biography questions to ask

Writing a Bio: My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask

Writing a concise bio for a business website may seem like a no brainer. A few paragraphs, hit all the usual points like schools, charity work, career highlights and then, BAM! Bio, check.

The problem with that approach? There’s a high likelihood you’ll churn out super boring bios, fast. When I think of old school bios, I think of a stuffy headshot accompanied by a few paragraphs of text that no one wants to read. But the days of stale bios are over. Believe it or not, people actually want to learn about you and your company, and they’d rather not fall asleep while doing it.

A well-written bio will combine the overall company culture and voice with that of the profiled team member. While website bios are generally concise—anywhere from Twitter-short to a few paragraphs—choosing the particulars to highlight can be tricky. Gathering the right information up front, in a 15-20 minute interview, is key.

Here are my favorite questions to ask when writing a bio. Note: these don’t include the usual slew, like general career experience and education.

1. Who is someone you admire, and why?

2. Tell me three pet peeves.

3. What’s a typical day like for you?

4. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

5. If you could be anywhere other than here, right this minute, where would you be? (Don’t overthink it!)

6. Flashback to when you were 10 years old. What do you want to be when you grow up?

7. If we went to happy hour, what would you order?

8. Finish this sentence. On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...

9. How do you want people to remember you?

10. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?

11. Name three words that you describe you.

12. How do you think your colleagues would describe you?

13. What do you want to make sure you do before you die?

14. What’s a goal you have for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?

15. Name a few of your daily habits (other than a shower and brushing your teeth).

16. What publications do you regularly read?

17. What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?

18. What are some causes you care about?

19. What do you do with friends in your spare time?

20. What would be your personal motto

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Questions To Ask Someone For A Biography

Biographies are a great way to learn more about someone and their life. Asking the right questions can help to draw out important details and anecdotes that can make an interesting story. When interviewing someone for a biography, it is important to ask open-ended questions that allow the person to give more detailed answers. It is also important to ask follow-up questions so as to get a better understanding of the person’s life and experiences. Examples of questions to ask someone for a biography include: What are some of the most memorable or meaningful experiences in your life?; What motivated you to pursue a certain career or path in life?; What are some of the biggest life lessons you have learned?; What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in life?; What do you wish you had done differently in life?; What do you feel are the most important values you strive to live by?; What are some of the biggest successes you have achieved in life?; What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment?

Background Questions

When writing a biography, it is important to ask the subject questions that will provide insight into their background, life experiences, and personality. Background questions can reveal the subject’s family structure, educational background, work history, and other important details. Knowing these details can provide a full picture of the subject and can determine the direction of the biography. Here are some questions to consider asking the subject when researching their background:

• What was your family like growing up?

• What did you enjoy most about school?

• What was your first job?

• How did you get into your current profession?

• What challenges have you faced in your life?

• Where have you lived?

• What is your favorite childhood memory?

• What hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

• What did you learn from your past relationships?

Asking these background questions can help you to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the subject and their life story. The answers to these questions can provide the context needed to create an engaging and accurate biography.

Family and Education Questions

When you are interviewing someone for a biography, it is important to ask questions that will provide insight into their family, education, and other personal aspects of their life. By asking the right questions, you can get a better understanding of the person you are writing about and craft a more accurate and informative biography.

When it comes to family questions, you can ask about the person’s parents, siblings, and other relatives. What are their names? What did their parents do for a living? Did they have a close relationship with their family? Who was their closest relative?

Questions about education are also important for biographies. What school did they attend? Did they go to college or university? What did they study? What were their grades like? Did they participate in any extracurricular activities?

These are just a few of the questions you can ask when interviewing someone for a biography. Asking the right questions will help you get the information you need to create a compelling and accurate biography. By doing your research and asking the right questions, you can craft a biography that will help readers better understand the person you are writing about.

Career History Questions

When it comes to writing a biography, it is important to ask questions that will give you a comprehensive picture of someone’s life, career, and accomplishments. A great way to get to the heart of someone’s story is to ask them about their career history. Here are a few questions to consider when asking someone about their career history.

What was your first job? What inspired you to pursue that job? What have been some of your favorite accomplishments in your career? What have been some of the biggest challenges you have faced? What did you learn from your career experiences? What have been some of the most rewarding aspects of your career? How has your career evolved over the years? What advice would you give to people considering a similar career path?

Questions to ask someone to write a biography - Questions to ask ...

Interests and Hobbies Questions

Whether it’s a memoir of a family member, a celebrity, or even yourself, writing a biography can be immensely rewarding. To ensure you capture the true essence of their life story, it’s important to ask the right questions. When it comes to interests and hobbies, this can be particularly tricky. To ensure you get the answers you need, consider asking the following:

• What hobbies and activities do they enjoy?

• What is the story behind their favourite hobby?

• What did they enjoy doing as a child?

• What hobbies and activities do they find therapeutic?

• What new hobbies or activities have they recently tried out?

• What hobbies or activities do they feel passionate about?

• What is their favourite holiday destination?

• What do they like to do in their free time?

• What challenges have they faced in pursuing their hobbies and activities?

• What hobbies and activities do they find the most fulfilling?

By asking the right questions, you can get a comprehensive understanding of someone’s interests and hobbies. This will help you paint a clear picture of their character and provide valuable insights into their life and experiences. Taking the time to ask the right questions can make a huge difference when it comes to writing a captivating biography.

Life Experiences Questions

When writing a biography, it’s important to get to know the subject’s life experiences. To do this, you will need to ask questions about their past and present. Life experience questions can help you get a better insight into the subject’s memories, emotions, and relationships.

Some of the questions you could ask to get a better understanding of the person’s life experiences include: What was your family like growing up? What was your most meaningful experience in school? What is something you regret doing or not doing? What is the most difficult thing you have ever done? What has been the best moment in your life? What have been some of the most important lessons you have learned in life? What has been your greatest success? What has been your biggest challenge?

These questions can help you gain a deeper understanding of the person and their life experiences. Asking the right questions can help you to create an intriguing and comprehensive biography that captures the essence of the person’s life.

Reflection and Legacy Questions

Writing a biography is an important task that requires digging deep into a person’s life and emotions. To get a full sense of the individual, it’s essential to ask the right questions that will uncover meaningful insights and experiences. For this, reflection and legacy questions play a crucial role. These questions are designed to help us explore how a person thinks about their life, the impact they’ve made, and how they want to be remembered. Reflection and legacy questions can include: “What would you say are your most important accomplishments?”, “What do you think are the most meaningful lessons you’ve learned?”, “What has been the most difficult experience of your life?”, “How have you seen the world change during your lifetime?”, “What do you want to be remembered for?” Reflection and legacy questions are not only insightful for the biography, but they can also be a powerful way to spark meaningful conversations and help others gain a better understanding of who the person is and what their story is.

FAQs About the Questions To Ask Someone For A Biography

Q1. What events or experiences have had the most significant impact on your life?

Q2. What have been some of your biggest achievements?

Q3. What are your long-term goals and ambitions?

Asking questions to someone for a biography is an important step in understanding their life story. By asking questions that take into account both their past and present experiences, you can gain insight into their personality, values, and life goals. Questions can also cover topics such as their childhood, education, work, and hobbies. Taking the time to ask questions and get to know someone will provide you with a well-rounded story that you can use to write an engaging biography.

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Great Interview Questions

Great life story interviews start with great questions. Photo of a senior man being interviewed.

Great interviews start with great questions. We do professional oral history interviewing for families, as part of bigger history projects, and books and have done thousands, so we have learned a thing or two. Here are some question lists and other resources to get you started.

Related: Why oral history is important

It’s a good idea to go into an interview with a few questions prepared , and especially highlight any that you want to make sure you ask. However, often an ice breaker and a well-chosen question here and there will keep the conversation going. It’s a positive sign when not all your questions are used in an interview (they rarely are).

Also, most interviewees appreciate receiving a few questions in advance. When sending, indicate that they are simply food for thought and the interview will not follow a rigid format. If only one interview is done with a subject, ask a variety of questions on different topics. You might check out our top 10 list as a handy reference, listed below. If a series of interviews is envisioned, it’s helpful to focus on themes in each interview.

If you are interested in preserving life stories , our online course contains an excellent segment on oral history. You can complete this fun and engaging self-paced course over a weekend, or spread it out through a month. (Course access remains open for a year). Click here to preview.

Categories of Questions

10 Universal questions for anyone
Childhood, school and hometown
Relationship questions
Family life as an adult
Work and profession
Spirituality, religion and values

Questions for Veterans

10 universal interview questions.

This is a great list for a stand-alone interview and is a handy grab-and-go cheat sheet. Some of the questions are repeated in other categories.

Where were you born?
Tell me about your childhood, what was the best part? Worst?
Who was the most influential person in your life?
What is your profession and why?
What was the happiest time of your life?
Tell about a time when you didn’t know if you would make it.
Who is the love of your life and how did you meet?
What is your passion (or a favorite hobby?)
What is your favorite memory of me?
What do you value most and why?

Get our free printable:

Quick interviewing resources

Before we continue with more questions, we want to make you aware of other resources we have compiled to help you.

Oral history mini course online : video tutorials and checklists will help you feel confident with audio, transcribing and especially listening. It takes less than 2 hours to complete but will save you so much time!
If you would like help getting started with interviewing, sign up to receive our free 7-day interviewing mini tutorial
You can click here to get a free printable of our favorite questions
Here is a landing page of our many interviewing resources
In our professional work, we give a pretty booklet of questions to people in advance. Click here to get the booklet on Amazon .
If you are writing a memoir or family history, hre is a landing page of writing tools
Finally, we do this work professionally and offer gift certificates to interview you or a loved one. Click here to see our oral history services .

Childhood, School and Hometown

What is your earliest memory?
Who are your parents? Where did they grow up?
How many siblings do you have and where do you fall in your family?
What were your chores?
What is your hometown, and what was it like when you were young?
Did you like school?
What did you do for fun?
How did you celebrate holidays?
How did you celebrate holidays? Did your family have some special holiday traditions?
What were your favorite meals?
What were some memorable trips or outings?
Can you think of any funny stories from your youth?
What is an object you still have from your childhood and what is the story behind it?
What is a moment from your life that you wish you had a photograph?

Related: The best affordable microphones we have tried

Family Life as an Adult

Are you or have you ever been married?
Do you have children?
What are traditions you established in your family?
What were your favorite trips or outings?
Where do you live now and why?
Who is your best friend?
What was the happiest time in your adult life so far? Why?
What was the hardest time? How did you get through it?
What were the most important values you wanted to teach your family?
How would you want your loved ones to remember you?

Related: Our favorite digital recorder – a review

Relationship Questions

Editor’s note: This category is not limited to marriage or intimate partner. These questions can also apply to a great friend or business partner.

