Interview tactics to get an awesome finished article (from an actual journalist)

Interviewing is notoriously tricky. Without fab quotes and juicy stories, the writing process will be agonising, and the finished piece (if you manage to salvage something good) will be tough to market. And I should know — I’ve interviewed Satanists, horror movie icons, legends of heavy metal, witches, exorcists, authors, anarchists, industry experts, and CEOs. And I’m still perfecting the art!

Here’s everything I’ve learned over the last decade and how you can use it to perfect your own interview technique. Here’s to a fab finished article! 🍻

1) Research in unlikely places

I got this tip from a radio DJ and cannot remember his name or station for the life of me. But shout out to him, wherever he is!

Our mystery DJ recommended swotting up in the most unlikely places; smaller interviews, podcasts, and radio stations. His logic — the person is more likely to feel relaxed and have their guard down, so they’ll discuss topics they might not mention in chats with bigger publications.

Off the back of this point, I’d also recommend trawling your interviewee’s social media accounts. I can’t tell you how many conversation starters I’ve picked up from Instagram posts and TikTok videos.

2) Plot your questions according to your outline

I usually know the angle of the piece I’m writing before I chat with my interviewee. This also means I can get a loose outline in place, and based on that, I know the kinds of quotes I’ll need to get and the points the convo should hit.

Rather than letting this restrict you to a set structure, use it to prepare you for the overall feel of the piece. This will allow you to stray off-piste during the chat and dig down into lesser-explored areas of the topic. This is where the real gems are found.

3) Have a backup recording, and a back up back up

When I interview, I try to record to the cloud on my video conferencing software, to my laptop on Quicktime, and to Otter on my phone. Because you gotta assume the worst will happen and, short of learning Teeline, it's the best way to ensure you get a clean transcript! Skip this tip at your peril!

4) Make the interviewee feel comfortable

Interviewees don’t yield their best stories when they feel nervous and on edge. Ya gotta help them chill into the convo before you start it. I recommend introducing yourself and asking them how they are (basics, right?).

If you’ve seen something recently on social media, maybe you could ask about it. Ya know, make conversation and show you’re dialled into what they’re up to.

It’s also a good idea to let your interviewee know how long the interview will be and the angle so they’re not in the dark. If your interviewee has had media training, this might even help them give you the quotes you want (some celebrities are fab at this).

5) Let your interviewee talk

Don’t interrupt. Let your interviewee say their piece. It’ll give you a clear quote and allow the person to reveal more of themselves in the answer. I used to be so quick to try and hop in and agree or validate the interview subject (I’m a chronic people-pleaser), and over time, I’ve learned…just let them speak, babe.

6) Don’t be afraid to probe further

…unless it's a sensitive topic or something the interviewee has expressly said they don’t want to discuss. But if they mention something super intriguing, don’t hesitate to ask them more about it. Get the juicy deets! This is especially true for throwaway comments or remarks — there’s often good shit in those.

7) Allow the conversation to go to interesting places

Okay, so the convo has strayed off topic from your outline or question list — that’s okay! If the avenue of discussion is super interesting, go with it. You might find an even better angle! Some of my best headlines and pull quotes have come from snippets of dialogue utterly unrelated to the question I asked or the plan I had.

And there you have it! You’re prepped and ready to smash that interview. If you need interview content but don’t much fancy doing it yourself, reach out and let me know what’s up. Maybe I can help?

Featured