318 Entertainment Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)

Ask people these 318 entertainment questions for storytelling.

I have interviewed hundreds of people about their entertainment, culture of their times, sports, travel, fun, leisure, hobbies and more. Based on the answers I received in those interviews, I have put together a list of writing prompts and questions about employment to ask people when writing narratives. The entertainment and culture series includes three categories that explore youth, adult and senior adult years. Use these prompts and questions to help you

• Identify events and memories you can write about
• Organize and write your narrative and story
• Develop questions to ask other people about their life’s
• Organize, research and write stories about others
• Know what type of information to include in narratives and stories
• Identify memorabilia, artifacts, photos, documents to include in stories
• Develop ideas for journaling, story starters, poetry, memoirs, and more

Writing Prompts and Questions to Ask People 

The ” Entertainment and Culture” writing prompts and questions to ask people are part of a 28 article, 108 category series entitled “7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives.”  The prompts and questions are provided to help you look at entertainment and culture from as many angles as possible when writing narratives about yourself, your family, and others. The categories and types of topics covered include:

• Youth Entertainment and Culture (Age 0-18). Find 106 prompts and questions. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover culture, activities, hobbies, travel, sports, games, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

• Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 18-65). Find 106 prompts and questions. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover culture, activities, hobbies, travel, sports, games, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

• Senior Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 65+). Find 106 prompts and questions. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover culture, activities, hobbies, travel, sports, games, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Approach each topic from the point of view of the person/lives you are writing about. You don’t have to ask every question. Review the questions and determine which ones are most appropriate to ask. I would encourage you to modify and add questions as you desire.

I have prepared a couple of other resources that will provide value in interviewing for and writing individual, personal, and family narratives: “Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews” and “Complete Guide to Writing A Personal Narrative.”

Youth Entertainment Questions (Age 0-18)

Writing Prompts and Questions about Entertainment

“Youth Entertainment and Culture (Age 0-18)” is part of the series for writing prompts and questions about Entertainment and Culture. Use these questions to ask, gather, and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. If you are writing about a deceased person, think of the questions as if you were the person answering the questions.

1. When you were growing up, what type of entertainment was popular?
   • Digital? Video Games? TV?
   • Road Trips? Sports? Concerts?
   • Radio? Theater? Dancing?
   • Family sing-along? Books? Board games?
   • Others?
2. What did you like to do for fun in your spare time by yourself?
3. What did you like to do with others?
4. Who were your favorite entertainers/stars that you can remember?
   • Movie? Radio? Television?
   • Comedians? Singers? Actors?
   • Did you have a favorite?
5. What did you like to read?
   • Did you have favorite books? Series?
6. What were your favorite TV shows?
7. Did you have a favorite radio show?
8. What were your favorite board games?
9. What was your favorite game outside?
10. What was your favorite game inside?
11. What fashions popular?
    • What was your favorite fashion?
    • What did you like to wear?
12. What were everyday hairstyles?
    • What hairstyle did you wear?
13. Were there any famous plays or theaters?
    • Did you see any?
    • Were you ever in a play? If yes, which one? What was your experience like?
14. What type of music was played in your home?
    • Big Band? Blues? Classical?
    • Country? Folk music? Rock?
    • Others?

15. Who were your favorite groups or singers?
16. Did you have a favorite movie?
17. Was there any famous person that you followed or looked up to?
18. What sports did you like?
19. Did you play any sports?
    • Which ones?
    • What position did you play?
    • How many years did you play?
    • Were there any famous athletes that you like to follow? Why?
    • Did you play on traveling teams?
    • Did you play any sports in school?
    • What about famous athletes?
    • Did you attend any summer camps for training?
    • Did you compete in any races or tournaments?
    • Did you ever belong to a recreational sports team?
    • Describe your experiences on the team.
20. Were there any famous phrases that you used?
    • What were they?
    • What did they mean?
    • Where did they come from?
21. Did you play any instruments?
    • Which ones?
    • Did you play in a school band?
    • Did you take lessons?
22. Was there a popular style of art of your time?
    • Art Deco? Folk art?
    • Which artists did you like?
    • Were any artists “ahead of their time”?