How did you meet? (Note: This is such a simple question yet it is an effective ice breaker)
What are some of your early and best memories together?
Do you have a song, “our song?”
Did you ever break up?
Was there ever a time or times when you didn’t know if your relationship would make it?
When and how did you know it was meant to be?
What are the challenges in your relationship?
How do you work through disagreements or differences?
What are some of your best fun memories together?
Do any trips or vacations together especially stand out?
Can you think of a low point in your life when the other person was there for you?
How do you keep your relationship strong?
How are you alike, and how are you different?
What do you admire most about the other person?
What are the other person’s quirks or personality traits that you love?
How are you better together than without the other person?
Thinking of your relationship, what advice would you give a young person, such as your children?
Can you think of long-standing inside jokes, or phrases you tell each other?
What are some of the activities that you share, that maybe other people wouldn’t understand or that are unique to your relationship?
What are your dreams for the future together?
Would you say that this person is the love of your life?

Professional interviewer’s note: starting any interview by asking how two people met is a great way to break the ice!

Related: Become a master business storyteller with these 5 questions

Work and Profession

What was your first job?
What is your profession or job?
Do you like your job?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
How did you get into this line of work?
Have you belonged to any civic or professional organizations?
Have you ever been involved in politics or a political cause?
What are you proudest of in your career?
Who was your greatest mentor?
What is your passion and how did you get started with it?

Related article: How to inspire others with your canon of business stories

Spirituality, Religion and Values

Have you ever experienced a miracle or an answer to a prayer?
Do you believe in God?
Do you associate with a religion or spiritual practice?
If you attend religious services, where do you attend? Why do you choose worship with that particular congregation or community?
What was the most powerful spiritual experience of your life?
What are you proudest of in your life?
What do you regret?
If you could share with your family your most important values, what would you say?
What experiences in your life that taught you these values?

Related: Is yours a redemption story?

Did you enlist or were you drafted?
Why did you choose that branch of the service?
When and where did you serve?
What were your job duties?
If you saw combat, how did you feel when witnessing casualties and destruction? ( For help with sensitive subjects, click here. )
What kinds of friendships and camaraderie did you form while serving, and with whom?
How did you stay in touch with family and friends back home?
What did you do for recreation?
What did you learn from your time in the military?
What would you want to share with future generations your service , and your feelings about our country?

Related: Here is a comprehensive list of Questions for Veterans (published by the Library of Congress Veteran History Project)

Other resources for you

We do this work for a living and can use our experience to help you get it done! We conduct oral history interviews in person, which can make a great gift . We regularly teach classes in person and online for the DIY personalities and natural writers. We also write life stories and help others write theirs through our writing groups and educational emails. Do you have a question? Let us know! Click here to reach out.

Index of interviewing resources

You might want to check out our index page of interviewing resources .
Want great audio? Read our article with 12 steps for the best audio and how to save it.
Need to transcribe your interview? Click here for a detailed article on how to efficiently transcribe audio .

Free Interviewing Mini tutorial PDF

To motivate and help you do great interviews, we created a free 7-day interviewing mini course that’s printable and self-paced. Click on the link for a free download. We hope you find it helpful!

How to do oral history interviews course

By completing this short course, you will feel confident and prepared to conduct life story interviews. Receive thorough, yet easy-to-understand answers to questions such as: What is the power of voice to evoke memories and inspire others? Should you use a digital recorder, or app on your phone, or both? What are best practices for doing interviews by Zoom/Teams/Google Meet? Which microphones are worth the money? What are the most efficient methods for transcribing audio? Why is oral history the easiest, and most powerful way to capture a life story?

Click here to preview or enroll. I’m so happy to say our students have loved it! You can see their thoughts on our courses, printables, and services here .

We hope that these resources help you do engaging and meaningful interviews. We know this work is worth it, and you can do it. Do it now and it will be enough.

Writer | Biography | Creative Nonfiction

Interviewing for biography: interrogation, conversation, and the in-between

Which questions to ask start by considering what you’re hoping to achieve with your interview and then decide which approach is most appropriate, whether it be structured, unstructured or semi-structured, chronological, emotive or narrative. let’s take a deeper look..

Man and woman drinking tea near a window.

Before carrying out a biographical interview, it’s important to consider the approach you’ll take. This can be influenced by a number of factors, such as time, resources, topic, research agenda, accessibility, priority, comfort and willingness of your interviewee, even your ability to secure a work visa. Your approach will influence what information is gathered, with different approaches and questions leading to different results.

Interviewing for biography takes inspiration from the scientific approach of academia, the tenacity of journalism and the transparency of oral history. In ‘Life Story Interview’, Atkinson said, “the life story interview can be approached scientifically, but it is best carried out as an art”.

This article discusses different approaches to biographical interviews, including chronological, thematic, emotive and narrative interviews, as well as the choices between structured, semi and unstructured interviews.

Structured, semi and unstructured interviews

Highly structured interviews include questions which must be asked verbatim, without the inclusion of new or improvised questions. This style of interview fails to take into consideration the interviewee’s response and therefore fails to explore new avenues of discussion. It’s often used in academic and scientific research and can be particularly useful in biographical research when verifying information.

Svend Brinkman states that semi-structured interviews include the interviewer as part of the creation process. These interviews are useful in their ability to work with and build upon spontaneity, whilst keeping focused on the goals of the discussion.

In a semi-structured interview, you might have a list of questions, but when appropriate you might choose to ask unplanned questions to explore new avenues.

Unstructured interviews are often used in researching a life story. The interviewer takes a back seat and their main role is to listen. In unstructured interviews, the interviewer may not know in advance what to ask or what direction the interview will take. This is particularly useful in the first narrative interview, where the interviewer may be seeking to gain a broad perspective of their biographee’s life.

Each of these interview styles can be used in the following approaches, and it’s possible for biographers to utilise a variety of approaches when conducting interviews for biography. The choices will depend on your objectives: for example, to verify a timeline, a thematic approach may be suitable, and to elicit descriptions of a place, an emotive approach may be the best option.

Chronological

A chronological approach to biographical interviews involves starting the interview by asking about the interviewee’s early life, starting with their birth, moving through childhood and adolescence then into adult life until you reach the present day. The interviewer may even choose to start earlier, asking about the interviewee’s parents or grandparents, where their parents were born, where they lived, what they did for work and so on.

In ‘Questioning the Subject in Biographical Interviewing’, Jennifer Harding suggests that the chronological format is one that people come to expect, and that it works. Oral historian Donald Ritchie argues that people can easily recall their memories in chronological order, however Harding argues that interviewing with a chronological approach results in a summary — that the results are superficial and stereotypical.

In Doing Oral History , Ritchie cites Cathy Courtney, interviewer with British National Life Stories. Courtney said that in oral history, discussing the chronology first builds rapport for a deeper narrative discussion later and helps facilitate “the ramble, the anecdote, the digression” that is needed for an in-depth discussion.

Harding also argues that the chronological approach to interviewing gives the interviewee power to decide what will be discussed and that this approach is less of an invasion of privacy. Conversely, Harding also notes that this approach can be invasive, for example, if interviewees have had traumatic experiences as a child, starting with a chronological approach could “possibly cause the interviewee to close off and withdraw”.

In ‘The Life History Interview’, Erin Jessee notes that chronological interviewing can trigger distressing or culturally inappropriate memories. Jessee noted that her subjects found it “jarring and painful” to take a chronological approach, which often involved someone’s passing, so she changed her first question to something less structured, such as “tell me about your life” so that interviewees could “broach these memories on their own terms and in their own time”.

Following your preliminary research, it’s possible that you’ve observed themes in your subject’s life, and may wish to cover these in more detail.

Thematic questioning can focus on specific subjects or episodes, rather than looking at the interviewee’s entire life. Examples of themes include childhood, education, marriage, career, or perhaps something more specific, such as the day a person was in a car accident.

When interviewing young people leaving foster care, Harding noted that a thematic approach was a useful alternative to a chronological approach, due to their negative experiences of being in care.

Thematic interviews may take a less structured, narrative approach, with the interviewer asking questions and allowing the interviewee to speak at length. Ritchie suggests asking general, open-ended questions first, such as “please tell me about your childhood” before moving on to more specific questions such as asking which schools they attended.

Thematic approaches may not be suitable at times, such as when the interviewer knows little about the interviewee prior to meeting. This is unlikely to occur when interviewing the biographee, but might be the case when interviewing other individuals such as the subject’s family or friends.

Sociologist Gabriele Rosenthal notes that there is a downside to using a thematic approach during research interviews. When researching experiences in Hitler Youth, Rosenthal initially took a thematic approach by asking interviewees to tell her “their biographical experiences during childhood and in the years following the collapse of the Third Reich”. She later changed her approach to focus on the full life story first. She thought that initially asking people to tell their life tory was too demanding on them, that “they would not know what they should talk about and what they should leave out” but later she realised she had her “own blind spots”, for example, she didn’t explore their parents’ involvement in the Nazi party in enough detail.

Life writer Patti Miller suggests that a thematic approach “gets the job done, but the writing has a flatness”, because when we think thematically, the left side of the brain is used, the logical side, rather than the right, creative side. Miller suggests an alternative: the emotive approach.

In writing a biography, we seek not only facts, but also feelings, descriptions of place and people. Kolbert (cited by Ritchie) notes that people may find it easier to remember how they felt , compared to remembering facts from the same period. In collecting oral histories from immigrants, Kolbert said, they might “not remember their daughter’s phone number. But they do remember what it was like when they got off the boat”.

Ritchie shared how Robert Gildea asked an elderly interviewee if she had memories of the mayor in 1942: she replied that she did not, but when asked about life under German occupation, the “question triggered numerous memories of the war, the bombings, and the neighbours who had died, none of which she had forgotten”.

Miller suggests appealing to a person’s senses to access memories — strategies such as listening to music from a specific era, looking at photos, preparing and eating food from that time, searching for smells from that time, such as flowers, perfumes, spices; drawing or viewing maps, touching and exploring objects such as jewellery, furniture or watching tv programs from that time. In Doing Oral History, it’s mentioned that Barbara Myerhoff studied elderly Jews and noted that “their memories could be evoked by singing, dancing, smelling, and tasting”.

Narrative interviews tend to start with an unstructured approach before moving to a semi-structured format. Johnson and Rowlands note that subsequent interviews might be thematic, as the interviewer seeks to confirm or verify information or test theories.

Narrative interviews take a postmodernist approach to interviewing, acknowledging the subjective nature of truth. In The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research, Holstein and Gubrium note that in narrative interviews, the interviewer and interviewee are “co-constructors of meaning” and meaning is discovered through their interaction, and similarly, Talmage states that the interviewer plays the part of “active listener and collaborating participant”. The resulting interview is a construct of the interaction between the interviewer and interviewee, that is, the interviewer is part of the interview.

