I’m looking for an experienced journalist or narrative interviewer to lead the interview process for a long-form life story / biography-style project.
This role is not primarily about writing the book (at least initially). Instead, the focus is on:
Designing thoughtful, probing interview questions
Conducting interviews with people across different time zones (primarily Australia)
Drawing out meaningful, specific, emotionally rich stories
Curating, organizing, and synthesizing interview material into a structured archive
There is potential for this to evolve into a co-author role, depending on fit and interest.
About the Project
The goal is to capture a person’s life through multiple perspectives — family, friends, colleagues — in a way that feels nuanced, human, and story-driven (not a basic Q&A transcript).
We are looking to uncover:
Defining life moments
Personal anecdotes and memories
Contradictions and complexity
Emotional truth, not just facts
This project values depth, sensitivity, and curiosity.
Key Responsibilities
Develop an interview framework and question set designed to elicit strong narratives
Conduct 1:1 interviews (video or audio) with participants in multiple time zones
Ask smart follow-ups and probe beyond surface-level answers
Help interviewees feel comfortable sharing personal stories
Organize and summarize interview material clearly (themes, moments, timelines)
Deliver clean interview notes, transcripts, or structured summaries
Optional / future scope:
Collaborate on shaping interviews into a narrative arc
Potential co-authorship or editorial contribution to a book-length project
Required Experience
You are a strong fit if you have experience with at least some of the following:
Journalism (print, long-form, magazine, documentary, podcast, etc.)
Narrative interviewing or oral history projects
Biography, memoir, or profile-style storytelling
Interview-based research for books, films, or documentaries
Sensitive or personal subject matter
You should be comfortable:
Interviewing people who may not be natural storytellers
Asking follow-up questions in real time
Letting conversations breathe while still guiding them purposefully
Ideal Skills & Traits
Excellent listener with strong emotional intelligence
Curious, thoughtful, and non-judgmental interviewing style
Knows how to ask the question behind the answer
Organized and methodical with interview outputs
Comfortable scheduling and interviewing across time zones
Clear communicator (spoken and written)
Bonus (not required):
Experience co-authoring or collaborating on books
Background in biography, memoir, or narrative nonfiction
Familiarity with transcription tools or qualitative research methods
Project Details
Type: Contract / freelance
Hours: Flexible; interviews will be scheduled over several weeks
Location: Remote
Time Zones: Must be comfortable interviewing people in Australia
Start: As soon as possible
Deliverables (Initial Phase)
Interview question framework
Completed interviews (audio/video or notes)
Organized interview summaries or transcripts
Thematic breakdown of key stories and moments
How to Apply (Important – this filters quality candidates)
Please include:
A brief overview of your relevant experience
Examples of interview-based work (articles, podcasts, books, documentaries, etc.)
A short explanation of how you approach interviewing someone about their life
Apply Now
Apply Now