personal biography questions

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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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

Joanna Furlong

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

Best questions for biography

Home » Questions » Best questions for biography

Writing a biography is an incredible way to preserve someone’s life story and share their experiences with the world. Whether you are writing a biography for a loved one, a historical figure, or a notable personality, having a list of well-thought-out questions is essential to gather all the necessary information. These questions serve as a guide to help you dig deeper into the person’s life, understand their journey, and showcase their accomplishments. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of questions for biography that will assist you in creating a compelling narrative.

Before diving into the list of questions, it is crucial to understand that every biography is unique, and the questions you ask will depend on the individual you are writing about. It is essential to tailor the questions to suit their background, achievements, and the purpose of the biography. However, the following list provides a solid foundation to explore various aspects of a person’s life, including their childhood, education, career, relationships, and significant events.

Remember, a biography should not only focus on the person’s achievements but also provide insights into their personality, motivations, and struggles. These questions will help you create a well-rounded biography that captures the essence of the individual and leaves a lasting impact on your readers.

See these questions for biography

What is your full name?
Where and when were you born?
Can you share some details about your childhood?
What was your family background like?
Who were your role models growing up?
What were your favorite hobbies or activities as a child?
Did you have any siblings? If so, how did they influence your life?
What is your educational background?
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
What were your academic interests and strengths?
Did you face any challenges or obstacles during your education?
Can you recall any memorable experiences from your school days?
How did your career journey begin?
What motivated you to pursue your chosen career path?
Did you face any setbacks or rejections while establishing your career?
What were some significant milestones or achievements in your professional life?
Who were your mentors or influencers in your career?
What were some valuable lessons you learned from your professional experiences?
How did you balance your personal and professional life?
What led you to become involved in your community or charitable work?
What are some of your most memorable moments in your career?
Who are the most important people in your life?
Can you share any stories about your relationships with family and friends?
What are your core values and beliefs?
What are some defining moments or turning points in your life?
How do you handle challenges or adversity?
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
How do you define success?
What are your goals and aspirations for the future?
What advice would you give to others aspiring to follow a similar path?
Can you recall any funny or memorable anecdotes from your life?
What are some of your favorite books, movies, or music?
How do you unwind and relax?
What are some of your favorite travel destinations?
Have you ever faced any moments of self-doubt or imposter syndrome?
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in life?
How do you want to be remembered?
What legacy do you hope to leave behind?
Is there anything else you would like to share about your life?

These questions for biography provide a starting point for your research and interview process. Remember to be respectful, empathetic, and open-minded while gathering information about someone’s life. A biography is an opportunity to honor and celebrate an individual’s journey, so approach it with care and curiosity. Good luck in creating a captivating biography that will inspire and educate readers for years to come!

Best loaded questions adults sample questions

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 wrote about different approaches to biographical interviews. The approach you choose may influence the types of questions you choose to ask. In addition, what you choose to ask will be influenced by your objectives and the research you’ve conducted previously.

It’s important to prepare a list of questions that you might start with or refer to throughout the interview. Be prepared: oral historian Donald Ritchie says that “it is safer to have too many questions than too few… Some interviewees talk at great length in response to a single question… others answer briefly and need several follow-up questions to draw them out”.

Keep in mind that even with your list of carefully curated questions, you may not ask them all and you will likely ask new questions during the interview. In a narrative interview, a key part of knowing what to ask lies in listening effectively. We adjust or create our questions based on what has already been said. We probe or we pivot as we need to.

Ritchie discusses the importance of being flexible and curious, “an interviewer must always be prepared to abandon carefully prepared questions and follow the interviewee down unexpected paths, always helping the interviewee by questioning, guiding, coaxing, and challenging.”

The types of questions we ask influences the data that is gathered and how the interview progresses.

Open-ended questions

Later in this section, we’ll discuss the different types of questions, but first, let’s review open- ended, closed-ended and leading questions. In a narrative interview, the objective is to prompt the interviewee to do most of the talking. Open-ended questions are usually very effective at this, they give the interviewee the opportunity to ponder their thoughts and decide how long to speak about the topic.

Open-ended questions are questions which can’t be answered with a simple yes or no, or phrase. For example, an open-ended question is “tell me about your childhood”, and a more specific open-ended question is “can you tell me about the moment you realised you were adopted?”

Oral historian Charles Morrissey (cited by Ritchie) suggests framing an open-ended question by stating the problem, then asking the question, for example, “You were often seen volunteering in soup kitchens in the Bronx. How did these experiences influence your policy?” And then following this, specific questions can build upon this first answer.

Closed-ended questions

The opposite of open-ended questions are closed-ended questions. Examples of closed-ended questions are “did you have a happy childhood?” and “you grew up in New York City, is that correct?” and “what date did you move to New York?” When an interviewer limits the answers, this too is a closed-ended question, for example, “did you prefer growing up in New York or LA?” Close-ended questions or very specific questions are useful when verifying information or if time is short.

The funnel approach

Closely related to closed-ended questions is the “funnel approach” which Ritchie notes is often used in the courtroom or by political reporters. With this technique, interviewers start with broad questions, with each subsequent question becoming more specific, until the interviewee is easily able to answer “final, more specific questions”. Ritchie suggests this approach may be useful if the topic of conversation is controversial or if the interviewer is seeking specific information.

Ritchie notes that at times, it is possible to elicit a response without even asking a question, for example, restate what the person has said, make an observation or comment such as, “You grew up in South Carolina.”

Rhetorical questions

Wang and Yan suggest avoiding rhetorical questions – these can be perceived as hostile and can be perceived as expressing a point of view, similarly to how negatives can express the interviewer’s perspective, words such as isn’t, don’t and shouldn’t.

It’s impossible for interviewers to remain neutral – even if you’re working from a strict list of questions, interviewees will infer messages from visual and verbal cues, even if the cue is the interviewer being impassive. Harding notes that in a narrative biographical interview, it is appropriate for the interviewer to offer thoughts, ideas and experiences, as it builds rapport with the interviewee, however Miller reminds us that when asking questions, be mindful of leading questions and making assumptions.

Leading questions can lead to inaccurate answers; Ritchie stresses that asking leading questions might lead to the interviewee assuming that that is what the interviewer wants to hear. An example of a leading question is, “you were overjoyed about having your wedding overlooking the beach, is that right?”.

When phrasing questions, be mindful of your assumptions and presuppositions. Wang and Yan define presuppositions as being background assumptions that make an expression make sense. For example, by asking “when did you go to the party”, you’re assuming the person actually went to the party, not just asking what time they went.