Nobel Laureate and oral historian Svetlana Alexievich stated that there are at least three people present in this type of interview: the one talking now, the one the interviewee was at the moment of the event, and herself.

This subjective approach acknowledges that what the interviewee says has been filtered through today’s lens. Miller argues that this subjectiveness is more important than facts, and Alexievich stated that “feelings are reality”. Alexievich embraces subjectivity and said, “it is impossible to go right up to reality. Between us and reality are our feelings. I understand that I am dealing with versions, that each person has her version and it is from them, from their plurality and their intersections that the image of the time and the people living in it is born”.

In a narrative interview, Atkinson notes that the interviewer asks strategic, open-ended questions to encourage detailed, in-depth responses from the interviewee. Fontana refers to this as an unstructured or in-depth interview, where the interviewer has a goal of “allowing interviewees as much latitude as possible in answering OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS and going off in directions of their own.”

Oral historian Sherna Gluck said “the best oral history is a quasi-monologue on the part of the interviewee”. It may involve moving back and forth through time and the interviewee may make links between events and parts of their life.

Lillrank states that the idea that the interviewer can help the interviewee find their voice “is founded on the idea that when an interviewee tells about herself, it also invites increased self-reflection and awareness”. Atkinson tells us that “life storytelling is a process of personal meaning making” – telling a life story helps a person understand their own life over time, it helps them see connections. Svetlana Alexievich said that “as people narrate, people create, they ‘write’ their life”; and Birgitte Possing sees biography as a “story about and an interpretation of life”.

Jessee notes that a narrative approach gives power to interviewees to decide when they are comfortable discussing difficult topics. Jessee found that in her research of genocide, some interviewees found some topics were “incommunicable, unbearable, or irretrievable” and that by letting interviewees lead the interview, she could learn which topics “they found possible to narrate” and where she needed to exercise caution or more sensitivity.

Harding notes that this style of interview “requires a high degree of skill, confidence and experience in interviewing” — this style of interview can be unpredictable and present logistical challenges.

The subjective nature of narrative interviews is a sticking point for some. Some are reluctant to relinquish power to the interviewee to decide which events and memories are worth discussing.

How to get started in a narrative interview

As a biographer, your primary and secondary research will influence which questions you choose to ask in a narrative interview. Jessee states that the key with a narrative interview is to minimise interruptions and questions and to only ask enough to guide the interviewee.

Observe and listen to what they say, how they say it, what they focus on and which stories they omit from the discussion.

Consider starting with a broad, open-ended question. In conducting field research, Blee starts with one question, such as “Can you tell me how you got to where you are now?”. Sociologist Gabriele Rosenthal starts by seeking a life story. By asking a broad, open-ended question, interviewers are able to encourage their interviewee to talk about a wide range of topics and experiences.

Focus on listening and not interrupting. Take notes as appropriate, which can assist in deciding what follow up questions to ask.

Once your interviewee stops discussing the topic, ask another open-ended question or ask a specific follow-up question about what they have said. It’s a chance to ask for details and to clarify any points of confusion or contradiction.

Interviews may change direction. If the interviewee goes on a tangent, consider rolling with it. Johnson & Rowlands state that “such digressions or divisions are likely to be very productive, so the interviewer should be prepared to depart from his or her prepared plan and ‘go with the flow’” but still be “assertive enough to return the interview to its anticipated course when necessary”.

Before subsequent interviews, review your notes and develop questions based on these, including open-ended questions to facilitate discussion and also closed-ended questions to verify experiences discussed in the prior interview.

Talmage notes that depending on how many interviews you choose to do, later interviews are a useful opportunity to help your interviewee gain a clearer narrative, point out conflicts or alternative points of view.

Rosenthal notes that subsequent interviews are an opportunity to conduct thematic interviews. Following a thematic interview, Rosenthal asks questions based on a specific research agenda; she leaves these questions until the end, to ensure that during the first interview, the interviewee can decide which topics are relevant.

Next in this series: How to ask questions in a biographical interview.

Written by Melody Dexter

[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life Story or Memoir

Capture memories you didn't know you had .

Wondering how to write your biography? Whether you are writing yourself, or working with a ghostwriter , it can be hard to know where to start and what to include. At Story Terrace, we often use memory prompts to kick-start the process - easy and fun questions designed to jog your memory and bring back moments you haven't thought about for years.

It's the perfect first step, and something you can later assemble into a timeline or structure for your story. We’ve hand-picked 65 of our favourite memory prompts to share with you. You can check out 9 example prompts right here on the blog - but make sure to download the full list of 65, which we've assembled into a print-ready PDF for you.

Remember - the idea is not to answer every question. Just scan through the list, and think about which of these prompts speak to you the most. You’ll soon find you have more than enough to talk about.

How to Write Your Biography: Childhood

1. What is your earliest memory?

2. Talk about your family’s heritage and history.

3. What did your childhood home look like?

How to Write Your Biography: Adolescence

4. How did your physical appearance change in your teenage years? What was that change like for you?

5. How was your relationship with your parents?

6. Who was your first crush?

How to Write Your Biography: Adulthood

7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like?

8. Name a big success story for you during this time

9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation?

Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way through to just yesterday!

Remember to download the full list for all 65 questions to jog your memory.

Download the full list of 65 Memory Prompts!

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10 Great Tips for a Life Story Interview

Capturing someone’s life story is a great and worthwhile endeavor. My grandmother was a very influential person in my life. Unfortunately, my son will never know her as I did. Fortunately, I have done life story work with her. Through her life story, one day my son can connect with her personality, her memories, and gain an understanding of the broader historical context in which she grew up.

Start Preserving Family History Today

For a simple, guided way to digitally record and store life histories for yourself or a loved one, check out Storii .

Storii offers a Life Story Gift Box, which makes a great gift for grandparents . Your loved one doesn't need WiFi or a smartphone - Storii works with landline phones too! They receive calls on selected days and times asking meaningful life story questions. Their answers are recorded, transcribed and stored on their secure Storii profile, where they can be downloaded as a book or an audiobook. Recordings can be shared with other family members who would enjoy hearing them too!

Don't miss the opportunity to have your loved one's personal history preserved. Check out how simple and easy Storii's Life Story Calls makes it to capture your friend or family member's memories and stories. Storii makes a great gift and enables people to build up a legacy over time to be cherished for many lifetimes.

Benefits of Life Story Interviews

Life stories are not just a gift to future generations. Life story interviews, or even casual reminiscing, have positive outcomes for both the person asking questions and the person being interviewed. Benefits of conducting life story interviews may include:

Builds self-confidence for both participants
Meaningful conversations combat feelings of isolation and loneliness
Helps elderly people resolve conflicts and fears as they reflect on their life
Preserves family stories and traditions
Promotes intergenerational connection and understanding

Tips for Carrying Out Life Story Interviews

If you are planning to record a loved one’s life story, it is a good idea to prepare ahead of time. Here is some helpful best practice advice when it comes to a life story interview.

Have a pre-interview meeting. Before you start your interview it’s a good idea to ask the person you’re interviewing what they hope to get out of this. What do they want people to know or remember about them? What is the legacy they want to leave behind? Do they want to go over their entire life or focus on a specific aspect or part? Is anything off-limits or are they an open book? This will set you up for success, help guide your interview questions and give you a little bit of structure, to begin with.
Record in multiple formats . Where possible, record the interview on audio and video. If something goes wrong with one file, you have the other as a backup. Additionally, it enables you to sit hands-free and give undivided attention to the person you’re interviewing. Finally, it gives you more material to work with and allows you to experiment with using multiple formats in finished life story you create. Please note, if using a video camera, set it up out of your interviewee’s line of vision. This way, the conversation will feel more natural and there won’t be an obvious distraction.
Start with easy questions. Naturally, there can be some nervousness at the beginning of an interview. Therefore, it’s best to ease in with some easy, non-intrusive questions and work your way to more difficult or personal ones.
Don’t do it all at once . It can be hard to answer questions on the spot. We may get asked a question that we churn over and over in our mind, only to come up with an answer or memory days later. If you can, consider taking breaks and doing this interview over a few days, weeks or months. Your loved one may recall memories in the time between your conversations that end up contributing rich reminiscence material to their life story.
Seek out memory stimulation . We all know that memories are generally ‘triggered’ by external factors like a hearing a song or seeing a photograph. To help your loved one jog memories and connect with their past, have conversations on walks, drive to places that were significant to your loved one, go through boxes of photos and keepsakes, etc.
Stick to asking open-ended questions (e.g. “Tell me about…”, “Describe what it was like…”, “How did you feel when…”, “Why do you think…”). As you listen to their answers be thinking of immediate follow-up questions that help you dive deeper into the story.
Practice active-listening techniques .
Don’t exclusively ask about life events. Reading or listening to a story that is simply recounting a chronological list of life experiences isn’t interesting or engaging. A life story should convey who that person was, not just what happened to them or what they did. When you’re interviewing, ask about their motivations, their fears, their values, beliefs, and personal ideologies.
Embrace the emotions that come . When reflecting on one’s life it is common for there to be moments of silence, tears of sadness, and topics too painful to speak about. Be sensitive and understanding. Never pressure someone to continue discussing something that is making them uncomfortable. Always show empathy by affirming their emotions and offering a gesture of support like holding their hand or offering a tissue.
Consider speaking with people who are close to your interviewee. If you have access to the spouse, siblings, friends, or children of the person you’re interviewing, consider speaking to them. You can ask them to tell you about their favorite memories with this person, what he or she has meant to them, what they were like, etc. Having these supplemental stories and perspectives can enhance the whole picture you create of who this person is and what he or she meant to those around them.

When you've finished your interviews, be sure to read our guide on How to Start Writing a Life Story. ‍

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351 Life Story Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)

Categories: Family Storytelling , Interviews & Questions
Tags: Questions to Ask

Ask people these 351 life story questions for storytelling.

What questions do you ask people when interviewing them about their life stories? What writing prompts do you use to write their story? In this article, I have included 351-plus writing prompts and questions to interview others and write their stories. They are a little random, but you get an idea of what you can discuss. I would encourage you to add questions that come to you.

Using Open-ended Questions

You will note that many of the questions are open-ended questions. I believe open-ended questions are the best type of questions to ask others. Open-ended questions allow people to tell stories they want to share. An example of open-ended questions are:

What did you like to do when you were a little girl?
What did you do on your first date?
Where do you like to go for a vacation?
Who is your favorite author, and why?
What some of your favorite experiences with your mom and dad?

When I interviewed my dad, I lived in a different state. I asked my dad if I could set up a series of telephone interviews that I could record. I chose to break up the interview into 10 60- to 90-minute sessions over six weeks. Each talk focused on a different time period or topic of his life. At the end of each interview, I outlined what I wanted to cover in the following interview to give my dad time to ponder what stories he wanted to share. During our interviews, he shared many personal stories that I had never heard. We laughed, cried, and shared many precious and tender moments.

