Interview Questions for Life Story Writing

To capture a full autobiography—especially if your goal is to create a rich, "stateful" narrative similar to the "In-Person" AI concepts discussed in your previous context—you need to move beyond simple facts. You want to elicit Episodic Recall (sensory details), Semantic Accumulation (worldview/facts), and Emotional Continuity (how feelings changed over time).

Here is a professional framework of interview questions, categorized by the "memory architecture" they build.

1. The "Backstory" (Identity & Constitution)

Goal: To establish the "Core Identity" that remains stable throughout the narrative.

• The Origin Myth: "If you had to describe the 'cast of characters' in your early life, who would be the main protagonists and antagonists, and why?"
• The Setting: "Describe the kitchen table of your childhood home. What did it smell like? What was the volume level? Who sat where?"
• Core Beliefs: "What is a 'truth' you learned at 10 years old that you still believe today? What is a 'truth' you believed then that you have since rejected?"
• The Label: "How would your teenage self describe your current self? Would they be impressed, disappointed, or confused?"

2. Episodic Recall (The Sensory "Witness")

Goal: To retrieve specific, vivid scenes rather than general summaries (avoiding the "summary-based approach").

• The "Flashbulb" Memory: "Tell me about a specific moment—a specific hour—that changed the trajectory of your career. Where were you standing? What were you wearing?"
• The First Taste: "Tell me the story of your 'firsts': your first dollar earned, your first heartbreak, or the first time you felt truly independent. Don't tell me that it happened; tell me how it happened."
• The Sensory Detail: "If you could revisit one specific room from your past for five minutes, which room would it be, and what object would you pick up first?"

3. Semantic Accumulation (Knowledge & Worldview)

Goal: To map the subject's logic, skills, and preferences (building the "Knowledge Graph").

• The Professional Philosophy: "In your field, what is a piece of 'standard advice' that you completely disagree with?"
• The Decision Matrix: "When you faced [Major Crisis X], what was the specific terrifying alternative you didn't choose? Why did you walk away from it?"
• Mastery: "Walk me through a day in your professional life where you felt you were operating at your absolute peak. What specifically were you doing that made it flow?"

4. Emotional Continuity & "Context Drift"

Goal: To understand how their personality evolved without breaking the narrative thread.

• The "Lobotomy" Moment: "Have you ever gone through a period where you felt like you 'lost' yourself or became a different person? What triggered that change?"
• The Unspoken: "What is the one conversation you wish you had with a parent or mentor but never did? If they were here now, what would you ask?"
• Regret vs. Learning: "Most people say they have 'no regrets,' but that’s rarely true. What is a 'useful regret' you carry—something you messed up that keeps you sharp today?"

5. The "Witness Effect" (Legacy)

Goal: To validate the user’s existence and define how they want to be "read."

• The Misconception: "What is the biggest misconception people have about you? If you could correct the record in this book, what would you say?"
• The Capsule: "If this book is a time capsule opened by your great-grandchild in 2080, what is the single most important lesson you want them to know about being a [User's Profession/Role]?"
• The Final Chapter: "If your life so far was a novel, what is the title of the current chapter you are living right now?"

Pro-Tip for the Interviewer: "The Double-Click"

In tech terms (like the Nomi Mind Map), never accept the top-level node. Always "double-click": * Subject: "I was a rebellious kid." * Interviewer: "Give me the evidence. What was the specific act of rebellion that got you in the most trouble? What did it feel like in the moment you got caught?"