If your article didn't come with a subject pre-assigned (such as for a profile), then it's your responsibility to determine the most appropriate subject. Here's how to get headed in the right direction when determining what kind of subject to interview.
First, you'll need to line your assignment up with the kind of interviewee you want. Is this a light hearted piece? A business magazine? Figuring out the slant of your publication and article determines the direction you're going to go in finding the right subject.
Next, you'll need to determine how much of the article will be based on the interview. For example, if you're looking for a few juicy quotes, the field is wide open. But, if this article is almost exclusively about the interviewee, you'll be much more careful about who you choose.
This is also the place where you will carefully consider any comments from your editor on the piece. Much of the time, an accepted query will come with an email exchange talking about parameters and tone. Keep these in mind as you set out on your subject search.