I have prepared a couple of other resources that will provide value in interviewing for and writing individual, personal, and family narratives: “ Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews ” and “ Complete Guide to Writing A Personal Narrative .”

351 Life Story Questions to Ask Others

These 351 writing prompts and questions are part of a 28 article, 108 category series entitled “ 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives .” I have divided the writing prompts and questions to ask others into the following categories. Click on the category to be taken to the questions.

Early Years

School years-elementary school, school years-jr. high school, school years-high school, school years-college/university/trade school, grandparents, spouses parents, professional/career, military and war, personal experiences, request for artifacts.

What is your full name, and why were you named that? (Maiden name for females)
Who are your parents and your grandparents? a. Your parents? Please give full names. b. Your grandparents? Please give full names.
What is your place of birth?
What are your birth date and year?
Were you named after someone?
Where did you live during your early years?
What are the earliest memories of your home?
Did you have any nicknames as you were growing up? a. If yes, what would you like to share about the nickname?
What chores did you have as a child? a. What memories do you have about your chores? b. Which chore did you dislike and why?
What kind of books did you like to read? a. Did you have a favorite book or books series? b. Why did you like the books?
What was your nighttime routine for going to bed? a. What memories would you like to share?
Did you have favorite songs that you liked to sing?
Why type of toys did you like to play with as a child?
What types of games did you like to play? a. Indoors? b. Outdoors? c. Boardgames?
What were your favorite foods as a child? Explain. a. Was there ever a time when you did not have enough to eat? Explain.
What did you want to become when you grew up? (e.g., policeman, fireman, nurse, doctor)
Who was the oldest person you remember as a child? a. What do you remember?
Did you ever have any childhood diseases (e.g., measles, mumps, chickenpox) growing up? What do you remember?

Return to questions list.

Where did you go to elementary school?
What was the school like?
Who were your friends in elementary school?
What are your favorite memories about your friends?
Who was your favorite teacher? Why?
Were you ever bullied in elementary school? Explain.
What memories do you have about elementary school?
How did you go to school?
Did you eat lunch at school or go home?
What did you like to play?
What did you like to do after school?
What other memories would you like to share?
Where did you go to school in Jr. High or Middle School?
Who were your friends in Jr. High school?
Were you ever bullied in Jr. High? Explain.
What memories do you have about Jr. High school?
What classes did you like most and why?
What type of classes did you take for your elective classes? (e.g., band, shop, home education)
Did you participate in after-school activities like sports, marching band, cheer or other activities? What are your memories?
Were there any dress fads during your school years?
What other memories about Jr. High would you like to share?
Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?
Describe yourself in High School.
Where did you go to school in High School?
Who were your friends in High school?
Were you ever bullied in high school? Explain.
What memories do you have of High School?
What classes did you like most and why? Least, and why?
What type of classes did you take for your elective classes?
What kind of grades did you get in your classes?
Did you participate in after-school activities like sports, marching band, cheer or other activities? What memories do you have?
Did you date during High School? What were their names? What memories would you like to share?
What did you wear to school? Describe it.
What other memories about High School would you like to share?
Did you and your friends have special hang-outs where you liked to spend time?
How many years of education have you completed?
Did you attend any school or training after high school?
What can you tell me about your education?
Why did you choose it as your field of study?
Did you graduate? What memories would you like to share?
Describe yourself as a young adult.
Did you date as a youth? a. How older were you had your first date? b. What do you remember about your first date? c. Who was your first date?
When did you first meet your spouse? a. Where was it? b. What do you remember about the first meeting? c. Describe your time dating? d. What attracted you to that person? e. Describe your time together. a. Describe them. f. How long did you know them before you got married? g. Describe your wedding proposal.
Where and when did you get married? (Include date, place, church, etc.)
Describe your wedding day and ceremony.
Who was there? Best Man, Bride’s Maid, other wedding party members?
Did you have a honeymoon? a. Where did you go?
How would you describe your spouse(s)?
What do (did) you admire most about them?
How long have (were) you married?
When and where did your spouse die? a. How died? b. Where buried?
What advice would you give to your child or grandchild on their wedding day?
Have you ever been divorced? What can you share?
Do you have children?
What are their names, birth dates and birthplaces?
What is the story behind each name you gave your children?
Did you adopt any children? a. Can your share your experiences of adoption?
Describe the memory about learning you were going to be a parent for the first time?
What memories do you have about each child?
Describe the personalities of your children.
What are some of the most memorable experiences you had with your children/family?
What memorable experiences did you have with each child?
What is some funny, humorous experience you had with your family?
What were some trying times as a family? Explain? a. What did you do to overcome the time? b. How did it affect your family?
What did you find most challenging about raising children?
What do you consider to be rewarding about being a parent?
How would you describe your parenting style as a parent?
What are the lessons you learned as a parent?
What were your happiest moments as a parent?
Where were your saddest moments as a parent?
What would you like to do over if you could as a parent?
How did you treat each child?
What do you consider to be the most complex decisions you made as a parent?
What do you regret most as a parent?
Who influenced you most as a parent?
What were your happiest moments as a family?
What were your tragic moments as a family?
Did you move as a family? Why and where? a. How did the move affect your family?
How did you first hear that you were a grandparent, and how did you feel about it?
What advice would you pass on to your children/grandchildren?
What can you tell me about your parents? a. What memories would you like to share about your mother? b. What memories would you like to share about your father? c. What memories would you like to share about your parents together?
Did your parents stay together, divorce or pass away? If yes, did they remember? a. What memories would you like to share? b. Did you have any stepparents? c. What memories would you like to share?
Do you remember hearing your parents describe their lives? a. What did they say?
When and where did your parents die? a. What do you remember about it? b. How they died, were hospitalized, buried?
Did your family belong to a religion? If yes, a. Did your parents and grandparents belong to the religion? b. Did you attend a church? c. What do you remember? d. Do you have any experiences you would like to share?
What can you remember about your grandparents? a. What memories would you like to share about each of your grandmothers? b. What memories would you like to share about each of your grandfathers? c. What memories do you have about your grandparents together?
Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? b. What did they say?
Do you remember your great-grandparents? a. What do you know about them?
Did you have any brothers and sisters? What were their names? a. What memories do you have about your brothers and sisters that you would like to share?
How did your family have fun when you were a child?
Where did your spouse’s parents live? a. What memories do you have about your spouse’s parents?
When and where did your spouse’s parents die? c. What do you remember about it? d. How did they die, were hospitalized, buried?
What details can you remember about the death of your spouse’s parents?
What was your chosen career?
Where did you receive training/education for your career?
How did you decide on a career?
What do you remember about your first job?
Where have you worked? City? Company? a. What were the jobs? b. What do you remember about each job? c. Has work provided a good living? d. Describe a typical day at work? e. What did you like most/least about work?
Did you have more than a career? Explain.
What are some of your most memorable experiences/projects? • Have you retired? When would you like to retire?
Did you serve in the military? a. What branch of the service did you serve? b. Why did you decide to join the military? c. When and where did you serve? d. Where were you trained? e. What was your training?
Where were you stationed during active military duty? a. Describe each post and what you did? b. What are your memories of active duty? c. Do you remember your units? If yes, what were they?
What was your highest rank?
Did you ever serve in the war? Which one (s)? a. WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, or other? a. What were the circumstances? b. Were you in a combat or support role? c. What campaigns were you in? What was your role in the campaign?
Would you be willing to share your experiences and memories of war? a. If yes, where would you like to begin? b. Were you injured in war? Explain.
How did your time in the military affect you? Explain.
By what name/nickname do your friends call you? Does the name have a special meaning?
What name are you known by among family?
As you look back on your life, what would you consider to be the most important ____? Why? Explain your memories. a. Inventions? News events? World events? Politics? Technology advances?
Talk about the differences in today’s life compared to the time as a child?
Did you or your family experience events like prohibition, the depression, war? Explain. What do you remember?
Have you had any health problems over the years? a. What were the health issues? b. When did the health issue arise? c. How did they affect your life? d. Where they heredity? e. What are they?
What do you do regularly for exercise?
Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, what for? a. Have you ever had surgery? b. What for? c. Do you or have you ever had habits that you would consider wrong? Explain? d. Do you still have them, or did you overcome them? Explain.
Have you been a victim of crime? a. What happened? b. How did the incident affect your life?
Have you ever been in a severe accident?
Has anyone ever saved your life? a. Describe.
How would you describe yourself politically? b. Are you Conservative or Liberal, and why?
Who would you consider to be your good/best friend (s)? a. What are their names? b. How long have you known them? c. What do you like about them? d. What do you do together? a. What would your friend say about you?
Have you ever met anyone that you would consider being a soul mate or kindred spirit? a. Who were they? b. Explain why you felt a special bond with them?
What were the most (i.e., challenging, meaningful, troubling) decision(s) you have made in your life? Explain. a. What was the outcome? b. Do you consider the outcome to good or bad? Why?
Who do you consider the most influential individuals in your life? a. Who were they? b. What did they do that influenced your life?
What do you consider to be the essential advice you have received in life? a. Did you take that advice? b. What was the outcome? Explain.
Is there anything you would change about yourself? Why? Explain.
Describe moments/memories in your life when you were most stressed?
What do you consider to be the tough times in your life? Why? Explain. a. What helped you get through the period? b. How did the experience affect you for good or bad?
Describe times when you were scared? What happened?
Have you ever played a musical instrument? a. If yes, what kind? Describe your experience.
Are you or would you consider yourself to be creative? Explain.
Have you ever made something for someone else? Explain?
What types of service have you provided others? a. How does it make you feel? b. What were the outcomes of your service?
What are moments in life when others served you? a. What was the most memorable time? b. What were the outcomes of the service?
How would you describe your sense of humor?
Have you ever played a practical joke on someone? a. Describe that experience and what you did.
What type of activities have you enjoyed as an adult? a. Recreation? Hobbies? Personal enrichment? Relaxation? b. What did you like about each activity? c. A most memorable experience with each activity?
When you were not working, what did you like to do?
What would you consider to be the most exciting/wonderful experience in your life?
Did you ever meet anyone famous? Who? a. Describe the experience.
Have you ever belonged to any organizations or groups? a. What the group about? b. What drew you to join the group? c. What are your memorable experiences in the group? d. Are you still a member? If not, explain.
Have you ever been awarded a price or award as an adult? Explain. a. What did you have to do to earn the award?
Describe a time in your life when you felt most happy or at peace? a. Where were you, and what were you doing?
Describe the beautiful place you have ever visited, and what was it like?
Have you ever taken an extended trip or vacation? a. Where did you go? b. What did you do?
What do you consider to be your favorite vacation? a. Where did you go, and why was it special?
Do you have a place that is special to you where you like to visit? a. Where is it? b. Why is the place special? c. Can you share your memories?
Have you ever had a pet? a. What was the animal? b. What was the name of the animal? c. How did the pet become part of your life? d. Do you have a favorite story about your pet?
What is on your bucket list of things still to do? Why?
Is there a time in your life that you would consider to be most memorable?
What or who is your favorite and why: a. Animal? Artist? Athlete? b. Author? Boardgame? Book? c. Candy? Card game? Color? d. Cookie? Desert? Drink? e. Ice cream flavor? Flower? Fruit? f. Holiday? Meal? Movie star? g. Movie? Musical group? Musical instrument? h. Painting? Poem? Poet? i. Restaurant? Season? Singer? j. Song? Sport? Style of music? k. Tree? TV program? Vegetable?
How would you describe each member of your family? a. Mother? b. Father, c. Siblings (brothers/sisters)? d. Children?
Who fits the following descriptions and why? a. Animal lover? Best cook? Best gardener? Best housekeeper? b. Best looking? Best memory? Best storyteller? Biggest tease? c. Calmest? Funniest? Hardest worker? Most athletic? d. Most colorful? Most creative? Most frugal? Most generous? e. Most mischievous? Most politically active? Most reclusive? f. Most relaxed? Most sociable? Quietest? Shortest? g. Tallest? Wildest lifestyle?
Do you have any artifacts like letters, journals, photos, movies, videos or audio recordings of older family members that can help tell your story?
Would you allow me to make copies (e.g., Photograph, scan, read)?