Harding cites Hollway and Jefferson who differentiate between narrative and explanatory questions, both of which are important in biographical interviews. Narrative questions focus on stories, questions such as “Walk me through your first day at the White House”. Explanatory questions can include discussion about why they did something at the time and why they did it in hindsight, for example, “Why did you spend that time alone in the Oval Office on your first day?”. In researching racist and anti-Semitic groups, Blee focused on narrative questions, rather than explanatory, as she didn’t want her study to be used by participants as a way of broadcasting racist ideologies to new audiences. Below, we discuss examples of narrative and explanatory questions, as well as questions that might be used to verify information.

Narrative questions

Narrative questions can take a number of forms, but the unifying theme is that the interviewer is seeking information about what actually happened, rather than why.

Descriptive questions invite the interviewee to give a recount of an event in more detail. Rosenthal gives the following example, “you mentioned situation X earlier, could you tell me/narrate in more detail, exactly what happened?”.

Rosenthal states that interviewers might also ask about a specific theme , for example, “Could you tell me more about your parents?”. Content categories can cue memories, for example, Thomsen & Brinkmann suggest mentioning an activity, person or feeling, “do you remember an episode where you were talking (activity) to the physician (people) and felt confused (emotion)”?

It can be cognitively easier for interviewees to answer structural questions, which Ritchie describes as “ walk-me-through-a-typical-day ” questions. For example, if an interviewee is struggling to recall a memory, ask about simple memories, such as normal routines in the past at home or at work. Another tactic that might work is taking an emotive approach, asking about feelings , rather than facts. In collecting oral history from immigrants, in Doing Oral History, Kolbert is quoted, they might “not remember their daughter’s phone number. But they do remember what it was like when they got off the boat”.

Ritchie suggests that questions about experiences and examples can help the interviewee with recall. Lillrank gives the following example, “what was your most memorable experience in the Oval Office?”, or simply, “can you give me an example?”. Similarly, Rosenthal suggests asking about a specific time in their life, “Can you tell me more about the time you were…”.

Ritchie says that questions that compare or contrast help the interviewer see events from another perspective, provide rich detail for storytelling and can help with verifying stories previously told. Rosenthal suggests asking the interviewee to tell you an event from someone else’s perspective, “What did your chief of staff do while you were alone in the oval office that day?” Another example Lillrank gives is linking an experience to the past, such as “Did this remind you of something you have experienced before?”, or Thomsen and Brinkmanm suggest asking them to describe an event in a different order.

Brinkman suggests avoiding abstract questions such as “what does anger mean to you” and instead asking for descriptions about how they actually felt rather than how they would feel, for example, “What happened?” and “How did you feel at the time?”.

Keep in mind that memories can be prompted by senses such as sound, sight, taste, smell and touch. Ritchie uses objects such as maps to prompt discussion and suggests that we can also use photos, clothing, food, gardens and so on.

In writing a biography, describing the scene is essential – the interview can yield valuable, rich insights into helping you describe the scene. Lee Gutkind recommends that when a scene or experience is discussed, ask what people were wearing, what the room, house or neighbourhood looked like or what the weather was that day.

Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Robert Caro often asked interviewees “What would I see if I were there?” Caro sometimes asked a question, and kept asking the same question and sometimes his interviewee would get angry, but other times, they revealed more details, describing the scene or the person further. Santel gave a great example of Caro’s technique: Caro asked, “What was it like sitting on those couches?” and they’d say “Oh, I remember those couches. They were so downy you thought you’d never get up. And then you realise that Johnson made the couches in the Oval Office softer so people would sink down and he, sitting in his rocking chair, would be higher, towering over them”.

Explanatory questions

Explanatory questions, such as asking for an opinion, or asking why or how questions, may yield more subjective responses. Ritchie cites oral historian Charles Morrissey who suggests a two-sentence format: first, state the problem and second, ask the question, for example, “The records show you were a leader in establishing zoning laws that shaped this town. Why were zoning laws your objectives?”.

When seeking an opinion on a topic, Talmage sometimes shares “academic hearsay knowledge of a topic” and then asks the interviewee to comment on the validity of the statement. For example, an interviewer might say “It’s claimed that biographers are like burglars – what are your thoughts on this?”

Verification questions

It’s imperative to keep in mind there is no single, accurate story — there can be multiple interpretations of meaning. Interviewees don’t just have one voice, Brinkman describes interviewees as being polyvocal. Sorsoli & Tolman remind us that we usually listen assuming their story is “singular and transparent”, that the person has one voice, when really we should be listening for other voices in their narrative. Sorsoli and Toman stress that “Understanding the nuances of complex personal narratives requires examining them from many different angles and slowly building an interpretation from the perspective each angle offers”.

Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Caro suggests learning as much about the person as you can, “There is no one truth, but there are an awful lot of objective facts. The more facts you get, the more facts you collect, the closer you come to whatever truth there is. The base of biography has to be facts”.

Thomsen and Brinkmann stress that it’s crucial to verify what can be verified. Lee Gutkind reminds us that facts cannot be changed: for example, that your eyes are blue or that Lyndon Johnson died in 1973. During the interview, seek to confirm, clarify and challenge. Ritchie says, “Challenge answers that seem misleading, and pursue responses that seem mistaken”. Ritchie suggests that iIf you aren’t sure about their truthfulness, come back to the point again later and consider bringing up evidence that might oppose what they are saying.

Alexievich notes that sometimes people’s oral testimonies are “infected by secondary sources”, such as newspapers or other people’s versions. Other times, Ritchie stresses that narratives are told so frequently that it has been rehearsed, and each time the story is told, it becomes embedded more firmly in the mind, “Every telling of a story embellishes it… events are telescoped, chronology tightened, order rearranged and edited, drama or humor heightened. Rehearsed stories tend to omit negative events and concentrate on triumphs”. Alexievich notes that at times interviewees “write up” or “rewrite” and that there is a need to be vigilant, on guard. Ritchie says that it’s essential to search for inaccuracies and gently challenge inconsistencies”.

Lillrank and Miller suggest looking for gaps in the story, shifts, contradictions and consistencies. Consider how they describe events, how they frame their involvement, for example, in interviewing prisoners responsible for genocide in Rwanda, Jessee noted that many convicted perpetrators talked about the atrocities they “observed” without mentioning their own role in it or who else was involved.

Use extended timelines or landmark events as contextual cues, for example, “when you were working at X” or Thomsen and Brinkmaan suggest creating a timeline of an event. DeLouise & Harrington find that if responses are particularly broad, asking further questions can help the interviewee become more specific, even questions such as “tell me just a little more about that” or “what is it that really makes that stand out?”

Because the narrative interview is a shared experience, we may become complacent and assume both parties understand what is said. Talmage suggests challenging our assumptions during an interview, to ensure we have an accurate understanding, by asking the interviewee to restate what they’ve said in a different way, or by restating it ourselves in “a clear unambiguous way and asking if that is what the respondent meant”.

