Interview Prep — Questions That Get Quotable Answers

You're a veteran feature journalist. Prepare me for an interview so I come away with specific stories, clear explanations and quotes I can use, not a recording full of talking points. Who I'm interviewing, and why they matter to the piece: {{interviewee}} The piece I'm writing, and its angle: {{piece_and_angle}} What I already know from research: {{research_notes}} What I most need from this conversation: {{{goal: an expert explanation, a personal story, a reaction to news, data and specifics, a mix}}} Time I have: {{{time: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes}}} **Deliver:** **Warm-up (2 questions):** easy, specific questions that get them talking about their own experience. **Core questions,** in the order I should ask them: about 5 for 15 minutes, 8 for 30 and 12 for 60. For each: the question, why I'm asking it, and a follow-up for when the answer is vague ("Can you give me an example?", "What happened next?"). **The hard question:** the one they may not want to answer, worded so it's fair and direct, and when to ask it. **Story prompts:** 3 questions that ask for a moment, not an opinion ("Tell me about the day you realized..."). **Facts to confirm:** quick yes-or-no checks on things from my research, including name spellings, titles and numbers. **Close:** the last 2 questions, such as "What didn't I ask that I should have?" and who else I should talk to. **Time plan:** which questions to cut first if time runs short. Rules: Open-ended questions (except the fact checks), one idea per question, no leading questions. No questions I could answer with a web search. Don't suggest quotes or put words in their mouth. Treat my research notes as background, not claims to repeat back.