23. Were religious works the mainstay of most people’s reading?
24. What magazines did you read?
    • What did you like about the magazine?
    • What newspaper did you read
    • Were you ever in the newspaper?
    • What was the story about?
    • Do you have copies of the news article?
25. What were your favorite hobbies?
    • Video games? Music? Drawing? Painting?
    • Writing? Sports? Dancing?
    • Watch TV? Watching movies? Cooking?
    • Writing? Playing music? Running?
    • Hiking? Boating? Coloring?
    • Making Art? Making models? Photography?
    • Singing? Knitting? Collecting (e.g., coins, sports cards, rocks)?
    • Others
26. Talk about each hobby?
    • How did you start?
    • What did you like about the hobby?
    • Share some of your favorite memories?
27. What did your family like to do for fun entertainment?
    • What did you like to do with your Mom? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with our Dad? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with your siblings? Favorite memories?
    • What did you do with your grandparents? Favorite memories?
28. Did you belong to a group?
    • For example, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Church Organizations?
    • Talk about your experiences?
    • Did you earn any badges or awards?
    • Did you go to any summer camps?
    • Did you have any leadership positions?
    • What are your favorite memories?
29. Did you travel as a family?
    • What was your favorite place?
    • What are your favorite memories?
30. What else did you enjoy doing in your spare time?

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Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 18-65)

Writing Prompts and Questions about Entertainment

“Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 18-65)” is part of the series for writing prompts and questions about Entertainment and Culture. Use these questions to ask, gather, and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. If you are writing about a deceased person, think of the questions as if you were the person answering the questions.

1. As an adult, what type of entertainment was popular?
   • Digital? Video Games? TV?
   • Road Trips? Sports? Concerts?
   • Radio? Theater? Dancing?
   • Family sing-along? Books? Board games?
   • Others?
2. What did you like to do for fun in your spare time by yourself?
3. What did you like to do with others?
4. Who were your favorite entertainers/stars that you can remember?
   • Movie? Radio? Television?
   • Comedians? Singers? Actors?
   • Did you have a favorite?
5. What did you like to read?
   • Did you have favorite books? Series?
6. What were your favorite TV shows?
7. Did you have your favorite radio shows?
8. What were your favorite board games?
9. What was your favorite game outside?
10. What was your favorite game inside?
11. What fashions popular?
    • What was your favorite fashion?
    • What did you like to wear?
12. What were everyday hairstyles?
    • What hairstyle did you wear?
13. Were there any famous plays or theaters?
    • Did you see any?
    • Were you ever in a play? If yes, which one? What was your experience like?
14. What type of music was played in your home?
    • Big Band? Blues? Classical?
    • Country? Folk music? Rock?
    • Others?
15. Who were your favorite groups or singers?
16. Did you have a favorite movie?
17. Was there any famous person that you followed or looked up to?

17. What sports did you like?
18. Did you play any sports?
    • Which ones?
    • What position did you play?
    • How many years did you play?
    • Were there any famous athletes that you like to follow? Why?
    • Did you compete in any races or tournaments?
    • Did you ever belong to a recreational sports team?
    • Describe your experiences on the team.
19. Were there any popular phrases that you used?
    • What were they?
    • What did they mean?
    • Where did they come from?
20. Did you play any instruments?
    • Which ones?
    • Did you take lessons?
21. Was there a popular style of art of your time?
    • Art Deco? Folk art?
    • Which artists did you like?
    • Were any artists “ahead of their time”?
22. Were religious works the mainstay of most people’s reading?
23. What magazines did you read?
    b. What did you like about the magazine?
24. What newspaper did you read
    • Were you ever in the newspaper?
    • What was the story about?
    • Do you have copies of the news article?
25. Did you like to exercise?
    • For example, running, dancing, swimming, cross-fit, aerobics, yoga, cycling, hiking, walking?
    • What did you like about the activity?
    • Did you compete in any races or tournaments?
    • Describe your experiences.
26. Did you have any unique talents?
    • Describe our talents?
    • Did you have any training to develop your talent?
    • What are your favorite memories?

28. What were your favorite hobbies?
    • Video games? Music? Drawing? Painting?
    • Writing? Sports? Dancing? Gardening?
    • Watch TV? Watching movies? Cooking?
    • Writing? Playing music? Running?
    • Hiking? Boating? Coloring?
    • Making Art? Making models? Photography?
    • Singing? Knitting? Collecting (e.g., coins, sports cards, rocks)?
    • Others?
29. Talk about each hobby?
    • How did you get started?
    • What did you like about the hobby?
    • Share some of your favorite memories?
30. What did your family like to do for fun entertainment?
    • What did you like to do with your spouse, partner, significant other? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with your parents? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with your siblings? Favorite memories?
    • What did you do with your children? Favorite memories?
    • What did you do with your grandparents? Favorite memories?
31. Did you belong to a professional group?
    • Talk about your experiences?
    • Did you earn any badges or awards?
    • Did you have any leadership positions?
    • What are your favorite memories?
32. Did you belong to a club?
    • Describe the club and why you decided to become a member of it.
    • In what club activities did you participate?
    • What are your favorite memories?
33. Did you travel as a family or by yourself?
    • What were your favorite places to visit?
    • What are your favorite memories?
34. Did you do anything for entertainment with coworkers? Share your favorite memories.
35. Did you do any charity or volunteer work?
    • Describe what you did and how it made you feel.
    • Favorite memories?
36. What else did you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Click Here to return to the writing prompts and questions about entertainment and culture categories.

