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Asking questions


Questions can be helpful or problematic, depending on how you use them. Before we explore how questions can be useful, let’s consider the issues they sometimes create.

As an inter-actor, you need to make stuff up on the fly. This isn’t always easy. Asking a question puts the responsibility on someone else. If you use questions to avoid coming up with ideas yourself, that’s a problem, especially when playing with spects. Spects need the assurance that you can make things up, even when they can’t.

Asking questions can be a problem when spects first start to play. They may freeze or deflect, for fear of giving the wrong answer.

“Who do I see about getting a refund?” “I don’t know.”

Sometimes they change the premise with their answers.

“Are you my lawyer?” “No.”

If you ask who they are, spects usually respond with their real-life names, which strips them of the cloak of fiction.

You need the ability to introduce information through statements. (For helpful tips, see How to turn questions into statements.) When you make statements, it establishes a clear context in which spects can play. As their understanding of the story world grows, questions cease to be an issue.

Now, how about the usefulness of questions? Questions can be used to build spects’ confidence, get them to dig deeper, and help them shape the story. You can also use questions to deliver exposition, read perspectives, lock in commitments, and set the tone.

Easy questions

When spects begin to play, they sometimes have trouble inventing answers. Here are questions that are easy for them to respond to.

Yes/no question – This is an easy question to answer because it doesn’t require invention. Justify spects’ responses and they’ll feel like they gave a good answer. Note that spects often answer “no” as a way to stay safe.

“Do you want to make dinner?” “No.” “Me neither. Let’s order out.”

Multiple-choice question – Another easy question for spects to answer is multiple-choice. All they have to do is pick one of the answers embedded in the question. Rewarding their choice with a stroke builds spects’ confidence about generating ideas.

“What should we do—lie, tell the truth, or hope nobody finds out?” “Let’s hope no one finds out.” “Right. No point in borrowing trouble.”

Closed-ended question – Closed-ended questions elicit brief answers. These allow spects to contribute simple story details.

“What kind of pet should we get?” “A puppy.” “You read my mind.”

Follow-up questions

When you want spects to generate more information beyond their first response, here are some useful questions.

Echo question – You can invite spects to expand on their initial response by repeating a key word or phrase from their answer.

“Where are you opening your cupcake shop?” “On the north side of town.” “The north side?” “It’s a better neighborhood.”

Why question – Another way to draw more out of spects is to ask “Why?” The answer often illuminates spects’ values which is useful information.

“What color are you going to paint the baby’s room?” “Yellow.” “Why?” “I want a color that doesn’t play into gender stereotypes.”

Narrative questions

These are questions that help guide and grow the story.

Leading question – You can embed an assumption within a question that leads to a future plot point. Be forewarned that spects tend to block questions that lead to places they don’t want to go.

“When are you going to introduce me to your parents?” “You really want to meet them?” “I do.”

Topic question – Topic questions allow spects to generate backstory. Be sure that the answer can come from general knowledge.

“What was it like to ride your motorcycle across the country?” “It was cool.” “Tell me about it.” The spect describes her cross-country adventures.

Priming question – These questions invite spects to generate details and directions that guide the story. Spects’ answers also reflect their values and priorities.

“What’s your next article about?” “It’s an exposé on corruption in the union.”

Insight questions

These questions help you get a read on what matters to spects so you can shape the story accordingly.

Hypothetical question – To understand spects’ values, a hypothetical question can be a useful device.

“If you weren’t trapped in this job, what would you be doing?” “I don’t know. Maybe traveling around the world.”

Perspective question – Perspective questions provide insights into spects’ priorities and points of view.

“What do you think about our new boss?” “He’s kind of arrogant, but he seems to know his stuff.”

Philosophical question – These are like perspective questions, but they drill deeper to core beliefs.

“Do you think that everything happens for a reason?” “I do.” “So what’s the reason for this mess we’re in?”

Commitment questions

Some questions are useful for locking in commitments that spects make. This makes it harder for them to wriggle out when things get challenging.

Confirmation question – This question re-establishes a commitment that has been stated by the spect.

“I heard that you’re headed to Columbia?” The spect confirms what she has already said. “Absolutely.”

Set the hook – This question commits spects even further with a mild pushback.

“I hear Columbia is dangerous. Are you sure you want to go?” Having just confirmed her commitment, the spect replies, “I’ll be fine.”

Exposition questions

Questions can also be used to introduce expositional information.

Reveal question – A reveal question is best delivered by asking if the spect is aware of something. This allows the reveal to happen, regardless of the spect’s answer.

“Did you hear that your ex is back in town?” “What?!” “Yep, Cole is back in all his macho glory.”

Leading yes/no question – Spects’ tend to answer yes/no questions with a “no”. You can use this tendency to justify introducing expositional information about characters.

“Do you know Erika Starr?” “No.” “You know, she’s that pop singer who’s running for governor.”

Recap question – Spects love to tell about scenes they’ve played earlier in the story. A recap question helps you get their perspective on previous events.

“What happened when you finally met your birth mother?”

Tone questions

Some questions don’t even need answers because they’re all about creating a feeling.

Question roll-off – A series of rapid-fire questions can be used to make spects feel overwhelmed.

“Why are you watching the game? Have you been drinking? Where are the kids?”

Accusation question – This question charges the spect with something that you assume to be true.

“Did you eat the last piece of cake? Well? Did you?”

Rhetorical question – A rhetorical question requires no answer and delivers a strong emotional point of view.

“What kind of a monster are you?”

Rhetorical questions can also be directed at yourself.

“Am I afraid that the truth will come out? Of course I am.”

Tips when asking questions

Ask answerable questions – Avoid questions that require expertise. Instead, rely on spects’ general knowledge.

Savanah (spect) is checking the engine of Denise’s car. Denise inquires, “What do you think the problem might be?” This is an answerable question, even for someone who knows very little about cars.

Clarify the context – If the spect has difficulty answering a question, provide additional context.

Savanah peers at the engine, then looks blankly back to her friend. Denise says, “There’s some kind of loud squeaking noise from that belt thingy.” Savanah nods wisely, “Yeah, you’re going to have to replace the belt.”

Use silence as leverage – If the spect doesn’t respond to a question right away, use silence as leverage to elicit an answer. Wait with anticipation until the silence feels uncomfortable, then wait a few seconds more. The discomfort will usually cause the spect to respond.

Denise echoes, “Replace the belt? How much is that going to cost?” Savanah’s eyes go wide. She has no idea. Denise holds the silence and waits with her eyebrows raised. When Savanah can’t take the silence anymore, she replies, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll cover it for you.”

Avoid interrogation – Don’t let conversation become interrogation. After asking a couple of questions, make the next thing you say a statement.

Denise gives her friend a hug. “You’re the best. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Savanah grins. “You’d probably break down on the highway and call me to come get you.”


If it’s hard to deliver information as statements, questions are problematic. But when they invite contributions, clarify details, lock in commitment, deliver exposition, or set tone, questions can be very useful indeed.

Updated: July 23, 2024

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