Do tell
How to get stories in an interview
“Who?” “What?” “When?” “Where?” “Why?”
These questions are journalistic tools that can help us find stories — or condemn us to a lifetime of cranking out just-the-facts-ma’am pieces.
To do more of the former and less of the latter, shift focus. When you’re interviewing for story, Richard Zahler of The Seattle Times suggests, reframe the five W’s. Let:
- Who become character
- What become plot
- When become chronology
- Where become setting
- Why become motivation
Using this approach, “what,” for example, is transformed into questions like:
- “What happened next?”
- “What were you thinking when …?”
- “What made you say that?”
Those questions can lead beyond just the facts to fascinating anecdotes.
Master the Art of the Storyteller
Want to put the most powerful form of human communication to work in your very next piece?
If so, please join me at PRSA’s April 14 webinar, “Master the Art of the Storyteller.” In this program, you’ll learn to identify, develop and tell stories that illustrate your points, communicate your messages, and sell your products, services and ideas. Specifically, you’ll learn:
- Where to find stories to illustrate and cement your key points
- How to get people to bring you their stories
- The key question to ask during an interview to elicit juicy anecdotes
- A seven-second rule that will help determine whether your material is really an anecdote
- How “WBHA” can help you find anecdotes in the making
- The secret to organizing your material into a powerful story
- The best and worst places to start an anecdote
- A quick, easy-to-use template for building an anecdote
