: Re: Bio on my father My father passed when I was very young. I hope to know him through individual q&a's I will have with his friends associates, collegues and register it as a bio. What

@Kaufman555

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I'm sorry about your father. I can tell that you're very devoted to him even now. He would probably be honored to know this.

I'm a student journalist; I interview a lot of people. I always walk in with a mental list of questions, so you're already on the right track! Let me help you break down an interview:

Icebreaker questions. Simple questions like "How are you?" Can break in an interview and hopefully make the interviewee more comfortable around you. Don't spend too long on pleasantries though.
Easy, one-word reply questions. Anything that can be answered in a few sentences or less are good here. "How long had you known my father?" or "How close were the two of you?" can be a good starting place. This might be a sensitive topic for many people, so opening up slowly might be important. This also creates a sense of friendliness.
Open-ended questions. This is when you ask for anecdotes or other stories. "How did you two meet?" or "What was his most important quality and how did he show that?" can lead to new stories or opinions that can't be given to you by anyone else. Allow for time to think or to process, especially if your interviewees are becoming emotional. Feel free to converse more with the interviewee and discuss what you think about a particular story, or maybe share a short one of your own if it's an appropriate time.
Finalizers. End the interview by asking "Is there anyone else you think I should contact?" Always thank them for their time, and maybe mention how you're glad that you were able to learn more about your father with them.

That's about it! If you care for them, here are some more tips for an interview:

Embrace awkward silences. Sometimes this is when real emotion can come out.
Express empathy. You and your interviewee both miss the same person. Show them that you care about how they're feeling and don't let them worry.
Let them lead. If they want to talk about something, let them. Don't stay stuck on asking all of your questions.

I wish you luck in your writing endeavors!

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