Should prayer be a request or an interaction.?

Prayer can be both.

However, I find that simply sharing my problems and asking God to "fix 'em" is not the right approach.

The most effective prayer is when my will moves toward aligning with God's, not trying to get God to be a cosmic "candy dispenser".

Both actually. We are instructed in prayer to both petition and praise. Most selfish people forget the praise part. So don't expect much if anything from God if that is the case.

Phl 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Phl 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Prayer is respectful communication with God. It is also an interaction. It is not just a request or a petition, because if you love your parent, you will not only talk to him or her when you want something.

Prayer can be a petition, or a supplication, or an expression of thanks or praise. If you have a friend, your communication with them can be sharing an experience together, or each talking about what the other is thinking or feeling. One can do all of these things with God who you love and whose love you trust.

Christians will pray to God through Jesus Christ - no one comes to the Father except through him John 14:6

Here is how to pray and be heard by God:

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102008390#p25

The Prayer, as request can have the result as interaction in our life...

"Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; 8 for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 9 Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? 11 Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him!" (Matthew 7:7-11. Bible).

Just as Mariah Carey aka The Whisle Register Queen said: Spread your wings and prepare to fly. (Butterly, 1997)

Prayer is a experience us christians must get into.

"Should prayer be a request or an interaction.?"

What it is, is a colossal waste of time.

Prayer is you communicating with God.

Its a conversation with God, and we should listen more than talking

It can be a both/and, not an either/or.

both