Senior Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 65+)

Writing Prompts and Questions about Entertainment

” Senior Adult Entertainment and Culture (Age 65+)” is part of the series for writing prompts and questions about Entertainment and Culture. Use these questions to ask, gather, and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. If you are writing about a deceased person, think of the questions as if you were the person answering the questions.

1. As an adult, what type of entertainment was popular?
   • Digital? Video Games? TV?
   • Road Trips? Sports? Concerts?
   • Radio? Theater? Dancing?
   • Family sing-along? Books? Board games?
   • Others?
2. What did you like to do for fun in your spare time by yourself?
3. What did you like to do with others?
4. Who were your favorite entertainers/stars that you can remember?
   • Movie? Radio? Television?
   • Comedians? Singers? Actors?
   • Did you have a favorite?
5. What did you like to read?
   • Did you have favorite books? Series?
6. What were your favorite TV shows?
7. Did you have your favorite radio shows?
8. What were your favorite board games?
9. What was your favorite game outside?
10. What was your favorite game inside?
11. What fashions were popular?
    • What was your favorite fashion?
    • What did you like to wear?
12. What were everyday hairstyles?
    • What hairstyle did you wear?
13. Were there any famous plays or theaters?
    • Did you see any?
    • Were you ever in a play? If yes, which one? What was your experience like?
14. What type of music was played in your home?
    • Big Band? Blues? Classical?
    • Country? Folk music? Rock?
    • Others?
15. Who were your favorite groups or singers?
16. Did you have a favorite movie?

17. Was there any famous person that you followed or looked up to?
18. What sports did you like?
19. Did you play any sports?
    • Which ones?
    • What position did you play?
    • How many years did you play?
    • Were there any famous athletes that you like to follow? Why?
    • Did you compete in any races or tournaments?
    • Did you ever belong to a recreational sports team?
    • Describe your experiences on the team.
20. Were there any popular phrases that you used?
    • What were they?
    • What did they mean?
    • Where did they come from?
21. Did you play any instruments?
    • Which ones?
    • Did you take lessons?
22. Was there a popular style of art of your time?
    • Art Deco? Folk art?
    • Which artists did you like?
    • Were any artists “ahead of their time”?
23. Were religious works the mainstay of most people’s reading?
24. What magazines did you read?
    c. What did you like about the magazine?
25. What newspaper did you read
    • Were you ever in the newspaper?
    • What was the story about?
    • Do you have copies of the news article?
26. Did you like to exercise?
    • For example, running, dancing, swimming, cross-fit, aerobics, yoga, cycling, hiking, walking?
    • What did you like about the activity?
    • Did you compete in any races or tournaments?
    • Describe your experiences.
27. Did you have any unique talents?
    • Describe our talents?
    • Did you have any training to develop your talent?
    • What are your favorite memories?

28. What were your favorite hobbies?
    • Video games? Music? Drawing? Painting?
    • Writing? Sports? Dancing? Gardening?
    • Watch TV? Watching movies? Cooking?
    • Writing? Playing music? Running?
    • Hiking? Boating? Coloring?
    • Making Art? Making models?
    • Singing? Knitting? Collecting (e.g., coins, sports cards, rocks)?
    • Others?
29. Talk about each hobby?
    • How did you get started?
    • What did you like about the hobby?
    • Share some of your favorite memories?
30. What did your family like to do for fun entertainment?
    • What did you like to do with your spouse, partner, significant other? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with your parents? Favorite memories?
    • What did you like to do with your siblings? Favorite memories?
    • What did you do with your children? Favorite memories?
    • What did you do with your grandparents? Favorite memories?
31. Did you belong to a professional group?
    • Talk about your experiences?
    • Did you earn any badges or awards?
    • Did you have any leadership positions?
    • What are your favorite memories?
32. Did you belong to a club?
    • Describe the club and why you decided to become a member of it.
    • In what club activities did you participate?
    • What are your favorite memories?
33. Did you travel as a family or by yourself?
    • What were your favorite places to visit?
    • What are your favorite memories?
34. Did you do anything for entertainment with coworkers? Share your favorite memories.
35. Did you do any charity or volunteer work?
    • Describe what you did and how it made you feel.
    • Favorite memories?
36. What else did you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Click Here to return to the writing prompts and questions about entertainment and culture categories.