Next we’ll look at listening in a biographical interview .

Written by Melody Dexter

How to Nail your next Technical Interview

You may be missing out on a 66.5% salary hike*, nick camilleri, how many years of coding experience do you have, free course on 'sorting algorithms' by omkar deshpande (stanford phd, head of curriculum, ik).

How to Write the Best Personal Bio - With Examples

Last updated by Abhinav Rawat on Apr 18, 2024 at 04:22 PM | Reading time: 11 minutes

A crucial thing that most people do not pay enough attention to while applying to jobs is their ' personal bio' . Perhaps, the limited availability of time and a general lack of awareness about the importance of personal bios has ended with candidates creating dry and boring personal bios that fail to add adequate value.

In order to crack tough technical interviews at FAANg companies, aside from extensive preparation, creating and presenting the best personal bio is of supreme significance.

This article will take you through what the ideal personal bio looks like and how to create the best personal bio to amplify your chances of making a great impression and landing your dream job.

Here's what this article will cover:

What is a personal bio, significance of a personal bio, how to write a personal bio, how to make your personal bio noticeable, components of a personal bio, tips for writing a personal bio.

Example of personal bios

7.1 Personal biography examples for students
7.2 Personal bio sample for a teacher
7.3 Best personal bio
7.4 Personal bio sample

A personal bio refers to a short introduction that provides a concise summary of all your credentials and achievements. It lists out your professional history and educational qualifications in detail.

Think of it as an efficient marketing tool that portrays what makes you who you are. Unlike a resume, a personal bio also gives the other person an idea of the set of values that you hold and gives them a whiff of your personality.

Where are personal bios required?

You could require writing a personal biography for the following reasons-

To let hiring managers know why you would be the best fit for the position
Networking platforms
On professional websites
Introducing yourself to clients or contacts
Social media accounts

A personal bio provides a digital introduction of an individual. It is an opportunity to highlight one’s competence, experience, and other achievements in a few lines. The bio is important not only for listing out your achievements but also to make the reader care about you.

You can pick any suitable tone for the bio depending on the role you're applying to. It can be funny, personal, formal, or conversational, depending on the target audience.

The advantage of a personal professional bio is that it goes beyond just job applications. It also helps with networking and promotion. This is a branding opportunity that helps display your unique personality to the whole world in a limited number of words.

The purpose of the bio is to grasp the attention of the reader and draw them towards your profile. This is why you need to make it extremely concise and informative.

Writing a personal biography can be challenging. Following a standardized template such as the one provided below will help you create the ideal personal bio effortlessly.

Start by giving your introduction- Your personal bio should begin with a short introduction. Include details such as your name, educational qualifications, any certification, or major achievement. This sentence should be followed by your values, passions, and other aspects of your personality. Make sure that you add the relevant skills that you have and other important attributes of your personality. Also, add all the personal and professional values that you hold. If you have any professional goals that you are currently working towards, add that as well.
Keep it simple and concise- Your bio does not have to be overly complicated. Keep it as concise as you can. Make sure that you include these details in your bio:
The purpose behind writing the bio- Who do you wish to address? What do you want to convey to them?
What are your biggest achievements? What sets you apart from the crowd?
What is your professional and personal background? What are the major life events that gave shape to your personality?
What are your educational qualifications?
Write in the third person- Writing a personal bio in the third person might seem weird at first, but it is the best way to include your name in the bio. Also, it has to sound like a biography. Stick to writing in the third person to make the bio better optimized from an SEO viewpoint.
Know where you are going- You cannot just ramble about your achievements in the personal bio. It needs to be able to grab the attention of the reader. This is why it is important to follow a strategic approach to writing the bio.

Refrain from making it a listicle of your achievements but rather create an interesting story using those. You can also include details about what inspires you in life or any other relevant anecdotes.

Add your contact information- To come across as an approachable person, you should add your contact information in the personal bio. Add your email address, links to your social media profiles, etc., which will allow readers to have the means to communicate with you.
Proofread- You cannot afford to have an ill-written bio speak for you. Make sure you properly edit it to remove any grammatical or syntactical errors. Ask for feedback from others for ways to improve the bio and make it more readable.

Just writing a personal bio is not enough; you need to ensure that it is able to reach the right people and has the power to appeal to them. You can refer to various short personal bio examples to find out ways in which you can make the bio more interesting and noticeable. Here are a few features that will make your bio catch the attention of its readers-

Add a link to your work- Adding a link to your portfolio or any other achievement present online will add credibility to your bio. Don’t overstuff the bio with links. Keep only the most relevant ones. You can use anchor words or a call to action to promote yourself. Also, ensure that you add your contact information at the end.
Add tasteful humor- You can choose to add a funny anecdote to make your bio quirky as long as it is inoffensive and maintains a professional tone. Go through some fun personal bio examples for your reference.
Incorporate SEO- You need to optimize your bio for online searches. Some SEO strategies that will help your bio stand out from your competitors are-
Make sure the piece is of the right length and has original content.
Use the third person for writing a short bio.
Research for the best industry keywords and try using them in your content.
Adding external links to your social media handles or work portfolio will also be helpful.
You can also add a professional photo to your bio if required.
Pay attention to all online channels- You have to ensure that all your websites, social media platforms, etc., are professional. Make sure that no incorrect information comes up when your name is searched. All the platforms should have a consistent and professional tone.

While you are writing a short bio on yourself, you need to make sure that it contains all the essential components. A standard bio needs to have the following information-

A professional statement or tagline
Current job title
The city where you are based
Relevant work experience
Educational history
Any special skills
All your accomplishments- both personal and professional
Any hobbies or passions
All the accolades that you hold
Press mentions etc.

All the personal biography examples that you come across will have the following things in common.

Appropriate word count- Keep a check on the word count of the bio. It should be around 300-500 when applying for the job. You can extend this to 1500-2000 for a professional website. SEO favors longer pieces with unique content.
Although you include your full name in the bio to make it discoverable, make sure that you do not overuse your name.
Choose a tone for the bio and stick to it throughout.
It is necessary to add a call to action to your bio.
Have different versions of the bio for different platforms.
Do not forget to update the bio regularly to include any recent achievements.
Personal biography examples for students

Will Roberts brings together online brands to the right target audience and provides the perfect marketing experience. A graduate from the University of California, Roberts believes that the perfect balance of classical marketing strategies and modern techniques yield the best results. Will recently participated in a research study that analyzed the trends of customer conversion in the online marketplace. He aspires to work in a leading digital marketing company in the future.