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We love writing stories. The mission of Begin My Story is to help and inspire you to write the stories that matter to you. Every life is a story worth remembering. We believe the stories you write will make a difference and have the power to connect, inspire, challenge, and help us not forget.

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Legacy Video Production

50 Biography Questions

Have you ever wanted to know what your mother was like as a child? Where your grandfather was from? How your parents met? Below are 50 Biography Questions to ask your parents or grandparents to learn more about their life stories and your family history.

As a Legacy Video producer , I ask over 100 questions in an interview so be sure to add your own to the list. And don’t forget to ask follow-up questions!

What is your full name?
When were you born?
Where were you born?
Were you named after anyone?
What is/was your mother’s name?
What is/was your mother’s maiden name?
Where was she from?
What do you now about your mother’s early years?
What were your mother’s parents’ names?
Where were they were from?
What did they do for a living?
Do you know any more about your mother’s family history?
What was/is your father’s name?
Where was he from?
What do you know about your father’s early years?
What were your father’s parents’ names?
Do you know any more about your father’s family history?
How did your parents meet?
Do you have any siblings?
Where did you grow up?
Describe the neighborhood/s.
Describe your childhood home/s.
What schools did you attend?
What were your favorite subjects?
Did you have any chores?
How did you spend your free time?
Did you have any summer or after school jobs?
How would you describe yourself as a child?
What role did religion play in your life?
What values were important to your parents?
What did you father do for a living?
How did you mother spend her days?
Was there a significant event in your early years that shaped who you are today?
Did you go college?
If so, how did you pay for school and how much was it?
How did you decide on your career?
Describe your career.
What career advice would you give to your grandchildren?
How did you meet your spouse?
What was your first impression of him/her?
Describe your wedding .
List the names and birthdates of your children.
How did having children change your life?
What advice would you give your grandchildren on parenting?
What do you most admire about your spouse?
What advice would you give your grandchildren on marriage?
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
What values do you wish you passed on to your children?

For ways to record your parent or grandparent’s stories, visit my post: ‘Recording a Grandparent’s Stories’.

For tips on interviewing a parent or grandparent, visit my post: ‘Interviewing a Grandparent’.

Or let us do the work for you!

~ Legacy Videos ~

Give your parent or grandparent the gift of a lifetime by capturing their life story for your family to know!

Here at Family Tree Video we produce Legacy Videos, modern-day memoirs that weave a filmed interview with a parent or grandparent together with family photos, documents, maps and other memorabilia. The result is a beautiful “moving portrait” capturing your loved one as they recount their life story, family history and memories – a gift your family will treasure for generations to come.

To learn more about capturing your parent or grandparent’s life story in a Legacy Video , visit FamilyTreeVideo.com .

Family Tree Video LLC Legacy Video Production Since 2008

Susan Saunders (312) 402-6406

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“There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots, and the other, wings.” H. S. Carter

Legacy Videos

Capturing life stories and family history for future generations, ~ the gift of a lifetime ~.

Family Tree Video Video Biographies ~ Video Memoir ~ Family History Video Family Documentaries ~ Anniversary Videos Video Tributes ~ Heirloom Videos 50 Biography Questions ~ Legacy Videos ~

120 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Someone About Their Life

When embarking on the journey of interviewing someone about their life, we delve into the rich tapestry of their experiences, beliefs, and lessons learned. This collection of questions serves as a key to unlocking the treasure trove of stories that every individual carries.

These queries are designed to navigate through the chapters of one’s existence, from the innocence of early childhood to the wisdom that comes with reflecting on the future. Engage with these prompts to discover the essence of a person’s life story and craft a narrative that is both profound and enlightening.

Table of Contents

Early Life and Family Background

Can you share where and when you were born?
What memories do you have of your childhood home?
How would you describe your family dynamic as a child?
Do you have any siblings, and what were your relationships like with them?
What were your parents’ professions, and how did they influence you?
Are there any particular family traditions that influenced your upbringing?
What is your earliest memory?
Did you have any pets growing up?
What activities or hobbies did you enjoy as a child?
How did your family celebrate holidays or special occasions?
Who were your role models within your family, and why?
Was there something unique about your family’s cultural background?
What was your favorite thing to do with your family?
Did you face any hardships during your early years?
How do you think your upbringing has shaped the person you are today?

Education and Career Development

What was your favorite subject in school and why?
Did you participate in any extracurricular activities or sports?
Who was your favorite teacher, and what impact did they have on your life?
What level of education have you achieved, and how did you decide on that path?
How did you get into your current profession or line of work?
What jobs have you held, and what lessons did you learn from them?
Have you had any mentors in your professional life?
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your career?
Did you have a career plan, and how did you follow or deviate from it?
How do you balance your work life with your personal life?
What’s the most challenging aspect of your career?
Have you worked abroad, and if so, what was that experience like?
In your view, what constitutes success in a career?
Have you ever had to make a significant career change?
What advice would you give to someone starting in your field?

Personal Philosophies and Values

What personal values are most important to you?
Have your values changed over the years, and why?
What life philosophy do you live by?
How do you define happiness?
What do you believe is the purpose of life?
How important is spirituality or religion in your life?
How do you approach making difficult decisions?
What have you learned about yourself through your relationships with others?
In terms of legacy, what do you want to be remembered for?
How do you deal with regret or mistakes?
What does success mean to you outside of your career?
How do you handle stress or anxiety?
What practices do you follow to maintain mental and emotional well-being?
What role do politics or social issues play in your life?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Major Life Events and Turning Points

Can you describe a pivotal moment in your life?
How did a significant loss affect your life perspective?
What life event has brought you the most joy?
Has there been an unexpected turn in your life that you now see as a blessing?
Were there any historical events that significantly impacted your life?
Can you talk about a major accomplishment and how you achieved it?
How did becoming a parent (if applicable) change your life?
Was there a point when you had to make a tough choice that altered your life’s direction?
How has your life been different from what you imagined as a young person?
Can you share a time when you took a big risk?
What has been your most significant career milestone?
Have you ever moved to a new place and started over? What was that like?
Can you tell me about a time when you overcame a major obstacle?
Have you ever pursued a dream or goal against all odds?
What is one event you wish you could relive, and why?

Relationships and Community Connections

Who has been the most influential person in your life outside of your family?
Can you describe a friendship that has greatly impacted you?
How do you contribute to or participate in your community?
What role have your friends played throughout your life?
Have you been involved in volunteer work or activism?
How has your perspective on relationships changed over time?
What is the key to maintaining long-lasting relationships, in your opinion?
Can you talk about a time when a community came together to support you or others?
Have you ever felt isolated or disconnected? How did you overcome that?
How do you nurture new relationships?
What do you treasure most about your community?
How do you resolve conflicts within your personal relationships?
Is there someone you’ve lost contact with whom you’d like to reconnect?
How do you decide who to trust?
Can you share a story about a personal connection that taught you a valuable lesson?

Challenges and Overcoming Adversities

What was the most challenging period in your life?
How have difficult times shaped who you are today?
Can you tell me about a time when you failed at something important to you?
What was the biggest risk you’ve taken that didn’t pay off?
How do you cope with setbacks or disappointments?
Can you share a personal challenge that you’re proud to have overcome?
Who or what gave you strength during tough times?
Has there been a challenge that you’ve faced repeatedly, and how have you approached it?
How do you manage to keep a positive outlook during times of crisis?
What strategies do you use to regain motivation after a setback?
Have health issues ever been a major challenge for you?
What was a crucial turning point in overcoming a particular adversity?
What is the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn in life?
How have difficult experiences contributed to your growth?
In what ways have your struggles brought about positive changes in your life?

Creativity and Passions

What hobbies or activities do you feel most passionate about?
How do you cultivate your creative side?
Can you share an example of a project you worked on that was driven by passion?
Was there ever a time when you had to fight for your creative ideas?
How do you find inspiration for your creative endeavors?
What does creativity mean to you, and why is it important in your life?
Are there any creative pursuits you wish you had the time or resources to explore?
How do you overcome creative blocks?
What’s a passion project you’ve always wanted to start?
How do you integrate your passions into your daily life?
Can you describe a time when you shared your passion with others?
What creative achievement are you most proud of?
Has your creativity ever been misunderstood or undervalued?
How have your passions changed or evolved over the years?
What advice would you give to someone trying to pursue their creative interests?

Reflections and Look to the Future

Looking back, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
What are you most looking forward to in the future?
Are there any dreams or goals you still wish to accomplish?
What are your hopes for your family and loved ones?
How do you want the next generations to remember this time period?
What changes do you hope to see in the world within your lifetime?
How do you plan to spend your retirement or later years?
Is there anything you want to change about your current lifestyle?
What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
How do you stay informed and plan for the future in a rapidly changing world?
Do you have a bucket list, and if so, what’s on it?
What role do you think technology will play in shaping the future?
How do you keep a forward-thinking mindset?
What innovation or advancement are you most excited to see develop?
How do you envision your community or society evolving?

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i make the interviewee feel comfortable when discussing their life.

Establish a rapport with the interviewee before diving into deeper questions.
Be empathetic and respectful, giving them control over how much they wish to share.
Ensure a private and quiet setting for the conversation where the interviewee feels at ease.

What should I avoid when asking questions about someone’s life?

Steer clear of intrusive or sensitive topics unless the interviewee has expressed a willingness to address them.
Avoid yes or no questions that might limit the depth of the conversation.
Do not push for details if the interviewee is reluctant to share certain aspects of their life.

