A good profile reveals feelings, exposes attitudes, captures habits and mannerisms. The finished story should be as entertaining as it is informative.

Contact and interview your profile subject

The first things to think about, and ask your editor are "Why this person?" and "Why now?" to help you clarify the purpose and news hook. Your next steps:

• • Contact the person by email and phone.

    • Explain that you would like to interview them, watch them in action and talk to their friends and colleagues.

    • Be open, honest and nonthreatening.

  • Interview and observe. You’ll need at least one intensive interview session of at least 45 minutes. Ask permission to record. Take notes and collect anecdotes and detailed descriptions: how your subject looks, talks, dresses, acts and interacts with others.

  • Ask about challenges, obstacles, victories. Listen to responses and ask follow-up questions to go deeper.

Your goal is to write a story that answers “What’s it like to be you?”

Find your focus

After your first interview, review your notes. Reflect. Ask yourself, “What have I got here? What am I missing?”

The best profiles are those that focus on an intriguing or newsworthy aspect of your subject’s public or private life. Develop a theme that will help you plan your next story.

Follow up with further interviews and research. Talk to your subject, and as many other sources as necessary, to flesh out your focus with facts, quotes and anecdotes. Take every opportunity to watch your subject at work or play in a setting that’s relevant to your focus.

Write your story

• Start with a narrative or scene-setter lead.

• Ask yourself these questions:

  • Do readers understand why they should care about my subject? Am I providing insight and inside details about my subject?

  • Is my story full of lively, memorable details about how my subject works and lives?

  • Do I capture my subject in a real-life scene or two?

  • Are the quotes spicy and telling?

  • Have I cut out all long, dull and predictable quotes?

  • Have I talked to others who understand my subject or might see my subject with different eyes?

  • Are the turning points in my subject’s life obvious to the reader and explored for their lasting impact?

  • Do I understand what motivates my subject, and will I make that clear to readers?