Connect with Will:

Email: [email protected]

Networking site: w.roberts

Personal bio sample for a teacher

Kelly Wilson believes that motivated children are the future of this world. She has been teaching at the Edinson Public School for the past 19 years. She has spent years teaching children of all grades and finds extreme joy in sharing stories and listening to little anecdotes from her students’ lives. She majored in English at the University of Virginia and was awarded her National Board Certification in 2004. Kelly has also completed her Master of Education degree and aspires to continue sharing her knowledge and stories with her dear students.

Connect with Kelly at [email protected]

3. Personal bio for a marketing professional

Ryan Davis is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who works towards the upliftment of several personal and professional brands. Ryan holds a Bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Texas. He understands that the only way a brand can succeed is by truly connecting with the people. Ryan has worked with esteemed companies such as CNN and Edelman. The extensive PR and marketing experience that Ryan possesses makes him a highly known name in the industry. Ryan is also a certified business coach who likes to spend his Time telling people about business basics.

Connect with Ryan at [email protected]

Browse some of his previous works here <link>

4. Personal bio sample for a writer

Joe Tucker published his first book ‘ Time,’ when he was 20. He has since then been involved in writing columns for various newspapers and magazines. Joe graduated from Columbia University and took up writing as a career to be able to bring the world together with the power of his words. He is currently working on a non-fiction novel that speaks about his life experiences. His works have been critically acclaimed, and he was awarded the National Prize for Arts in the year 2019.

Abhinav Rawat

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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?

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15 personal bio examples that are fun, creative, and get the job done.

Struggling to write about yourself? These personal bio examples show how you can talk about your professional and personal life in a creative, engaging way.

Published on Apr 23, 2024

By Austin Distel

Personal bios can be hard to write. Waxing lyrical about yourself can be uncomfortable, especially in the context of professional achievements and amazing things you’ve done.

But, in a world where we’re often separated from other humans via a screen, your personal bio is one of the easiest ways for a company, colleague, or a potential lead to learn more about you.

‍ If you don’t know what to include or how to get started, we’ve pulled together some personal bio examples that showcase a handful of creative and engaging ways to present yourself on your social media accounts, your personal website, and on any bylined articles you write outside of your site.

We also provide some cool personal bio generator templates from our AI marketing platform , Jasper. Now you won’t have to scramble around at the last minute to come up with a short bio of yourself when you’re suddenly asked to send one over via email!

The business case for personal bios: why you should write one

You might wonder what the big deal is—it’s just a bio, right? Do people even read them? The answer is actually, yes; they do. Personal bios can be a great way to find out more about the person behind a website or an article. This helps establish a connection and encourages readers to relate to you.

The thing is, you might not think a lot of people care about where you went to school or what you like to do in your spare time, but you just don’t know who’s reading your professional bio.

It might be a hotshot manager for your dream company who also loves to spend their weekends kayaking the coast. Or it might be the marketer for a well-known brand looking for a writer .

Learning little nuggets of information about you can put you ahead of other candidates they’re researching or other freelancers they’re in talks with. It could be the difference between getting that contract and not.

What’s the difference between a personal bio and a resume?

Your resume is a list of your professional roles. Your personal bio digs deeper than this and gives readers an insight into things like:

Your interests outside of work
Your backstory
What gets you up in the morning
Your passions and values
Your goals

Understanding this information can help them see if you’d be a good fit, or if you have the personal qualities they’re looking for in someone they want to work with. This information also helps you connect better with like-minded people.

Say, for example, you’re scrolling through Twitter, see a fun Tweet, and click on the person’s bio only to find out they also run 5km every evening and are passionate about addressing climate change. Chances are, you’re going to want to connect with them.

Elements of a powerful personal bio

Crafting a compelling personal bio is essential for making a strong impression. Your bio should be concise yet impactful, providing a glimpse into who you are and what you stand for. Let's dive into the components that make a personal bio truly powerful:

Relevant personal and professional information

Incorporating both personal and professional details in your bio is key to offering a holistic view of your identity.

Sharing your hobbies, interests, and background not only showcases your unique personality but also makes you more approachable and adds a personal touch to your profile. Personal stories that align with your values and professional repertoire are a good way to connect with your audience.

On the other side of the same coin, showcasing professional details like work experience, skills, and achievements highlights your expertise and establishes your credibility within your field.

Combining personal and professional aspects in a personal bio creates a compelling narrative that offers a comprehensive view of an individual. This powerful blend paints a well-rounded picture, demonstrating both the human side and the professional prowess of the individual, making the bio more memorable and impactful.

Achievements and credentials

Showcasing your achievements and credentials is fundamental to establishing your credibility upon first impression. It is important to recognize that individuals reviewing your profile may only briefly examine your bio, so highlighting these achievements and credentials is imperative. Make sure to present a comprehensive snapshot of your professional capabilities and successes, reinforcing your position as a distinguished expert in your field.

Call to Action (CTA)

Including a call to action in your personal bio, like encouraging visitors to click a website link, is crucial for engaging your audience and motivating them to act.

By offering a clear and concise direction on the desired next steps for the reader, you effectively guide them towards delving deeper into learning about you, your work, or the services you provide. This will not only enhance the user experience by removing any ambiguity but also strategically guides interest towards areas you wish to highlight, like the next step in the sales funnel or a high converting blog article.

Well-crafted calls to action can boost your website traffic, foster engagement, and play a pivotal role in meeting your objectives, whether that’s attracting more clients, expanding your follower base, or unlocking new opportunities.

It's a powerful way to make your bio bring you closer to achieving your goals and shouldn’t be missed.

How to write a personal bio

Before we share some creative bio examples, let’s take a look at what your personal biography should include. Bear in mind that this will vary depending on what platform you’re posting it on (platforms like Twitter and Instagram have a limited word count).

However, you can have a “master” bio that you pull snippets from for other platforms. Not only does this keep your messaging cohesive across platforms, but it makes it easy to get a bio together at short notice because you already have all the information you need written down.

How to write an Instagram bio

To write an Instagram bio that drives traffic to your website, you need to write a concise ( 150 characters or less ) and engaging description of yourself or your brand.

Begin with an engaging hook or tagline to capture the reader's interest immediately.

Then, emphasize what distinguishes you from competitors, showcasing your unique selling propositions. Entice visitors with a compelling call-to-action to explore further by clicking the link in your bio to access your website. Use emojis or symbols to add flair and break up the text, injecting personality into your message.

How to write an X (Twitter) bio

It's essential to keep your X (Twitter) bio concise and impactful. Twitter bios have a character limit of 160 characters , so you’ll need to keep things short and sweet.

It's important to remember to periodically refresh your bio, making sure it accurately reflects any updates or changes in your business operations. This practice ensures that your bio remains current and relevant, communicating your business's evolution and current focus to your audience. Keeping your bio updated is a simple yet effective way to engage and inform your followers about the latest developments in your business.

Using platforms like Jasper helps you create a bio that grabs attention, boosts engagement, and drives traffic to your business. This strategy is key to building a strong online presence and fostering your business's growth and success.

