By Leilani Squires

It’s always entertaining for me while speaking at writers conferences to notice at which points or stories the attendees most get excited, take notes, or even pull out their phones to take a photo of my PowerPoint slide. During this class, what caused the majority of attendees to scramble to take notes had to do with getting more than one article from one interview.

Side note: In February, I wrote How to Interview for Your Writing. This point comes on the heels of that post.

When you’ve concluded your interview, and you are compiling, reviewing your notes, and writing from, I challenge you to look for at least five other articles you could write from the one interview.

So, for example, say I’m interviewing two gymnastics coaches about opening a new gym in the city. I learn they are Christians and apply Biblical principles to their coaching. I also find out that they homeschool their three children while running their business. I hear about their hobbies and how they got started in gymnastics. So, from one interview, I can write articles like:

1. A feature article about the gym itself, the programs, and the talented coaches running it
   (Local newspapers, local magazines)
2. A profile article about the people running the gym and their methodology
   (Local newspapers, local magazines)
3. A news article on their competitive teen team and their recent wins
   (Local newspapers, local magazines)
4. The benefits gymnastics offers for young children (Parenting magazine, and can further expand to articles for each age group)
5. How gymnastics can benefit and accommodate kids with different learning or physical abilities
   (Parenting magazines, gymnastics magazines)
6. What two gymnastics coaches say about preparing your kids for competitive sports
   (Parenting magazine, gymnastics magazines)
7. How these coaches balance homeschooling their kids and running a successful gym (Homeschool, marriage, and parenting magazines)
8. How two coaches built a successful gymnastics gym in a small town
   (Entrepreneur, business magazine)

So, from one interview, I have at least eight other articles begging to be written. Think of the income! This is another reason why it’s important to have a pretty good idea of the kinds of magazines out there and what they’re looking for. To do this, review the Christian Writers Market Guide.

Always keep your interview notes and recordings. Ideas may connect further down the road and get you yet another article. You might be able to use a quote, experience, or piece of advice in another article.

Some article ideas might mean you need to go back to your interviewee and ask one or three more questions. Simply contact him/her, explain the new article and the angle, and that you have a few follow-up questions.

My challenge to you is to start with the interviews you’ve already conducted and brainstorm more article angles. And for your next interviews, make the most of your time and increase your earnings by writing more than one article.

Leilani Squires is a writer and editor who began working with authors, organizations, and entrepreneurs in 2002. She helps each client develop their message or story clearly, concisely, and compellingly. She has a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing from Taylor University and a master’s degree in Communications from Regent University. Leilani speaks at writers conferences, universities, and is an adjunct professor. View Leilani’s services for writers at leilanisquires.com.