How do I know if a question is appropriate or not?

Consider the comfort and cultural background of the individual.
If in doubt, ask the interviewee if they are comfortable answering a particular type of question.
Observe body language and cues to gauge if the interviewee might feel uneasy.

Final Thoughts

Interviewing someone about their life is akin to painting a portrait with words. The questions I have curated for you will help to reveal the subject’s deeper layers, highlight pivotal moments, and honor the unique journey of the individual.

Through this discerning exploration, you’ll not only have a series of responses but a narrative that resonates with the authentic human experience. The stories uncovered may surprise, inspire, or even challenge us, but they will certainly enrich our understanding of the diverse tapestry of human life.

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Bea Mariel Saulo

50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History

ThoughtCo / Nusha Ashjaee

Genealogy Fun
Vital Records Around the World
American History
African American History
African History
Ancient History and Culture
Asian History
European History
Latin American History
Medieval & Renaissance History
Military History
The 20th Century
Women's History
Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University
B.A., Carnegie Mellon University

A great way to uncover clues to your family history or to get great quotes for journaling in a heritage scrapbook is a family interview. By asking the right open-ended questions, you're sure to collect a wealth of family tales . Use this list of family history interview questions to help you get started, but be sure to personalize the interview with your own questions as well.

Questions About Their Childhood

What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname ?
When and where were you born?
How did your family come to live there?
Were there other family members in the area? Who?
What was the house (apartment, farm, etc.) like? How many rooms? Bathrooms? Did it have electricity? Indoor plumbing? Telephones?
Were there any special items in the house that you remember?
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Describe the personalities of your family members.
What kind of games did you play growing up?
What was your favorite toy and why?
What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, go to the beach, etc.)?
Did you have family chores? What were they? Which was your least favorite?
Did you receive an allowance? How much? Did you save your money or spend it?
What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worst subjects? Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
Who were your childhood heroes?
What were your favorite songs and music genres?
Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
Who were your friends when you were growing up?

Questions About the Family

What world events had the most impact on you when you were a child? Did any of them personally affect your family?
Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods ?
How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
How is the world today different from what it was like when you were a child?
Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
What do you know about your family surname ?
Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
Have any recipes been passed down to you from family members?
Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
Are there any special heirlooms , photos, bibles, or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?

Questions About Their Adult Life

What was the full name of your spouse? Siblings? Parents?
When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)? Where and when did it happen? How did you feel?
Where and when did you get married?
What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
How did you find out you were going to be a parent for the first time?
Why did you choose your children's names?
What was your proudest moment as a parent?
What did your family enjoy doing together?
What was your profession and how did you choose it?
If you could have had any other profession, what would it have been? Why wasn't this your first choice?
Of all the things you learned from your parents, what do you feel was the most valuable?
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?

While these questions make great conversation starters, the best way to uncover the good stuff is through more of a storytelling session than a Q&A.

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101 Questions To Ask Yourself in Life

by Celes |
Filed in Self-Improvement

This article is available for download as an ebook. Click on the button below to download.

(Updated on March 12, 2023)

“The key to wisdom is knowing all the right questions.” — John Simone

What questions do you ask yourself every day?

Believe it or not, the questions you ask yourself affect the life you lead. That’s because the questions you ask determine what you focus on, leading to certain actions (or inactions), thereafter causing the results (or lack of) in your life.

When you ask limiting questions, you get limiting answers, often causing you to circle in the same negative state in life. On the other hand, when you ask forwarding questions, you get solutions, ideas, and new perspectives, which then help you break out of a negative state and rise to the next level.

Some people like to ask “Why am I so unlucky?” or “Why am I always caught in such a bad situation?” Because these questions are negative, the answers you get are naturally disempowering. On the other hand, questions like “What can I learn from this experience?”, “What can I do differently moving forward?”, and “What am I grateful for?” are empowering. They get you to think positively, putting you on the path to a better life.

If you don’t normally self-reflect, you might be stumped by these questions. This is perfectly normal. I remember when I was in primary school, the teacher asked us how we would describe ourselves. The question stumped me because I had never thought much about it. It took me some time to find some meaningful adjectives to describe myself, but even then they didn’t seem right. That was one of the starting points of my self-exploration journey. Somewhere along the way, I became a big fan of introspection, enjoying the process of self-reflection and thinking over questions.

Today, I believe questions are key to our personal growth. In this guide, you’ll find 101 important questions for your self-reflection, created by me. Many are questions that I ask my clients during our coaching sessions to remove their inner blocks and discover their inner selves. These questions will help you focus on what’s important to you.

Some things to note:

It’s okay if you are stumped by these questions. The answers are there, inside you. Clear your mind, relax, and ask yourself these questions at different sittings. Soon the answers will come!
These questions are not meant to be answered in one shot — they are meant to be reflected over time as part of your personal growth journey. Pick out 2-3 questions to reflect on today, then check back a few days later to work on the others.
There is no one final answer. Life is a continuous journey. Your answers today may be different from your answers one, three, or five years later. Refer to this list regularly to think over the questions and see where you stand.
Bookmark this article — it’s highly important for your growth. I’ve also created an ebook version for your easy reading — simply click the download button at the start of the article to download!

I present to you, 101 important questions to ask yourself:

Who are you? How would you describe yourself?
What are you passionate about?
What past achievements are you proudest of?
What are you grateful for? (Day 14 of Live a Better Life in 30 Days is about expressing gratitude.)
What are the most important things to you in life?

On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love yourself? Why did you give this score?
Is it 10/10? If not, how can you achieve a 10/10 self-love?
What is your ideal self? What qualities does he/she have?
How can you be more like your ideal self?
Look at your life now. On a scale of 1-10, how happy are you with your life? Why did you give this score?
How can you increase your happiness level ?
If you have a year left to live, what would you do ?
If you only have a week left to live, what would you do?
If you only have a day left to live, what would you do?

What are the biggest things you’ve learned in life to date?

Imagine you are 10 years older. What advice would you give to your present self? (On Day 23 of Live a Better Life in 30 Days , we get advice from our future selves.)
What are your Quadrant 2 tasks? ( Quadrant 2 tasks are the important but not urgent things on our to-do list.)
How can you start working on them?
What are the things that normally keep you busy, but are unimportant?
Can you discard them? If not, how can you streamline, automate, or delegate them?
What are your biggest goals and dreams?
If you were to do something for free for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What would you do if you cannot fail — if there are no limitations in money, resources, time, or networks?

What do you want to achieve 1 year from now?
…3 years?
…5 years?
…10 years?
How important are these goals to you? (If not important, remove them until you’re left with the most important goals.)
What are your action steps to achieve your first goal?
What are your action steps to achieve your second goal?
What are your action steps to achieve your other goals?
Identify three people who have achieved your desired goals.
What did they do to achieve the goals? What can you learn from them?
Are you putting any parts of your life on hold ? Why?
What is the top priority in your life right now? What are you doing about it ?
If you were to die tomorrow, what would be your biggest regret?
…What can you do now to make sure that it doesn’t happen?
Looking back on your life, have you done anything that you regretted?
…What happened, and why?
…What can you learn from this episode?
…What can you do differently moving forward?
Is there a grudge, a pain that you are holding on to?
…Why are you holding on to it?
…Is it time to let it go?
What is your biggest frustration right now?
…What can you do about it?
What is the biggest thing you can do now to change your life for the better?

Do you love your current job? Why or why not?
What is your ideal career ?
…What can you do to start working towards it?
What is your ideal diet ?
…Are you following your ideal diet now?
…If not, what can you do to move towards it?
What is your ideal home like?
…Is your current home a match with your ideal home?
…If not, what do you need to do to achieve your ideal home?
What is your ideal physical look?
…Is your current look a match with your ideal look?
…If not, what do you need to do to achieve your ideal look?
What is your ideal life?
…What do you need to do to start living your ideal life?

What do you fear most? Why?
Is there anything you are running away from ? Why?
Are you settling for less than what you are worth? Why?
What is your inner dialogue like? (Day 26 of Be a Better Me in 30 Days is about uncovering your limiting thoughts.)
Do you have limiting beliefs? What are they?
Are they helping you to achieve your goals? If not, is it time to let them go?
What empowering beliefs can you replace them with?
What bad habits do you want to break?
How can you break these bad habits?
What good habits do you want to cultivate?
How can you develop these good habits?
What is the meaning of life?

What drives you? What are the times when you are most inspired, motivated, and charged up?
What did you do during those times? How can you do more of that starting today?
Who are your favorite people to hang out with?
Why? How can you spend more time with them?
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Who are the 5 people you spend the most time with ?

For the people holding you back, how can you spend less time with them?
Do you have any toxic relationships in your life? If so, is it time to let them go?
Where can you meet people who can uplift you?
Is there someone whom you admire or respect?
What do you like about this person? How can you be more like him/her?
What qualities do you look for in your ideal partner?
Do you embody these qualities too?

Who are the most important people to you in the world?
How can you spend more time with them starting today?
Describe the kind of person you enjoy spending time with. How can you be this person to others ?
If you could choose anyone in the world, who would you like to be your mentor?
How can you learn from them (even if you don’t know them personally)?
How can you change someone’s life for the better today?
What are you going to do differently after reading this article?

Get the manifesto version of this article: The Self-Reflection Manifesto

This is part of the Inspiration & Motivation series. Check out the other articles in the series:

10 Powerful Graduation Speeches You Don’t Want To Miss
13 Meaningful Movies With Life Lessons To Learn
20 Amazing Commercials To Inspire the Greatness in You
56 Most Inspirational Songs of All Time
15 Beautiful Inspirational Wallpapers For Your Desktop
15 More Beautiful Wallpapers With Positive Affirmations
101 Inspiring Quotes of All Time
101 Things To Do Before You Die
101 Ways To Be a Better Person
101 Ways To Live Your Life To The Fullest
101 Important Questions To Ask Yourself in Life
101 Life Principles to Live By Daily

(Images: Question mark , Heart , Hourglass , Journaling , Balloons , Money , Birthday , Mission , Reading book , Girl at window )

How To Deal With Disillusionment
How To Deal With Uncertainty
How To Overcome Anger
How To Say No To Others
How To Tackle Naysayers
How To Stop Analysis Paralysis
How To Deal With Critical People
How To Deal With Negative Self-Worth
How To Deal With Unsupportive Friends & Family
How To Improve Your Relationship With Your Parents
How To Find Your Life Purpose
Find Purpose After a Hard Fall
How To Move On From a Heartbreak
How To Find Your Soulmate
How To Stop Procrastination
How To Make Life’s Hardest Decisions
Develop Your Talent Stack
How To Stay Focused & Not Get Distracted
How To Be Happy: 10 Principles
How To Deal With Disappointment
How To Handle Negative Criticism
How To Give Constructive Criticism
101 Ways To Live Your Best Life
101 Questions To Ask Yourself

Are You Planting the Seeds for Your Future?