What to include in a bio on your site

For this ‌exercise, let’s focus on what you need to include in a personal bio on your website. This will be your “master” bio as it’ll probably be the longest and go into the most detail.

People who are poking around on your website have already shown an interest in who you are and what you do, so they’re more likely to stick around and read a longer bio. Here’s what you should include:

Your name: obviously, you need to state your name. Most people choose to include their full name, including surname, at the start of their bio. However, if your website URL or personal brand is already your full name, you can shorten it to just your first name.
Your position: your current position and the tasks you’re responsible for should get a mention. This is particularly important if you’re looking for jobs or are writing a bio for a networking platform like LinkedIn.
Your work experience: mention any key roles you’ve held in the past and how you got to where you are today. Stories like this show readers your journey and give an insight into your specialisms and professional skills.
What you do and who you do it for: kind of like stating your “niche”, talking about what exactly it is you do (like graphic design or paid ad campaigns), and who you do it for (like finance companies or busy e-commerce owners) can help readers identify if you’re a good fit.
What you do outside of work: personal bios should be more personal than a resume or professional bio and should therefore include personal details about what you like to do when you’re not working. Do you frequent pop-up restaurants? Attend dog shows with your puppy? Rock climb in the mountains?
Professional accomplishments: talk about what you’ve achieved both at work and outside of work. This gives readers an idea about the things you value and what you might be able to achieve for them (it’s also a great talking point for people who want to reach out).
Personal story: share a personal, creative story to add a splash of personality. It can be anything from the disastrous first birthday party you held for your daughter to the time you were taken in by a local family after getting lost in Mongolia. Don't forget to add a custom image !

How often should you refresh your personal bio?

The life you live now isn’t the same life you were living ten, five, or even two years ago. Your personal bio should reflect your current situation, which means it’ll probably need to be regularly updated.

If you’re not sure about when to give it a refresh, consider:

When you land a new job
When you achieve a big milestone (either at work or in your personal life)
When your old one doesn’t have the same ring to it

Schedule time every few months to go back over your personal bio and see if everything is still true and up-to-date.

Where to display your personal bio

Your personal bio can be displayed anywhere that you might want people to find out more about you. Often, this will be places like social media, your website, guest post bylines, or your speaker profile, but you can also include it in other marketing materials like flyers for events you’re hosting or the blurb for your latest ebook.

Twitter: cramming a personal bio into 160 characters can be hard, but it can also be a great lesson in identifying what information matters the most. Use up as many of the characters as you can, and use them wisely..
LinkedIn: the summary section of your LinkedIn profile gives you up to 2,000 characters to use. This is the ideal place to share your “master” bio.
Instagram: at 150 characters, you have just a few words to explain who you are and what you do on Instagram—use them wisely.
Personal website: people who land on your website are already interested in you—share your “master” bio here in all its glory.
Guest posts: bylined articles need a couple of sentences about the author. Make it engaging to encourage readers to click through to your site or remember your name.
Speaker profile: if you speak at events or conferences, you’ll need a short but sweet speaker bio that gets attendees interested in your session.

Get inspired: fun personal bio examples

#1 twitter bio example: sally fox.

Sally includes what she does and who she does it for, as well as a humorous bit of information about her and her contact information—all within Twitter’s 160 character limit.

#2 Twitter bio example: Kash Bhattacharya

Kash showcases his accomplishments as well as a bit of backstory about what he’s doing and how long he’s been doing it.

#3 Twitter bio example: Jay Acunzo

Jay shares his mission in his Twitter bio, as well as what he’s best known for.

#4 Pinterest bio example: Grey & Scout

Liz of Grey & Scout introduces herself and tells her followers what they can expect to see from her—not an easy feat with such a limited word count.

#5 Guest post bio example: Justin Champion

In this guest author byline, Justin uses the third person to introduce who he is and what he does, as well as share his goal with readers.

#6 LinkedIn bio example: Katrina Ortiz

Katrina uses her LinkedIn bio to tell a story. Readers are hooked from the first sentence, but she also gives key insights into her specialties and achievements.

#7 LinkedIn bio example: Karen Abbate

Karen does things a bit differently with her LinkedIn summary and lists out key things readers might want to know about her and her career.

#8 LinkedIn bio example: Katie Clancy

Katie starts her LinkedIn bio with an analogy that serves to hook readers from the start. From there, she branches out into how it relates to her profession, as well as her key achievements and career highlights.

#9 Personal website bio example: Dave Harland

Dave Harland’s About Page shares the story of how he got into writing‌. At the end, he highlights his experience and why this story has helped him become a go-to copywriter.

#10 Personal website bio example: Gummi Sig

Gummi Sig begins his bio in the third person before diving into first-person storytelling mode. Perhaps the best part about this personal bio is the call to action at the end that encourages potential leads to get in touch.

#11 Personal website bio example: Leigh Whipday

Leigh Whipday of Toy Fight has a short professional bio on the website. It includes both his professional achievements as well as insights about his life outside of work to attract his target audience.

#12 Personal website bio example: Blake Fili Suarez

Blake includes both a short and a long version of his bio so that readers can choose the best option for them. Both include what he does as well as personal anecdotes about his life and business.

Create your own with the Jasper personal bio template

# 13 Personal website bio example: Kaleigh Moore

Besides a short professional bio that’s more focused on her work, Kaleigh Moore also has a personal bio on her site. It goes into detail about her first e-commerce business and how it led her into writing for the biggest names in e-commerce. It also shares some fun facts and photos of Kaleigh.

#14 Instagram bio example: Carlos Gil

Carlos Gil does a good job of using limited space wisely, mentioning accomplishments, what he does and for who, as well as what he’s working on.

#15 Instagram bio example: Samantha Anderl

Co-founder of Harlow, Samantha Anderl, uses her personal Instagram bio not only to promote the company but also to give some insight into her personality. As this bio shows, a little humor can go a long way in attracting like-minded people to both you and your business.

Struggling with a blank page? Not sure which words to put down first? Overwhelmed by all the great professional bio examples out there and have now got writer’s paralysis? That's where an AI writing assistant can come in handy. Jasper’s personal bio template, in particular, can save the day.

Simply plug in a few key pieces of information about yourself (use the list we mentioned above as a starting point) and choose the tone of voice you want to portray . Jasper will then work its AI magic and create a collection of personal bios you can tweak or use as they are. For example, here’s the start of a short bio for Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs.

Jasper can create well-written, engaging bios for anyone in any role, as long as you provide the right info. For instance, besides setting the point of view and tone, we gave Jasper some basic details, including a fictional name, role, and location for a Senior Product Marketing Manager.

