Step 2) Record the Interviews

What: A professional interviewer uses your Project Overview to lead discussions with the interview subjects that collect the information needed for the biography and that shed light on their feelings, values and personality.

How: Interviews can be conducted in person or over the phone.

Why: Because biography is meant to capture the “human” side of the interview subject’s history, we need to hear their voice. Hearing the subject’s voice helps the writer capture the emotions behind the facts and write a better manuscript. Also, when creating a biography, first-hand information from the biography’s subject is far more valuable than second-hand memories from people who knew them. Thus, it is important to speak with the subject(s) of the story.