Tips

NYSS Interview Tips

Tips for a Successful Interview's

For a teller that would like to create a story from a real experience, then you may have to do some research or interview people who may have experienced the event first hand. Following are some interview techniques to use in order for you to get the most information needed to construct the story that you want to tell.

These tips serve only as general guidelines for interviews. It is most important to let the person tell his or her own story in their own way. Take time to really listen to the person you are interviewing. Some of these suggestions may not apply to each person that you choose to interview. Personalize the questions for each person.

Speak with the person in advance of the actual interview to set-up an interview time. This will give them advance notice to collect their thoughts and to prepare for the interview. Be sure to explain the purpose of the interview.

Special Safety

Note: If interviewing someone that you do not know, schedule a public interview location. Take someone with you, and use a battery operated tape recorder in case the interview needs to end quickly. It is your responsibility to use sound judgment and good common sense.

At the beginning of the interview secure the full name of the person, current address, date of birth, date and time of interview. Tell about yourself. Talk about yourself. Remember in order to have someone open up about their lives you must share a little about yourself. This will help the person feel more comfortable about sharing. Ask familiar and simple questions. Don’t rush the interview; leave plenty of time to become acquainted. Ask questions or comments about simple things like the weather or events in the town. Then ask other general and non-intimidating questions such as:

a. What did you do prior to retirement? or Where do you currently work?

b. Have you always lived here?

c. Where were you born and raised, if not here?

d. Do you enjoy traveling? Where have your travels taken you over the years?

e. Are you a veteran of the war? If so, where did you serve?

f. Was your spouse in the service? If so, where did he/she serve?

g. Where were you on September 11, 2001?

h. What did you do when you learned of the attacks on Sept. 11 (or any other significant day, i.e.: V-J Day, D-Day, etc.)?

i. Please describe ways in which your life has changed because of war? After war? During war?

j. And so on until the conversation is at a comfortable point where you can begin to introduce the questions that are related to your specific story topic. Develop your own list of questions that are directly related to your topic. These serve only as examples.

k. Gradually lead to more specific questions about the event and feelings surrounding the event. Remember you are working with live people with real feelings. Notice when the question may be sensitive and honor it. He or she may not answer it now but in subsequent interviews.

Interview him/her in a quiet, comfortable room with ample lighting. Avoid rooms with noisy clocks or heat and air systems that are distracting.

Have your questions ready in advance of the meeting. Have a list of pre-planned questions, but feel free to deviate from the questions in order to explore a better story.

Keep your questions simple and short. Ask how why and when in order to avoid receiving or answers. Questions need to encourage them to expand upon their answers.

Ask about important events and people in their life. Sometimes you may find that the reason you came changes when you discover the “other” events in someone's life.

Remember: Patience is a virtue! Give the person plenty of time to respond and to complete a thought before going on to a new question.

He or she may have personal items or photos to share with you which can stimulate memories.

Always ask the person if there is anything else that they would like to add on the topic as you are closing the interview.

Finally, secure their signature on your release form (required) which will need to be included along with your VHS video entry.

Sincerely thank them for sharing their story, and for keeping America's Stories alive.

Always thank the person and ask when you may contact them again if further questions or discussion is needed.

Send them a hand-written Thank You note within two days of the interview.

Tips for Storytelling

Try various ways of telling the story. Through the process of writing and eventually telling the story you will find new ways to present the story. Try various ways to begin and end the story. Make sure your transitions link each new idea. It is fun to shape a story. Take risks and practice new ways of both writing and telling the story.

Don't just examine one account. Try to find as many viewpoints that you can for the story. Since we all view history differently, find as many people or books as you can that talk about your subject. New eyes will help you have new ways of discovering National Youth Storytelling Showcase The more information you have, the easier it will be to write the story.

Check for Authenticity of Events. Do your own research to verify the facts and/or details related to your story.

Have fun with the story. Make sure this experience is fun. Remember, the more time you put into the development of the story, the more you become invested in the story.

Have a Listening Partner. Practice in Public. Perform your story before a collective group of people and from this performance(s) make your video.

Develop a timeline for interviewing (if necessary), reviewing the information, writing the story on paper, practicing/presenting the story orally, adjusting the story as needed, and practicing prior to the final taping of the story in a live performance.

How to find your story

1. Make sure that you are interested in the story. The fun comes when you explore someone or some event that you have a desire to know more about.

2. Talk to your family and neighbors. Ask them questions about who they know or what they did to make history come to life. Firsthand accounts of history are always more interesting than the history you will find in a textbook.

a. Veterans

b. Doctors or Nurses

c. Volunteers

d. Ambulance Drivers/Paramedics

e. Police Officers or Firefighters

f. Counselors

g. Soup Kitchen Workers

h. Charitable Teenager

i. Senior Citizens

j. Teachers

k. Custodians

l. Homeless Shelters

3. Ask questions about the five (5) senses. How did you feel? What did it sound like? Do you remember a particular smell?, How did it sound?, Did it taste good or bad?

4. Read. Research a story from a non-fiction book or article.

5. Visit with your local librarian, or local historians at a history museum. You may want to visit American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, or veterans affairs organizations. Perhaps Senior Citizen Centers, civic club, church organizations or Homeless Shelters may be of interest to you.

Places To Find Stories

There are many places that you can start finding National Youth Storytelling Showcase. Here are just a few:<

Family. Sometimes the best stories can be found in our homes. Interview parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins about significant points in history or people.

Ask your grandfather what it was like to live during the Depression; ask your Uncle about anyone who he would consider a hero; ask your cousin if he or she spends their time helping the homeless.

Neighbors. Your next door neighbor or the neighbor two streets over may run their own soup kitchen, help needy children in other countries, have rescued someone from a burning car. The most important thing is that you ask them about their lives or what they have seen over the years. Sometimes a story is right in your own back yard.

Ask at your local community center, church, and town history museum. You will be surprised at the marvels that will appear.

Historical Markers in Your Region. Often within a 200 mile radius of your community are historical markers or places. How far are you living from Martin Luther King's birthplace, the first flight of Wilbur and Orville Wright, and a Civil War Battle Place? You will be amazed when you discover how much history and also the history keepers in your region.

Places and Events of Personal Interest. You may have been fascinated with a certain topic in school or college and now is your chance to discover more about it. For example, the Gold Rush, The Cold War, Vietnam, Rocket History, and so much more. When you work from a personal interest, your drive for the story increases.

Topics from books or short stories that you would like to Explore. Some of the great books or personal books only touch on stories. Perhaps you would like to interview people from the Deep South, the Railroad Days, or The San Francisco Quake. You can take this time to honor the real story behind the ideas in the book.

Look behind the story. Sometimes a book merely mentions a person or event. For example, Orville and Wilbur Wright are known but did you know that they had a sister who wanted to fly as well? Her story would definitely be worth telling. Sometimes a passing word or two about a person can bring on a worthwhile inquiry about the person.

Most of all have a vested interest in the research. Only you can tell the story your way. See it as a way of honoring a person and a special time marked by your perspective of history. Let us know if we can help you in your search along the way.

We know your story is one worth telling.