Tons of research go into writing a book. Writing nonfiction often means interviewing subject matter experts, those with first-hand experience, and other relevant people.
However, setting up interviews is hard and you might only get one chance to speak with someone. That’s why you need to plan to ensure you get the best information and not waste that person’s valuable time.
Interview Tips For Writing Nonfiction
As a nonfiction writer, your job is to have the right information and relay it in a way that is understandable and true. Any wrongs, misconstruction, or omissions will hurt your credibility.
Here are some interview tips to help you write a nonfiction book that captures the complete picture and effectively communicates it to your audience.
1. Know your goal.
Before anything else, clearly understand what your book will be about, its goal, and how you will write it. Be as precise as you can.
If you don’t fully understand your subject, you won’t ask the right questions. This leads to superficial information that might be readily accessible already. Moreover, many of these insights may not fit well in your writing.
While pantsers can usually get away with no plans, it’s different for nonfiction as you’re working with information about the real world. Have an outline that lists the core concepts, questions, and objectives of your work. Use it as a guide to keep you on track.
2. Do the research.
Thoroughly research the person you’re interviewing. Learn their level of expertise, viewpoints, body of work, and personal experiences in the subject you’re covering.
Doing so familiarizes you with them, making it easier to build rapport. It helps you recognize questions they’ve answered before, what’s already known publicly, and which topics you’d like them to discuss further. Both streamline the interview process.
3. Compile a list of questions and talking points.
Write down your questions in advance. This gives you a reference to look at and stops you from saying too many uhms and ahhs. Avoid closed questions (questions with yes/no answers) as they most likely lead to dead ends. Send them the list if they request it ahead of time.
It’s also great to prepare talking points to use during small talk. You can avoid dead air and keep the momentum going. The less awkward the interview feels, the better it is for both of you.
4. Make it a conversation not an interrogation.
Remember, an interview doesn’t just involve questions. If it did, you could have just sent the person a questionnaire.
Don’t immediately jump into questioning them. Introduce yourself. Give a quick breakdown of what you’re trying to do. Build a rapport by finding commonalities. The goal is to make them relax and forget you’re interviewing them.
Don’t make it about yourself though. Mention similarities but briefly. Always make your interviewee the focus of the conversation.
It’s also best to start with the simple questions. They’re there to get things going and break the tension. Slowly progress to more difficult questions. Ask follow-ups, comment on specific information, put them on the spot, and let them talk. A conversation is fluid, do what feels natural during the discussion.
Lastly, always keep in mind that you’re in control. Don’t let them take charge of the conversation, otherwise, you risk not being able to get the information you need.
5. Be professional.
Being professional means a lot of things in an interview. Here are some basic things to keep in mind:
Respect their time. You’re taking time away from your interviewee’s schedule. Be punctual and don’t go over your allotted time (unless they want to).
Dress appropriately. What clothes will make them take you more seriously? Those in corporate settings go for professional attire. People with less serious backgrounds might prefer talking to someone in more casual clothing.
Be courteous. Speak in a calm, polite tone. Don’t argue when they say something you disagree with. Instead, ask them to explain further. If you can’t tolerate them, respectfully end the interview. Arguments will get you nowhere.
6. Always ask for clarification.
Always ask for clarification. By the end of the interview, you should have a clear understanding of all the information you’ve gained. Do this especially when they say something controversial or contrary to your research.
Being confused means possibly getting things incorrect down the line. Any misconstruction will hurt your credibility and might open you up to legal complications.
7. Take notes.
Don’t trust your memory. Always take notes or record the interview. Play it safe and do both.
You lessen the distraction and stress of taking things down by having two copies of the interview. Focus on writing down important info and then referring to the recording for the full conversation.
If you do want to record, always ask them for permission first. If they decline, respect their decision and make do with taking down notes.
8. Practice good listening skills.
The last thing you want to do is make your interviewee feel that you’re not listening to them. It stops the conversation and antagonizes them.
Give them your full attention. Avoid interrupting too much. Don’t talk over them. Clarify or comment on certain information. Give them feedback to signal that you’re listening and understand what they’re saying.
You might have to ask them to repeat themselves. Keep it to a minimum though as too much repetition will make it sound like you’re not paying attention.
9. Pace yourself.
Don’t blitz through your questions. Let the conversation follow its natural course.
Let them speak. If they pause, give them a moment. Don’t feel compelled to fill in the silence. They might just be finding their rhythm. Instead, encourage them with a nod or eye contact.
Some will indicate they’re done speaking, others will go off tangent with their answers. If they go too off topic, quickly but gently steer them back.
Find the right time to ask your questions, which will be different for each conversation. Only interject when you have a follow-up question, need clarification, or wish to highlight an intriguing point.
10. Thank them.
End the interview with questions like “Would you like to add anything else?” or “Did we miss something during the conversation?” If they say no, follow it up with small talk. Give them a simple, but genuine thank you. Maybe even give them a token of your appreciation.
Once done, give yourself a day or two to review your notes. Make sure you have their correct details. Send them a thank you email with any follow-up questions or clarifications. Just don’t be excessive about it, the interview is already over.
Of course, acknowledge them in your actual work too! You can also send them a preview or advance copy if they’re interested.
Interviewing For Nonfiction
Interviews aren’t just for obtaining information for your work but also for credibility. An expert’s words give your potential readers confidence in what you’ve written.
In most cases, you only have one chance to speak with a person. The people you want to speak to are likely busy. They might not even want to be interviewed. This is why you must be prepared and make it worth their time.
The tips above can help you make the most out of your conversation. However, don’t limit yourself to these general tips. Take it further by tailoring your preparations to the person you want to speak to.
What tips do you have when interviewing for nonfiction? Share them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Why Publishers Reject Nonfiction Book Proposals
- 18 Nonfiction Writing Courses to Help You Plan and Write Your Next Book
- 5 Steps to Writing a Captivating Nonfiction Book Synopsis
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