As you can see from the bio options below, Jasper added emotion and personality to the details we gave. And he even added missing details such as past companies and years of experience, which we could easily swap out for factual details when writing a bio for a real person.

Jasper Personal Bio Template For Marketing Manager

We provided similar details for the bio of a fictional social media marketer, feeding Jasper info on specialties, previous roles, and hobbies. This time in the third person, Jasper added flair to our inputs, as well as some additional details that could be verified or swapped out, such as Luisa being from Columbia.

Jasper Personal Bio Template For Social Media Manager

Any of Jasper’s outputs could be combined, edited, or expanded in minutes to create a polished bio that showcases your areas of expertise, your professional goals, and your personality. Writing about yourself doesn’t have to be hard!

Also related: the Jasper company bio template

Companies can also make use of Jasper’s bio templates with the company bio template. Again, just input some key facts about your business, and— voila! —Jasper will create a fun and creative bio you can use wherever you like.

Create your punchy personal bio today

Never again be asked to send over a personal bio “on the fly”. Instead, create a “master” bio that can be chopped up into engaging chunks and shared on your chosen promotional platforms.

Include key information about your job title, achievements, and what exactly it is you do, as well as personal anecdotes, your interests, and how you spend your spare time.

Your personal bio is a chance to connect with potential clients, hiring managers, and like-minded colleagues, so take the time to write one that really presents you as you want to be presented.

‍ Start a free trial to create your Personal Bio using Jasper today.

Meet The Author:

Austin Distel

Austin Distel is the Sr. Director of Marketing at Jasper , your AI marketing co-pilot. When not working, Austin is also an Airbnb superhost in Austin, Texas.

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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

Ready to ditch distractions to craft the first draft of your family story? Check out my new Software Tips series on YouTube. This episode is unpacking 3 tips to enhance your Google Docs experience. Link in bio or visit youtube.com/@thecreativefamilyhistorian. #familystories #familyhistory

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

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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 )

Hi, I’m Celes. Thanks for reading. Personal Excellence is where I write about how to live our best life as we tackle life’s challenges. About Me »

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 Handle Negative Criticism
How To Give Constructive Criticism
How To Deal With Unsupportive Friends & Family
How To Improve Your Relationship With Your Parents
How To Find Your Life Purpose
How To Find Purpose After a Hard Fall in Life
How To Move On From a Heartbreak
How To Find Your Soulmate
How To Stop Procrastinating
How To Make Life’s Hardest Decisions
How To Stay Focused & Not Get Distracted
101 Ways To Live Your Best Life
101 Questions To Ask Yourself

Create Your Life Handbook

Is Your Routine Empowering You?

How To Meditate in 5 Simple Steps

The Beauty of Self – Why I Used To Feel Inferior about My Looks and Why I No Longer Feel That Way Today

How I Found My Place as a Female in Today’s World, Part 1: Growing Up with Repressed Femininity

Are You Living Vicariously Through Movie, Drama or Game Characters?

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Israel-Hamas war

Trump's hush money trial

Stormy Daniels wraps up testimony in Trump hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

Here are some key takeaways from the 14th day of Trump's criminal hush money trial

From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell

Former President Donald Trump observes as Madeleine Westerhout, a former employee of Donald Trump in the White House, testifies in the Trump hush money criminal trial on May 9.

Former President Donald Trump ’s lawyers continued their attack on the credibility of Stormy Daniels for several hours Thursday, with defense attorney Susan Necheles accusing the adult film star of making up the story of having sex with Trump.

Today also saw testimony from a woman who was once among the closest people working with Trump in the White House, and failed efforts by the defense to get a mistrial and an exception to the defendant's gag order.

Here are some key takeaways from Day 14 of the Trump hush money trial:

Contentious testimony: Daniels combatively and defiantly responded to questions from Necheles, insisting her story of a sexual encounter with Trump was true. Trump has denied the affair.

Trump’s attorney asked about minor inconsistencies in interviews Daniels has given about her interactions with Trump. Necheles also picked apart how Daniels has previously described the encounter .

Necheles also insinuated Daniels had employed her skills as a porn writer in making up the story. “You have a lot of experience of making phony stories about sex appear to be real,” the Trump attorney asked.

"Wow," Daniels said, with a pause. “That’s not how I would put it. The sex in the films is very much real, just like what happened to me in that room.”

Lawyers spar over Daniels' financial situation: Beyond the details of the alleged encounter itself, Trump’s attorneys and prosecutors had Daniels tell conflicting accounts of her financial situation.

Necheles continued to suggest that Daniels was making money off of saying she had sex with Trump, pointing to a tweet where she said she’d earned $1 million and others where she directed her supporters to her online store after Trump was indicted.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, had Daniels recount how telling her story has also cost her, from having to move her daughter and hire security to the lawyers’ fees she was ordered to pay after she sued Trump and lost.

Former aide takes us inside the Trump White House: Former White House aide Madeleine Westerhout described the inner workings of Trump’s West Wing, where she worked for more than two years sitting just outside the Oval Office.

Westerhout described Trump's work habits, from his affinity for sharpies and hard copies of documents, to his close control over his social media posts and his preference to talk to people in person or on the phone — not by email.

While she did not testify to direct knowledge of the checks Trump signed to his former fixer Michael Cohen, which are cited in the charges against Trump, her story added to the prosecution's narrative about his involvement with the checks in 2017.

Two failed efforts by Trump's team: Judge Juan Merchan denied the request from Trump's lawyers to make an exception to the gag order allowing him to speak publicly about Daniels, saying he must protect the integrity of the proceedings, and he doesn’t trust Trump not to violate an order if he were to modify it.

The judge also denied Trump’s renewed motion for a mistrial over the salacious testimony Daniels gave, which his attorneys say unfairly prejudices the jury against Trump. Merchan said the specificity is important to helping the jury make a determination.

Read a full recap of today's proceedings here.

Here are the witnesses who have testified so far in the Trump hush money trial

From CNN staff

Defense attorney Susan Necheles cross-examines adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the trial on May 9.

Donald Trump's longtime assistant, the former banker of Trump's attorney Michael Cohen and adult film actress Stormy Daniels are among witnesses who have taken the stand so far in the hush money trial.

As of Thursday, here's everybody we've heard from so far:

David Pecker — the former CEO of American Media Inc., the National Enquirer's parent company — was the first witness called to testify. After more than 10 hours of testimony across four days, he offered illuminating details into how the infamous tabloid operated and conducted so-called “catch and kill” operations.
Rhona Graff , Trump's longtime assistant at the Trump Organization, was called to testify briefly on April 26.
Gary Farro , the former banker of Cohen, walked the jury through Cohen’s bank activity around the payment to Daniels.

Keith Davidson testifies during direct examination on May 2.

