We tried to work our way through their lives chronologically. So each meeting, we would cover a certain period. For example, one day we might have talked about the Calgary Olympics. Obviously we strayed back and forth in time on occasion, but in general we were both pretty good at focusing at one thing at a time. I just asked the same type of questions I do anytime I'm doing a story.
Curiosity is the best asset any writer can have.
Su-jan, to answer this question properly would take hours. I don't get writer's block, so I can't fathom not knowing what to write when it comes time to write. It's my job. My advice to young writers is to get to know your subject as thoroughly as possible, then organize your thoughts and set them down in words as concisely and entertainingly as possible. So when you want to know what questions I ask, the answer is I ask whatever questions will help me get to know my subject better, to know both information about their past and also what makes them tick.