Journalist / Narrative Interviewer Needed to Capture Life Stories for Biography Project

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