Keith Davidson , the former lawyer for model and actress Karen McDougal as well as for Daniels, was on the stand for nearly 6 hours over two days.
Douglas Daus works for the Manhattan District Attorney's High Technology Analysis Unit, and was assigned to analyze two iPhones that belonged to Cohen in the investigation related to Trump. They were obtained via a search warrant. Daus testified about the "unusual" amount of contacts and other things he found on Cohen's phone.
Hope Hicks , Trump's longtime former aide, testified for a little less than three hours about her role as Trump’s 2016 campaign press secretary, the aftermath of the “Access Hollywood” tape release and Cohen's payment to Danie

Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo questions former longtime Trump Organization controller Jeffrey McConney on May 6.

Jeffrey McConney , a former Trump Organization controller, testified about how Cohen's payments were listed in Trump's financial documents.
Deborah Tarasoff, the accounts payable supervisor in the accounting department at the Trump Organization, explained how checks were cut to Cohen in 2017 and she testified that invoices over $10,000 had to be approved by Trump or one of his sons.
Sally Franklin , the senior vice president and executive managing editor for Penguin Random House publishing group, testified for 46 minutes . Prosecutors used her testimony to enter excerpts from Trump’s books into evidence.
Stormy Daniels, who's at the center of the hush money case, was on the stand for 6 hours and 10 minutes over two days of testimony. Daniels walked the jury through details about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 and the $130,000 hush money payment from Trump's ex-attorney Michael Cohen shortly before the 2016 election . Trump attorney Susan Necheles hammered down on Daniels in cross-examination to establish some of the ways she gained publicity and money from her story going public.
Rebecca Manochio , a junior bookkeeper at the Trump Organization, testified for about 35 minutes. The prosecution used Manochio to submit invoices , documents and emails as evidence.

Tracey Menziez, the senior VP of production and creative operations for Harper Collins, testified in the Trump hush money criminal trial on May 9.

Tracey Menzies , the senior vice president of production and creative operations at Harper Collins, spoke about one of the books Donald Trump co-authored, “Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life,” by Trump and Bill Zanker and read excerpts from the book.
Madeleine Westerhout , a former personal assistant to Trump at the White House, detailed how the president preferred to work, his attention to detail and the reaction to the "Access Hollywood" tape.

Stormy Daniels finished her testimony in Trump’s hush money trial. Here’s what to know

From CNN's Elise Hammond

Stormy Daniels is cross examined by the defense on Thursday, May 9.

Donald Trump’s lawyers finished their cross-examination of Stormy Daniels on Thursday and spent most of the time trying to undermine her credibility by pointing out inconsistencies in her story.

In her more than 6 hours of testimony over two days, Daniels described her first meeting with Trump , the details of their alleged sexual encounter in 2006 and how the hush money payment unfolded years later. The defense tried to establish some of the ways the porn star gained publicity and money from her story going public.

The other witnesses on Thursday were a junior bookkeeper at the Trump Organization, an employee of Harper Collins and Trump’s former personal assistant at the White House.

Here’s what happened in court on Thursday:

Stormy Daniels on cross-examination:

Trump lawyer Susan Necheles pointed out that in a January 2018 statement , Daniels denied a sexual encounter with Trump. Later that same month, Daniels put out a second statement denying the relationship. She said she was pushed to sign the statement by Michael Cohen via attorney Keith Davidson.
Necheles asked Daniels if she eventually wanted to publicly announce she had sex with Trump. "No. Nobody would ever want to publicly say that. I wanted to publicly defend myself ," Daniels testified.
Necheles sought to establish examples of how Daniels benefitted from the story . A "60 Minutes" interview and appearances on CNN and "The View" brought Daniels publicity, Necheles said. Daniels argued her then-lawyer Michael Avenatti arranged her appearances.
Necheles challenged Daniels on her story, saying it "has changed a lot over the years," citing Daniels’ description of the floors in Trump’s hotel room. The Trump attorney also asked if Daniels fabricated the story about the encounter with Trump, which Daniels denied.

On redirect:

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger went through Daniels' motivation for entering the non-disclosure agreement, including her fear for safety . While Daniels has made money with the Trump story, it has also cost her , Hoffinger said. Daniels said now she's had to hire security and move her daughter to a safe place to live, in addition to the money she owes Trump in attorney's fees.
Hoffinger asked, " Have you been telling lies about Mr. Trump or the truth about Mr. Trump?" Daniels responded, “The truth.”

Rebecca Manochio:

Manochio, who still works at the Trump Organization as a junior bookkeeper, said when Trump was in the White House, she would FedEx checks once a week, often 10 to 20 at a time. The checks were mailed back to the Trump Organization, signed by Trump , usually within a few days.
When she received the checks back from Washington, she would give them to Deb Tarasoff, who works in the accounting department and testified earlier in the trial.
Prosecutors used Manochio to submit documents into evidence that showed Trump's personal checks were facilitated in Washington, DC, by Trump Organization bodyguard Keith Schiller and then by Trump personal aid John McEntee once Schiller left. This is important because the crux of this case comes down to how the former president's team handled a hush money payment to Daniels.
On cross-examination, Manochio said she didn’t interact directly with Trump and she only sent him personal checks for his signature. She also testified that she also sent personal checks to Ivanka Trump .

Tracey Menzies

Menzies is the senior vice president of production and creative operations at Harper Collins . Testifying as a custodian of records for the publishing company, Menzies said.
Prosecutors read excerpts from the book "Think Big: Make it Happen in Business and Life" for the jury. Several of them were about Trump’s value of loyalty in his business. Other excerpts were about revenge .

Madeleine Westerhout

As the former director of Oval Office Operations, Westerhout was one of the chief gatekeepers to the president as his personal assistant.
When the 2016 “Access Hollywood” tape came out, Westerhout said she remembered it “rattling RNC leadership.” She testified that she recalled conversations about how to replace Trump on the presidential ticket, “if it came to that.” Later, she told the defense on cross-examination that Trump was not as concerned about the tape as those around him.
From Westerhout’s experience working with Trump, she said the former president was “ attentive to things that were brought to his attention." She also testified about Trump’s preferences — including that he did not use a computer or have an email address and preferred hard copies of documents.
She said she recalls that Trump was “very upset” by the Stormy Daniels story potentially coming out. Westerhout testified that Trump spoke to Cohen around that time.

Judge makes other rulings: Judge Juan Merchan denied the defense's motion for a mistrial. He said he disagrees with the Trump team's assertion that Daniels gave a new account in her testimony this week. He also denied a motion to modify the gag order to allow Trump to talk about Daniels.

Trump attacks judge in hush money trial after leaving court

Former President Donald Trump attacked the judge presiding over his hush money trial in New York after court adjourned on Thursday.

In the hallway, he called Judge Juan Merchan “totally corrupt” and “conflicted.”