Are You Sleepwalking Your Life Away? (Part 2)

101 Inspiring Quotes of All Time, Part 3

Materialism Breeds Unhappiness

Girl using smartphone and looking at online comments

Online Negativity: How To Create a Better Internet For Everyone

How To Create Real Change In Life: Address Root Cause vs. Effects

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260 family history questions to interview yourself & others

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family history , family stories , interviews , storytelling , writing prompts

Let’s be honest. Random record discoveries are exciting, and stories are hard to write. So it can be very tempting to get stuck in the research and leave the storytelling for someone else.

Nor are we all natural writers. Some people can tap out hundreds of words in half an hour or so, while it’s a much slower process for many others. I’m in the second camp for sure. For me, writing is always a struggle, no matter how many tips I follow.

So my trick is to let the research component do as much of the storytelling as possible. Sounds too good to be true, right? I promise it’s not, pinky swear.

When you don’t know what to write, answer a question.

The trick is to make sure you capture the answers as you research. After all, genealogy is just finding the answers to the thousands of questions you have about your ancestors.

So, as you make a discovery, write out the answer. That sentence or paragraph is a piece of the overall story. That way, when you are ready to write your family history you already have a rough first draft.

For example, I wanted to find out what happened to my Great Uncle John. One question was ‘did he emigrate?’ So I searched ship passenger lists until I found a match. The answer to the question was: “In October 1896, John Dwyer, his wife and their three children left Australia for a life in New Zealand.”

Of course, this prompts many other questions, but I now have that first sentence to tell part of his story. All I have to do now is add to it.

Interview Yourself

The best way to practice this method is to start with you. After all, it’s the topic you know the most about, right?

To help you out I’m sharing the top 260 questions that I use in my family history research. I’ve answered these myself and asked many of these whenever I interview distant (and not-so-distant) relatives. Either write your response or get creative and create an audio or video recording.

Share the story behind your name.
Did you like your name growing up? Do you like it now?
What was your nickname growing up? Do people still call you that today?
Who gave your childhood nickname? What is the story behind it?
What other nicknames have you had? Share the story behind each of those names.
Which nickname is your favourite?
Who else in your family shares the same name as you? What is their relationship to you?

Your Parents

Share the story of how and when your parents met.
The Engagement : When and where did your parents get engaged? How old were they?
The Wedding : When and where did your parents get married? How old were they?
Who gave the bride away?
Share your favourite photo of your parents at their wedding.
Who were the attendants/witnesses for your parents’ at their wedding?
What was their relationship to your Mum and Dad? (e.g. brother, sister, cousin, friend etc.)
Where was their wedding reception held?
Who made the wedding cake?
How many guests did they have?
Who made the wedding dress?
Share a story you’ve heard about your parents’ wedding day.
Did your parents have a honeymoon? Where did they go?
Where did your parents live after they married/met? How long did they live there? Did you ever live there too?
How many years have your parents been married?
What pet names/endearments did your parents’ have for each other?

More about your Mum and Dad

Answer the questions below separately for your Mum and Dad. So, you’ll have two sets of answers (Mum and Dad).

Share a story you’ve heard about your mother/father’s name.
Did your mother/father have a nickname? What did her/his siblings or parents call her/him?
What did you call your Mother/Father?
Where was your mother/father born?
Whereabouts did she/he grow up?
If your mother/father emigrated, when and why did she/he move here?
What did your Mum/Dad look like (e.g. height and build?)?
Do you know her/him eye colour?
How many siblings did she/he have? Name them in order of oldest to youngest.
Where did she/he go to school?
What was your Mum/Dad’s first job?
How much did she/he get paid?
What other jobs did she/he have during her/his working life?
Did she/he ever serve in the military? Which service and what rank did she/he achieve?
Did your Mum/Dad have any special talents? (e.g. painting, singing, dancing, sewing, baking, carpentry, gardening, swimming, running, etc)
Did she/he ever receive awards or commendation for anything she produced? Share what you know about the awards.
Who were your Mum/Dad’s closest friends? What did you call them?
What did you admire most about your Mother/Father?
Share your favourite memory of your Mum/Dad
Name your siblings oldest to youngest. Where do you fit in?
Which sibling were you closest too when growing up?
Which sibling are you closest to today?
Do your siblings have nicknames? What is the name and story behind it?
Growing up, did you a room with one of your siblings? Which one?
What is your favourite memory of sharing a room?
Which sibling was the most mischievous? Share a story about something they did.
responsible
Share your favourite photo of you with your siblings.
Share your favourite memory about each of your siblings.

Grandparents

Which of your grandparents have you met (inc. great-grandparents)?
Do you have anything mementos that belonged to one of your grandparents? What is it?

Answer the questions below separately for each set of grandparents. So, you’ll have two sets of answers (Mum’s parents and Dad’s parents)

Did you know your Mum/Dad’s parents?
Share your favourite memory of your grandparents.
Share your favourite photo of your Mum/Dad’s parents
How did your grandparents meet?
Where and when did they get married?
Share a story that you’ve heard about their wedding day.
How long were they married?
Share a photo from one of their milestone anniversary parties
Share a story (or two) your Mum or her siblings have told about their parents

How well do you know each grandparent

Answer these questions (64 to 80) about each of your grandparents, whether you met them or not. So, you’ll have four sets of answers (Mum’s mum, Mum’s Dad, Dad’s Mum and Dad’s Dad). You can also use these for great-grandparents if you have memories of them.

What did you call your grandmother/grandfather?
Share a story you’ve heard about your grandmother/grandfather’s name.
Where was he/she born?
Whereabouts did he/she grow up?
How many siblings did he/she have? List them in order of oldest to youngest.
Which of their siblings have you met?
If your grandmother/grandfather emigrated, what inspired her to move?
Hair Colour
Distinctive Features
Share your favourite memory of your grandmother/grandfather. Either yours or a story you’ve heard.
What occupations did he/she have during his/her working life?
Did he/she ever serve in the military? Which service? What years did he/she serve and what rank did he/she achieve?
Did your grandparent serve in any war? Which one and where were they located?
Were they awarded any medals or military honours for their service?
Have you heard stories about your grandmother/grandfather having any special talents? (e.g. painting, singing, dancing, sewing, baking, carpentry, gardening, swimming, running, etc)
Where did he/she die? How old were you?
Where are they buried?
Share a memory of the funeral or visiting their grave

Extended Family

Do you have a favourite Aunt or Uncle?
Have you met all of your Aunts and Uncle?
What do you remember the most about the Aunts and Uncles you’ve met?
Share your most memorable moments with your Aunts and Uncles.
Can you name all of your first cousins?
Have you met them all of your first cousins? Do you still stay in touch?

Interview yourself to capture stories from your family photos

Did any of your extended family live with you? (e.g. aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents)
Which is your favourite family photo taken when you were growing up. What do you love about it?
Growing up, did food mostly come from the garden or the store?
What was your favourite meal growing up? Do you remember the last time you had it?
Who was the better cook, your Mum or Dad?
What were birthday and holiday celebrations like growing up?
Which holiday was your favourite? What did you like about it?
Do you still follow any of the holiday traditions from your childhood?
Every generation experiences fads (e.g. fashion, music, dancing etc.) . Which fads can you remember from your youth?
What time of year did your family go on vacation? (e.g. summer, Christmas etc)
Where did your family go on vacations?
Which was your favourite (or the most memorable) family vacation?
Which was the first film you saw at a cinema or drive-in?
What was it like going to the cinema or drive-in for the first time?
Do you remember the first book you read? What was it?

Early years

What story do your Mum or older siblings tell about your birth?
Did you have a favourite toy? Who gave it to you? Do you still have it?
Share a photo of you as a baby.
Where was your childhood home?
Did you share a room or have one of your own?
Which sibling/s was your roommate?
Other than homework, what daily or weekly chores did you have as a child?
Which chore did you hate doing? What would you do to avoid it?
What were your favorite toys? Do you still have any of them?
What were some of your favorite childhood games.
How did you spend your evenings as a child? (e.g. reading, watching TV, listening to the radio, doing homework)
Did you have a childhood bedtime? Do you remember what it was?
Did your Mum or Dad ever read you and your siblings a bedtime story? Do you remember any of those stories?
Share a favourite memory from your childhood.
Share a photo of you as a child.

Young adult

Did you have a part-time job? Where was it? Do you remember how much it paid?
Did you and your friends have a special hangout where you liked to spend time?
What type of music did you listen to growing up?
Who was your favourite singer or band? Did you ever see them perform live?
Which was the first concert that you went too? When and where was that?
What was the first record/cassette/cd that you purchased?
Were you ever one of the dancers for a music show? Which show?
In high school, how did you typically spend evenings and weekends?
As a teenager, did you have a curfew? What was it?
When did you learn to drive?
How old were you when you got your license?
What was your first car? Is there a photo?
Share a photo of you from these years.
What did you wear on your first ever day of school? Is there a photo?
What do you remember about your last ever day of school? Is there a photo?
Name all of the schools that you attended.
Which school was your favourite?
What is the most memorable thing about your school years?
Which sports teams where you on?
What was your greatest achievement during your school years?
Are you still friends with anyone you knew in school?
Which university or college did you attend?
What did you study at college? Which qualification did you achieve?
Have you done additional study since leaving college/university? What did you study?

Answer the questions below for both all levels of school. So, you’ll have two sets of answers (primary and secondary)

How did you get to primary/secondary school every day? (e.g. walk, bus, bike etc.)
Which year did you start primary/secondary school?
How old were during your first year of primary/secondary school?
What were your favourite subjects?
Who were your favourite teachers?
Who was your best friend in primary/secondary school? Are you still friends today?
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did it happen?
How many places have you worked?
Which was your favourite place to work?
What has been your main occupation? (e.g. accountant, teacher, landscaper etc.)
Was your occupation something you ‘fell into’ or did you strategically work towards that career? If the latter, what made you choose that occupation?
Are you or have you been self-employed/had your own business? What was the business?
Are you still friends with anyone you met through any of your jobs?
Have you ever served on committees for organisations or the local council?
Share a favourite memory from each job you’ve had during your working life.
Where was your first job? What was your role there?
How old were you when you started working?
Do you remember how much you were paid?
How did you spend your first paycheck?
How long did you stay at that first job?
What do you remember the most about that job?

Volunteering

What volunteer positions have you held?
Why did you choose those organisations?
How did volunteering make you feel?
Share a story about something significant from your volunteer work.

Military service

Did you serve in the military? Which service?
What years did you serve?
What rank did you achieve?
Have you received any medals/awards/commendations?
Share your favourite memory from your military service.

Interview yourself to capture stories about family weddings

Relationships

How did you meet people? (e.g. dances, friends of friends, online)
What is the funniest story you have from your dating life?

