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D O C U M E N T I N G L I F E S T O R I E S

H O W T O W R I T E A L I F E S T O R Y

F O R O T H E R S

B Y D R S H A F I Y A H L E E

Plan
Prepare a few questions (as in a script) before the interview session. Find a quiet time and place to limit
interruptions. Use a voice or video recorder in addition to taking notes.

Read up on other people’s life stories
Get into the habit of reading other people’s life stories, be it once a week or once a month whichever
suits you. Of course, the more the better! This is for you to immerse yourself in other people’s lives,
which will help you to get the ideas of writing.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of the main character of the story
This may guide you to create a list of questions which can help you organise the story. What if you were
the one living the interviewee's life? Think of the things you want to share if you were the main
character. Of course, it is not necessary to ask the interviewee every question you have listed. You
should be flexible and only use the questions as an aid to the interview session. It is recommended,
however, that you try to cover a variety of questions that highlight the event.

Be flexible
Let the person expand their story the way they want it to be. Your role is to help lead them, if needed,
by asking relevant open-ended questions. Be sure to ask the right questions though, so that focus and
structure can be maintained, highlighting the main event. Some people may need more prompting
than others.

Write bits and pieces at a time while using a recorder to record the whole session
Document the main points of the person’s story if you are someone who favours writing notes during
the interview. But be sure to engage with the person you are interviewing with proper non-verbal
communication. Pay attention to them! This will show that you are interested to listen to their story.

Recall details of an event
Details make stories more authentic! You can use memory aids, e.g. photos that trigger human senses.
You may use metaphors to describe certain things, for instance, "The Japanese soldiers were marching till
the ground rumbled." Metaphorical phrases engage readers, so that they can immerse themselves in the
characters' world. These details invoke our senses: touch, hearing, sight, taste, and a sense of motion.

Mutual involvement is key
Make sure stories are complete and accurate, in alignment with your understanding. You may try to
recap and explain what you have understood based on the story that you have been told, to confirm that
both of you are on the same page. Let both parties be involved throughout the process, so that the
interviewee feels needed!

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