{"id":11367,"date":"2024-07-19T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2024\/07\/19\/narrative-interviewing-nonfiction-journalism-story-arc-character\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:42:51","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T15:42:51","slug":"narrative-interviewing-nonfiction-journalism-story-arc-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niemanstoryboard.org\/2024\/07\/19\/narrative-interviewing-nonfiction-journalism-story-arc-character\/","title":{"rendered":"The art of the narrative interview: Finding the story’s arc"},"content":{"rendered":" \n
\n
\n \n

EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: In the third installment of our series on interviewing, narrative journalist Kim Cross describes how to find and follow the arc of a story and the central tension or conflict that drives it forward. Previous posts outlined the difference between reporting for news and for narrative<\/a>, and the pre-interviewing needed<\/a> to make a successful story pitch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

Interviews are not one-and-done, especially when filling your notebook and recorder for complex pieces that require multiple sources and multiple layers of information. A lot of that work is done before you get to the heart of the story you hope to tell. Preliminary interviews are needed to ensure you have a solid story idea then to find the character or characters<\/a> who embody that idea \u2014 in other words, to find the person you and the readers can follow through an experience.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

Once you\u2019ve found your central character, it\u2019s time to work with them to find the narrative arc of their story.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

The True North of the first interview with your central character is a search for tension or conflict \u2014 the struggle they face and must resolve. But that\u2019s not the best place to begin an interview. Diving straight into the hard questions can set a person back on their heels and make it harder to build rapport.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

I like to begin by warming up. That part of an interview should feel more like a conversation than a formal interview. \u201cSo, what do you do for fun?\u201d is one of my favorite questions. It almost always elicits a pleasant emotion, an anecdote and plenty of follow-up questions: What\u2019s that like? How\u2019d you get into that? What do you love about it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

It\u2019s even easier if you\u2019ve done a little homework beforehand, perhaps a smart Google search or a survey of their social media posts. You\u2019ll already know that someone\u2019s a Dodgers fan, an avid knitter, a grandparent or the owner of a labradoodle puppy. Ask about those things and nervous subjects will smile, relax, even gush.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n\n

The art of the narrative interview<\/h2>\n\n
\n

Introduction:\u00a0News interviews vs story interviews<\/a><\/p>\n

Phase I:\u00a0Pre-interviewing for the pitch<\/a><\/p>\n

Phase II: Interviewing for story arc<\/p>\n

Phase III: Interviewing for sequence<\/a><\/p>\n

Phase IV: Interviewing for scene<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\t\n<\/div> \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n
<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

It may sound like small talk. But if you listen closely (and watch), you\u2019re gaining insight into character. It\u2019s also a path to finding common ground \u2014 a shared interest, hobby or situation that establishes a human connection. Don\u2019t be afraid to open up and share a little about yourself, too. Knowing who they\u2019re talking to \u2014 a real person, not a automaton or a clich\u00e9d cap-letters REPORTER! \u2014 tends to put people at ease.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

The first interview can take place at a neutral spot \u2014 a coffee shop, park, wherever the person feels comfortable. But there are great advantages to meeting in the person\u2019s natural habitat \u2014 their workplace, or better yet, their home.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

Pulitzer Prize-winning feature writer Lane DeGregory<\/a> says she always asks, \u201cCan I come over?\u201d If a prospective story subject says no, she doesn\u2019t push or fold. She simply asks, \u201cOkay, where do you want to meet?\u201d But often the people she reaches out to say yes and invite her into their lives. She usually starts by asking them to show her around. Give her a little tour. It makes people feel a little less \u201cperceived\u201d and more in control. It can also lead to a story different from the one you were expecting.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

\u201cI had this one lady take me on a tour of her house,\u201d DeGregory told me. \u201cThe story completely changed by the time we got up the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
\n \n

The way people inhabit their space and feather their nest reveals a lot about them and invites easy questions that can help them (and you!) relax as you get to know and trust each other. Questions like:<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n \n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n \n