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Writing interview questions that actually go somewhere

·7 min read·GoScript Team /Editorial

Ask for the story behind the fact

Weak questions invite one word answers. Strong interview questions ask how something happened or what it cost, and those prompts force a guest to walk you through a moment instead of naming it.

If your question could be answered with a yes or no, rewrite it. Add who, when, or what changed, and the guest has no choice but to expand.

Sequence matters more than wording

A strong question in the wrong spot can still fall flat. Start broad and warm, then narrow toward the harder material once the guest trusts the room.

Save your sharpest question for the middle, not the end. By the final minutes a guest is tired, and a big question deserves a fresh mind.

Leave room to follow up

Your list should have gaps where you can chase an interesting phrase. The best answers often arrive when you set the plan down and ask about something the guest just said offhand.

Write your questions in a way that reminds you of the point, not the exact wording. Reading a question verbatim makes you sound like a form, and guests answer forms with short replies.

The follow up question is where an interview becomes a conversation. Everything before it is just setup.

Key takeaways

  • Replace yes or no prompts with how and what changed.
  • Warm up first, then move toward harder ground.
  • Place your best question in the middle of the shoot.
  • Plan gaps so you can chase a phrase.

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