“Take a look at his conflict, it’s a disgrace to the city of New York, to the state of New York and to the country,” Trump said.

It comes after Stormy Daniels finished her testimony. She was on the stand for more than 6 hours over two days, describing her first meeting with Trump and their sexual encounter in 2006.

Remember: The former president is not allowed to talk about Daniels because of a gag order that has been imposed. However, it does not prevent Trump from attacking Merchan or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Court is adjourned

After issuing his ruling, Judge Juan Merchan dismissed the court until tomorrow morning.

"I’ll see you tomorrow at 9:30," he said.

Judge Merchan denies defense motion for a mistrial

Judge Juan Merchan has denied the defense's motion for a mistrial.

Merchan says he disagrees with the Trump team's assertion that Stormy Daniels gave a new account in her testimony this week.

Before the ruling, Mechan says the jurors have to decide who they believe in the case of the encounter between Donald Trump and Daniels.

He notes that the people do not have to prove the encounter happened but because the defense has called her credibility into question, prosecutors have to make an effort to show her story is credible to prove their case.

"The more specificity Ms. Daniels can provide about the encounter, the more the jury can weigh whether the encounter did occur and if so whether they choose to credit Ms. Daniels’ story," Merchan says.

There were "many times Ms. Necheles could have objected but didn't," the judge says.

"For some unexplained reason that I still don't understand" there was no objection to certain testimony cited in the motion for a mistrial and again today, Merchan says.

"Why on earth she wouldn't object to the mention of a condom, I don’t understand," Merchan says of Trump attorney Susan Necheles.

Trump leans back in his chair as judge knocks his legal team

Trump is leaning back and stretching as the judge knocks the defense for not objecting to more of Stormy Daniels' testimony.

Merchan has mentioned several portions of the proceedings he thinks Trump's lawyers could have objected to as he explains his ruling.

Prosecutor says "very salacious details" were omitted that he's willing to file under seal if necessary

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass says there were "very salacious details" that were purposely omitted from Stormy Daniels' account, saying he's willing to make a sealed filing with those details if necessary.

Steinglass says the prosecution specifically chose not to ask questions in a way that would elicit some of those details, so as not to embarrass Trump.

For example, Steinglass notes that the judge sustained an objection to a question to Daniels about whether she "felt anything different" at the time of the alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

The prosecutor says Daniels would have testified that she felt the skin of a 60-year-old man, and that that was different for her as a 27-year-old woman at the time. Steinglass says that would've been corroborative of her allegations.

"We feel that we have very faithfully adhered to your honor's ruling," the prosecutor says, in summary.

Steinglass says the prosecution was never intending to call Karen McDougal as a witness

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass confirms Karen McDougal — the model and actress who has said she was also paid to keep quiet about an affair with Trump — will not be called to take the stand.

"She was on our witness list, but we have never indicated an actual intention to call her," he says.

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COMMENTS

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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.
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 ...
Best questions for biography
Writing a biography is an incredible way to preserve someone's life story and share their experiences with the world. Whether you are writing a biography for a loved one, a historical figure, or a notable personality, having a list of well-thought-out questions is essential to gather all the necessary information.
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.
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.
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 ...
How To Write a Personal Bio (Plus Tips and Examples)
1. Introduce yourself. Start your bio with a brief introduction that describes who you are. The first sentence can include your name followed by a few details you want to highlight, such as your education, certifications or achievements. Include other relevant details, such as your job title, industry experience and professional duties.
How to Write the Best Personal Bio
Tips for writing a personal bio. All the personal biography examples that you come across will have the following things in common. Appropriate word count- Keep a check on the word count of the bio. It should be around 300-500 when applying for the job. You can extend this to 1500-2000 for a professional website.
Great Interview Questions
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.
15 Personal Bio Examples That Are Fun, Creative, and Get the ...
Your resume is a list of your professional roles. Your personal bio digs deeper than this and gives readers an insight into things like: Your interests outside of work. Your backstory. What gets you up in the morning. Your passions and values. Your goals.
How to write a personal bio + 20 personal bio examples
3. Talking about professions outside the usual corporates, here's an example of a Babysitter's resume bio. The tone of voice, writing style, and points covered (no facts and figures) make this one different from the rest. This is a classic personal bio example of writing as per your employment type. 4.
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.
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.
Professional Bio Guide: Template and Examples
2. Your Twitter bio. Even a snappy, 160-character bio can help set you apart. To write a great bio for social media, grab the first two sentences of the bio we just drafted. We've crammed a lot of great info in there: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, how you do it, and what you believe about the work you do.
How To Write a Professional Short Bio (With Examples)
Here are some steps you can follow to help you write a successful short bio: 1. Choose a voice. The first step in writing a short bio is deciding on a voice. For our purposes, choosing a voice involves deciding whether you are writing in the first or third person. Writing in the first person means using the words "I" and "me", and writing in ...
#52Stories: Writing Your Life Story Has Never Been Easier
Now imagine if someone provided you with one question to write about each week for 52 weeks. At the end of just one year you will have created your own life story to share with your children and your future posterity. You will never be forgotten because your own life story will bear witness to your existence. Add some pictures, and you can make ...
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.
30 Personal Biography Examples & Free Templates
In today's competitive job market, understanding the skill and art of writing a personal biography that captures your target audience's attention is essential. A professionally written and optimised biography defines your brand and creates a great first impression anytime your potential employer, client, or someone at a networking event googles you online. However, writing a personal ...
101 Questions To Ask Yourself in Life
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.
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 ...
21 Behavioral Interview Questions and How to Respond
Hiring managers are often invested in finding someone who has the skills and experience to do the job and who will be a good fit, complementing the general personality of their team and the company's larger workplace culture.Behavioral interview questions help your interviewers better understand who you are and how you work. Unlike situational interview questions, which ask you about ...
Who is Hope Hicks, longtime Trump aide who is testifying in NY hush
Hope Hicks, once a longtime trusted aide in Donald Trump's inner circle, is testifying Friday in the New York hush money trial after being subpoenaed. "I'm really nervous," Hicks said ...
Stormy Daniels wraps up testimony in Trump hush money trial
The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial heard from several witnesses during testimony today. Court is set to resume at 9:30 a.m. ET tomorrow. Madeleine Westerhout, Trump's personal assistant ...
Novel introductions of human-origin H3N2 Influenza viruses in Swine
Influenza A virus (IAV) continuously threatens animal and public health globally, with swine serving as a crucial reservoir for viral reassortment and evolution. In Chile, H1N2 and H3N2 subtypes were introduced in the swine population before the H1N1 2009 pandemic, and the H1N1 was introduced from the H1N1pdm09 by successive reverse zoonotic events. Here, we report two novel introductions of ...