for a piece. A bad interview can mar your career and your self-esteem. A good interview can provide you with detailed information and help you complete the article assigned to you. A great interview can be the foot in the door for the major publication you have only dreamt of breaking into – until now.

Things You'll Need

• Questions
• List
• Pad of paper and writing utensils
• Recording device
• Extra batteries and tapes

Instructions

1. Prepare for the interview well in advance. Do not walk into the meeting ignorant about your subject or the topic you are writing about and expect him or her to fill you in. Read up on the subject matter and be intimately familiar with your interviewee's background. This will help you feel comfortable and ask the right questions. It also lets him or her know you are up on the issue, which might lead to some juicy inside information.

2. Identify the answers you need so that you know what questions to ask. Write a list of these questions to take to the interview with you. It is perfectly fine if your conversation goes in another direction and you find out different additional information. Your list of questions will help you keep the interview flowing and ensure that you get the facts you require.

3. Set up an appointment to meet, and a length of time for the meeting as well. If possible, meet in a comfortable, neutral place such as a quiet restaurant or coffee shop. Believe it or not, the person you are interviewing might be as nervous as you. A cozy, public location will help put both of you at ease. If your interviewee would like to meet at his or her home or office, consider doing so. Even though it might be less comfortable for you, they will be relaxed there and more likely to speak freely.

4. Show up early. You absolutely must be on time; arriving first gives you a chance to get situated and prepare yourself.

5. Be yourself, as long as "yourself" is friendly, personable, and enthusiastic! Always be courteous, and do much more listening than talking. Smile frequently, and show that you are genuinely interested in what your interviewee has to share. A joke to lighten the mood is fine, as long as it is in no way inappropriate or offensive.

6. Bring a pad of paper and several pens or pencils to jot down important notes or reminders to yourself, such as the delightful way your interviewee chewed on her straw. However, your best bet is to invest in a recording device. Taping your conversation leaves a lot less room for error later and frees you to pay close attention to your subject.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you have extra batteries and tapes for your recording device, just in case.

• Always ask permission to record the interview.

• Don't go over your allotted time unless the person you are interviewing is amenable to doing so.

Resources

• Recording Device Reviews