Interview Guide Creation

Interview Script for AI Writing Assistant – Freelance Creators

Section 1: Warm-Up – Build Rapport & Understand Daily Context (5–7 minutes)
Transition phrase: "Let’s start with a few questions about your day-to-day work."

• Can you walk me through a typical workday as a content creator?
  
• What kinds of writing projects do you usually work on?
  
• What tools or platforms do you currently use to help with writing?
  
• How do you typically begin a new writing task?
  
• Do you work alone, or do you collaborate with clients or teams?

Probes:

• “What’s your favorite part of your writing process?”
  
• “Is there anything that slows you down?”

Section 2: Current Behaviors with Writing Tools (10–12 minutes)
Transition phrase: "Now let’s talk more specifically about your experiences with writing tools."

• Which tools do you rely on most during the writing process?
  
• Have you used AI-based writing assistants before? If so, which ones?
  
• How often do you use grammar or style suggestions?
  
• How do you typically edit or revise your drafts?
  
• Do you use any tools to generate ideas or structure content?
  
• How do you manage and store the content you create?

Probes:

• “Can you share an example of a time a writing tool helped—or didn’t help—you?”
  
• “How do you know when a tool is actually useful to you?”

Section 3: Pain Points (8–10 minutes)
Transition phrase: "Let’s explore some challenges you might face during writing."

• What parts of the writing process feel most frustrating or time-consuming?
  
• Have you ever felt misled or disappointed by writing tools?
  
• Are there moments when you feel overwhelmed by suggestions or corrections?
  
• How do you handle versioning, content loss, or saving your work?

Probes:

• “What would you say is the most annoying part of your current tool?”
  
• “When was the last time a tool made something harder instead of easier?”

Section 4: Desired Improvements & Ideal Experiences (10–12 minutes)
Transition phrase: "Now let’s imagine how things could work better."

• If you could improve one thing about your current tools, what would it be?
  
• What would your ideal writing assistant do that current ones don’t?
  
• How important is customization or tone control to you?

• Would you like more or fewer suggestions while writing?
  
• How do you feel about tools that learn your style over time?

Probes:

• “What’s one small change that would make a big difference for you?”
  
• “Is there anything you wish your tools understood better about your writing style?”

Section 5: Wrap-Up & Future Outlook (5 minutes)
Transition phrase: "Just a couple final questions to wrap up our conversation."

• What do you think writing tools will look like in the next few years?
  
• Would you be open to using AI more in your writing process?
  
• What concerns—if any—do you have about AI and ownership of your work?
  
• Is there anything else you wish we had asked you today?

Cultural Sensitivity Notes

• For Indian participants: Be aware of idiomatic expressions that may not translate; clarify "AI assistant" using local context (e.g., Grammarly, QuillBot).
  
• For all regions: Avoid assumptions about tech proficiency; allow room for varied literacy levels and access patterns.
• Respect privacy norms when discussing content ownership—avoid asking about confidential client work directly.