Interview Question Sheet Builder

Good interviews feel like conversations, but the best ones are planned. Preparation means knowing the guest’s story well enough to ask about the parts that matter, putting questions in an order that builds trust, and timing the plan so the most important topics are not squeezed out at the end. This builder gives you a question bank, a run sheet and a check on the questions themselves.

Research first

Before writing questions, read or listen to what the guest has already said, so you do not ask the questions they answer in every interview. Note the decisions that shaped their story, the claims they make and the main criticism of their position. Enter the topic, one key decision and that criticism, and the bank’s questions fill them in for you.

The shape of a run sheet

Start with easy warm-up questions to settle the guest. Move to background, then the core story, asking for specifics and evidence. Bring in the challenge — the strongest counter-argument — once trust is established, not in the first minute. Look ahead to the future and finish with the closing questions, including “Is there anything I didn’t ask that you wish I had?”, which often produces the best answer of the interview.

Writing questions that open people up

Open questions start with how, what, why or “tell me about”, and invite a story. Closed questions start with is, are, do, did, can or would, and invite yes or no. Each question in the run sheet is checked: yes/no questions, leading wording such as “Don’t you think…” or “Isn’t it true…”, two questions in one, and questions over 30 words are flagged with a suggestion. Try typing “Don’t you think bees are amazing?” and it is marked both closed and leading.

Timing

Give each question an estimate in minutes. The totals show planned time against the slot and how much is spare. Plan about two-thirds of the slot: answers run longer than expected, and the follow-ups you did not write down are often where the interview comes alive. Order matters too: put the questions you must ask early, in case time runs out.

Follow-ups

Under each question there is room for a follow-up to use if the answer is short or stays general, such as “Can you give me an example?” or “What did that cost you?”. These are the questions that turn a quote into a scene.

The finished run sheet

Copy or download the run sheet as Markdown. It lists the questions by section with a running clock — [00:00], [01:00], [04:00] — and the follow-ups indented underneath, ready to print or keep on a tablet during the interview.

After the interview

Note the best moments and their times while they are fresh, and transcribe the parts you will quote. Check facts the guest stated before publishing, especially figures and dates.

Recording remotely

For remote interviews, ask the guest to use headphones and a quiet room, and test the connection five minutes before. Record your own side locally as a backup if your platform allows it.

Related tools

Read your intro from a screen with the Online Teleprompter, transcribe your own voice notes with Speech to Text, write the guest’s introduction in the Bio Template Builder, or time a live segment with the Conference Talk Timer.