Your first time dating

How old were you the first time you went on a date?
What was their name?
Were you nervous?
Did they meet your parents before you went out?
Where did you go on that date?

Your forever partner

How did you meet your spouse/significant other?
Do you have pet names/terms of endearment for each other? What are they?
What did you do for your first date?
When and where did you get engaged?
How long did you know each other before getting engaged?
Share your memory of how the proposal happened.
When and where did you get married?
Who were the attendants/witnesses?
Where was the wedding reception held?
Who made your wedding cake? What type of cake was it?
Share a memorable moment about your wedding.
Share your favourite photo of your wedding.
Was there a honeymoon? Where did you go?
Where did your spouse/significant other grow up?
How many siblings does your spouse/significant other have?
What is your spouse/significant other’s occupation?
Where was your first home together? How long did you live there?
Share your favourite memory about finding your first family home.
How many children do you have?
What are their names? List them in order of oldest to youngest.
Why those names? Share the story behind each name.
Do any of them share a room with a sibling? Who shares with who?
How do you spend family time with your children? (e.g. reading, watching TV, seeing movies, playing board games, hiking, picnics etc.)
Which card or board games are family favourites?

Answer these questions (202 to 209) for each of your children.

What are their favorite toys?
Other than homework, what daily or weekly chores does he/she have to do?
Which chore do they have doing? What do they do to avoid it?
Does your son/daughter have any special talents? (e.g. painting, singing, dancing, sewing, baking, carpentry, gardening, swimming, running, etc)
Share your favourite story of your son/daughter.
How long have you been in your current home?
Which towns have you lived in throughout your life?
Where was your favourite place to live? What made it special?
How old were you when you left home?
Did you share with friends or rent an apartment by yourself? Which city was it in?
How much was the rent on that first place? What year was it?
Share your favourite memory from living in that place.
What age were you when you purchased a house/apartment? Which city was it in?
What did you love about that house/apartment? What did you hate?
Have you lived in other countries? Which ones?
How were apartments different when you lived overseas? (e.g. smaller, larger, expensive etc.)
Share a favourite story from each country that you’ve lived in.
Where else would you like to live but haven’t had the opportunity?

How old were you when you got your first passport?
Which country was the first stamp in your passport?
How many countries have you spent time in?
Have you ever been on a cruise? Where did go?
Do you prefer hotels, caravans or camping?
Have you ever traveled by yourself or always with others?
What was your most memorable vacation of all time? Where was it? Who was there?
Which places have been your favourite to visit?
Which place were your least favourite to visit?
Where have you been that you’d like to revisit?
Share a favourite memory from your travels
Share a story about the worst experience you had while traveling?

Miscellaneous

Have you ever been a part of an audience for a TV show? Which show?
Where you a member of the local library growing up or throughout your life?
Do you have a favourite book? What is it?
Do you remember when you first read your favourite book?
Who are some of your other favourite authors or books?
Have you ever been to a drive-in? What do you remember about it?
Did you ever have a crush on a movie star or musician? Who was it?
Do you have a favourite film? What is it?
What are some of your other favourite films
Do you have a favourite flower? What is it?
Are you a sports fan? What sport and which teams do you follow?
How many and what types of animals have you had as pets?
Was there a favourite pet?
Share a favourite memory about one of your pets.
Name your hobbies? (e.g. painting, sewing, baking, carpentry, gardening, genealogy etc)
Have you won any awards for anything produced from your hobbies?
When did you discover that you were talented at that hobby?
Name five to ten people who have influenced you throughout your life.
Share a story about how each of those people influenced you.
Which significant local or global events have happened during your lifetime? (e.g. Vietnam War, 9/11 NYC terrorist attack, the fall of Berlin Wall, Port Arthur massacre, etc)
Share a story about what you remember about each event.
If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?
Has anyone in your family patented an invention? What was it?
Do you have any politicians, sports stars or celebrities in your family? Name names!
Have you ever had your photo in the newspaper? What was it for?
You can meet one of your ancestors and get the answer to one question. Who is the ancestor and what is the question?

Storytelling by answering questions

When you aren’t sure how to start telling a story, ask and answer a question. I find it’s the quickest way to work out what you know and want to say.

Like all other skills, writing gets easier the more that you do it. So, practice by answering questions about yourself. You’ll find your writing style as well as create an intriguing read for your descendants.

Don’t forget to snag the printable PDF with the full list of questions to interview yourself. Then cross off the items as you answer them, or even add new ones that you think.

Discover more

Your daily dose of inspiration

Creating tangible mementos to preserve our memories and discoveries is a choice. Sure, it requires a time investment to compile them. Plus, planning layouts, organising memorabilia, and creating pages can be overwhelming, particularly when faced with years of discoveries. On the other hand, it allows you to leave behind a lasting legacy that can be shared with future generations to serve as tangible links to your past, preserving your family history for years to come. #storyteller #familyhistory #familystories #familystorytemplates #creativefamilyhistorian

Organise your genealogy discoveries, track what you’ve found and decide where to look next.

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COMMENTS

50 Interview Biography Questions With Example Bios
When composing a professional biography, it's helpful to keep certain questions in mind so that you're sure to include the most pertinent information. In this article, we define what a biography is, show why a biography is important, list 50 interview biography questions and provide examples of professional biographies.
Writing a Bio: My 20 Favorite Questions to Ask
Here are my favorite questions to ask when writing a bio. Note: these don't include the usual slew, like general career experience and education. 1. Who is someone you admire, and why? 2. Tell me three pet peeves. 3. What's a typical day like for you? 4. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don't know about? 5.
Types of questions to ask in a biographical interview
There's the basics: open and closed-ended questions… then there's more specific types of questions, each with their own purpose. Let's take a look at the funnel approach, statements, rhetorical, narrative, explanatory and verification questions. In my article Interviewing for biography: interrogation, conversation, and the in-between, I ...
Questions To Ask Someone For A Biography
Background Questions . When writing a biography, it is important to ask the subject questions that will provide insight into their background, life experiences, and personality. Background questions can reveal the subject's family structure, educational background, work history, and other important details.
40 Biography Questions to Ask When Writing Biography Reports
The biography questions listed here are designed to uncover the personal and human side of these figures, providing insights into their daily lives, relationships, and personal philosophies. Students can gain a broader perspective, going beyond the standard facts and dates to truly connect with these individuals on a more personal level.
Great Interview Questions
Also, most interviewees appreciate receiving a few questions in advance. When sending, indicate that they are simply food for thought and the interview will not follow a rigid format. If only one interview is done with a subject, ask a variety of questions on different topics. You might check out our top 10 list as a handy reference, listed below.
How to ask questions in a biographical interview
Keep it simple. As well as starting with easier questions, keep the conversation simple by asking only one question at a time: avoid double-barrelled questions. Asking more than one question at a time may result in the interviewee choosing to only answer one part, either intentionally or simply because they forgot and if they forget, it means ...
Great Questions
After 17 years of listening, we know what makes a great conversation: Ask great questions. Here are some of our suggestions for getting a good conversation going. We encourage you to use the ones you like and to come up with your own.
Interviewing for biography: interrogation, conversation and the in
Interviewing for biography takes inspiration from the scientific approach of academia, the tenacity of journalism and the transparency of oral history. In 'Life Story Interview', Atkinson said, "the life story interview can be approached scientifically, but it is best carried out as an art". This article discusses different approaches ...
How to Write a Biography: Who Tells Your Story
Your job isn't to transcribe what an interviewee says. They're not writing the biography for you. Your job is to know which questions to ask. Your job is to probe. Remember: a biography isn't just about telling a story, but about finding the fresh story buried somewhere under the surface.
[PDF Download] 65 Memory Prompts: How to Write Your Biography, Life
7. What did an ordinary day in your life look like? 8. Name a big success story for you during this time. 9. Did you travel? What was your most memorable vacation? Hopefully writing your biography just got a little easier and these prompts have got your brains in gear, recalling all sorts of different memories from your childhood all the way ...
How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)
Open-Ended Questions: Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses. Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives. Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
10 Great Tips for a Life Story Interview
As you listen to their answers be thinking of immediate follow-up questions that help you dive deeper into the story. Practice active-listening techniques. Don't exclusively ask about life events. Reading or listening to a story that is simply recounting a chronological list of life experiences isn't interesting or engaging.
351 Life Story Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)
These 351 writing prompts and questions are part of a 28 article, 108 category series entitled " 7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives .". I have divided the writing prompts and questions to ask others into the following categories. Click on the category to be taken to the questions.
50 Biography Questions
Below are 50 Biography Questions to ask your parents or grandparents to learn more about their life stories and your family history. As a Legacy Video producer, I ask over 100 questions in an interview so be sure to add your own to the list. And don't forget to ask follow-up questions!
120 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Someone About Their Life
120 Questions to Ask When Interviewing Someone About Their Life. When embarking on the journey of interviewing someone about their life, we delve into the rich tapestry of their experiences, beliefs, and lessons learned. This collection of questions serves as a key to unlocking the treasure trove of stories that every individual carries. These ...
PDF Possible Questions for A Life History Interview
As an example of how you can ask very detailed questions on a topic you are particularly interested in, here are some model questions from Paul Thompson's book The Voice of the Past , (2d ed., p. 299):
PDF Life Interview Questions
What day of the week was it? Did your parents tell you anything about the day you were born? Where were you born? Why were you given the first (and middle) name(s) that you have? What's your first, most vivid memory? What was the apartment or house like that you grew up in? How many bedrooms did it have?
50 Questions to Ask Relatives About Family History
A great way to uncover clues to your family history or to get great quotes for journaling in a heritage scrapbook is a family interview. By asking the right open-ended questions, you're sure to collect a wealth of family tales.Use this list of family history interview questions to help you get started, but be sure to personalize the interview with your own questions as well.
14 questions for your staff bios that don't suck
Here's a healthy variety of questions for your staff to choose from as they're completing their bio information for the company website. Disclaimer: Obviously, these aren't all appropriate for every type of business or organization, so I'd encourage you to edit where necessary in order to make these quirky little Q's gel with your industry and brand voice.
100 Family History Interview Questions + Free Printable
Below, we've put together a list of 100 family history interview questions to bring along to your next gathering. We've also included printables of these interview questions for the sake of convenience. One is in the form of a fillable questionnaire and the other version is a simple list of the questions. You can choose to use all 100 ...
101 Questions To Ask Yourself in Life
Today, I believe questions are key to our personal growth. In this guide, you'll find 101 important questions for your self-reflection, created by me. Many are questions that I ask my clients during our coaching sessions to remove their inner blocks and discover their inner selves. These questions will help you focus on what's important to you.
260 family history questions to interview yourself & others
Storytelling by answering questions. When you aren't sure how to start telling a story, ask and answer a question. I find it's the quickest way to work out what you know and want to say. Like all other skills, writing gets easier the more that you do it. So, practice by answering questions about yourself.