Interview Writing
What would you do if you intend to know someone better? Let’s say for instance, a celebrity like Ryan Reynolds a.k.a. Deadpool. Normally, you could just look him up on the Internet (e.g. Wikipedia) and know his biography and how he rose to fame and things like that. But, that’s just it. You do not really know him as a person– what his interests are, what his pastime is, what his favorite movie is, what his goal in life is, all those things. And with that said, you want to know him better for who he really is. And, how would you do that? Through an interview of course.
Journalists would normally be the one to conduct the interview for their general report. But, there are also journalists who have a sit-down with personalities in order to get to know their side of the issue. Take the nightly interview show Amanpour for example, wherein the host Christiane Amanpour has interviewed countless of known personalities and high-profile personalities for her show to talk about the issues that society is facing with today.
There are also talk show hosts who conduct nightly interviews with celebrities and big Hollywood names to normally talk about the movie they are starring in. For instance, last November 28, 2017, Vogue conducted an interview with Michael B. Jordan (who starred in the movies Creed and Black Panther) at his own home with 72 questions done in a fast-paced manner with the interviewer and interviewee walking around the humble abode. In this case, you are conducting as what people call a profile article. You may also see formal writing examples & samples
WD Author Interview: Nancy Ellen Interview Dodd Example
What is a Profile?
A profile is defined as a feature with one very pivotal point and focus—a certain individual who is noteworthy or exemplary in one way or another. Your readers and viewers would want to know as much about him/her as possible. But, they do not want what they already know, they want something new. They want something intriguing. And, so do the editors who will consider buying your work. You may also like writing examples in pdf
Mastering that art and learning how to write an excellent profile article can translate into a great new skill for freelance writers. But, there are journalists who struggle with them since these type of write-ups can be normally found in a magazine or a TV show. You may also check out article writing examples & samples
1. The Nuts and Bolts of a Profile Article
The person or subject of this type of article typically fits into a special niche of the magazine or may a new program or product to promote. Generally, it is the person’s achievements, background and personality are the focus of the article. So, how do you get his or her personality and voice to come through in your writing? As with all types of writing, it can be a bit tricky, but you can follow some prescribed steps and refine them to your own style. You may also see informative writing examples & samples
2. Interview Your Subject
First, you must deal with conducting the actual interview. Unless you have substantial knowledge of what the topic is going to be about, you cannot begin interviewing the person.
Conducting an interview these days can normally be done via a recording device or jotting down notes. Although, the former is often suggested especially in this generation. You may also like application writing examples & samples
You’re likely to miss telling voice tones and possibly inferences if you’re so busy scribbling everything down that you’re not really listening to.
Not only that, but you will also not really be engaging your target either if you are busy jotting down the information you think you need—today, right now, before you’ve really begun fleshing out your profile. If you give your undivided attention to your subject as he or she speaks, you might be surprised at the questions that pop into your mind as you go along with the interview. If there are answers from the interviewees that strike curiosity, the odds are strong that your readers will be as well. Stay on your toes. You may also check out free writing examples
Should you insist on taking simple notes during the entirety of the interview, make sure that it is still readable and organized enough that you would be able to understand easily. Otherwise, commit the entire interview to a recording. As you transcribe the aforementioned interview, allow yourself to have the patience as it is often deemed a tedious and tiring process. There may be software that can help you out with that kind of task.
Sample Interview Guide Interview Example
3. Give It Some Time… But Not Too Much Time
If you are on a tight deadline, make sure to work on the story as soon as possible to prevent delays. Keep in mind that you want the interviewees’ words, ideas, and actions to set the general agenda, not your own.
4. Review the Transcript
Once you are done transcribing the interview, review it again and again. At the course of double checking the transcription, you will notice that the interviewee will go repeating the subject. Before beginning to write it, filter out the unnecessary and repeated information. Are there any recurring items, events, or ideas that this person seems to keep going back to? Is anything mentioned twice, three times, or with great passion? You can always go back to your source and request for further clarification. You may also see report writing examples & samples
5. Narrow Your Focus
Narrow down these broad items. This is a good time to reread the assignment from your editor or, if you’re working on something you’ve pitched to an editor, read over your own pitch. If you haven’t even pitched the idea or if you’re just flying with this, go back to your original notes. You may also like memo writing examples & samples
6. Cut and Paste
Remember that you are writing a profile for an interview. It is alright if it does not exactly fall into order. Do not get the whole paragraph, but always choose the juiciest and meatiest quotes that should sum up his idea of what he or she is trying to answer that certain question. You may also check out descriptive writing examples & samples
7. Practice Your Craft
Practice makes a man perfect. As you continue to conduct these interviews, try to review them and analyze on how it can be done better.
8. Write Your Introduction
Write the introduction. This step depends on your own writing style and preferences.
Now wrap things up with your conclusion. This often alludes back to the introduction or to some interesting part of the interview. You can also use it to give a look ahead to the interviewee’s future plans. You may also see script writing examples & samples
Example of a Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Interview Questions
The best thing about interviewing someone is that it doesn’t always have to be a formal discussion. Additionally, you get to know his/her own opinion on a certain topic while gaining some very valuable information. Hence, we hope you found our article on writing interview questions to be helpful for your future interviewing endeavors.
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