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Feature Writing Scoresheet and Some Tips

The document provides tips for writing a feature article, including choosing an interesting angle, conducting thorough research, humanizing the story, creating a strong lead, structuring the story, using descriptive language, incorporating quotes and anecdotes, and engaging the reader emotionally.

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Nerlan Catipunan
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15 views

Feature Writing Scoresheet and Some Tips

The document provides tips for writing a feature article, including choosing an interesting angle, conducting thorough research, humanizing the story, creating a strong lead, structuring the story, using descriptive language, incorporating quotes and anecdotes, and engaging the reader emotionally.

Uploaded by

Nerlan Catipunan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Write a Feature Article: A Step-by-Step Guide

 Choose an Interesting Angle:


 Conduct Thorough Research:
 Humanize Your Story:
 Create a Strong Lead:
 Structure Your Story:
 Use Descriptive Language: Do you want free career counseling?
 Incorporate Quotes and Anecdotes:
 Engage Emotionally:

5 Tips on Writing a Feature Journalism Article

1. Find a compelling story and choose your style.

A feature can focus on an interesting person, like an author, singer or


entrepreneur, a group of people, a topic, an issue, or a certain location. The
possibilities are endless. It can be a profile, a human-interest story, seasonal,
a lifestyle piece (which are very popular and fun to write—think home décor,
fashion, leisure), a hard-hitting news feature, an interview, a Q&A, a trend
story, something instructional, food related, business, or travel.

Each of these styles has a different approach, some are light and entertaining
while others dive deep into serious social issues. A feature’s length can range
from 1,000 to 4,000 words, depending on the publication and its readership.
Regional newspaper and magazine features tend to be on the shorter side,
whereas nationals and online publications can accommodate longer pieces.

2. Do your research and be observant.

A feature is an in-depth look at a person, place, or event, so it requires a lot of


background information. This could be researching the larger topic involved,
for instance the history of a community you’re covering, or if your story
focuses on a person’s great achievement, you can ask about their childhood,
where they grew up, and so on. Digging behind-the-scenes can uncover some
amazing details that will make your story glow. It will also help you formulate
the right questions to ask during interviews.

Remember to follow-up on little tidbits that could possibly lead to elements


that broaden the scope of the story, adding to the intrigue and interest.
3. Conduct in-person interviews.

If possible, organize an in-person interview so you can get to know the


person, and ideally conduct the interview at their home or workplace. Being in
a person’s environment you get a better feel for who they are, and you can
use descriptions of the setting in your piece. Maybe there’s some unusual
décor or a painting you can even ask about it during the conversation—who
knows, there may be a side-story surrounding that piece.

Be observant, ask questions, and then ask follow-up questions.

If you’re writing about someone with a particular profession or skill, it’s helpful
to observe them at work, so you’re able to describe what they do firsthand.
For example, say you’re interviewing a therapeutic horse-riding instructor,
wouldn’t it benefit your piece to watch them in action with the horses and the
individuals served? And questions may pop up that you wouldn’t have thought
of otherwise, such as: Why is there a side walker and a horse handler?

4. Have a beginning, middle, and superb ending.

Feature ledes, often called delayed, narrative, or anecdotal ledes, must be


strong and emotive, to draw readers into the story. It can be as straightforward
or as creative as you like. Whereas news ledes focus on the facts, the 5 Ws
and H, the opening paragraph of a feature lede sets up the scene or describes
a person or location in vivid detail.

With a feature you get to take your time and ease into the story, and it can be
several paragraphs long if you’re writing a piece 2,000 words or more (you get
to the point quicker in a shorter piece of course). Following the lede is the nut
graph, and it’s here you get to tell the reader what it’s all about—in a nutshell.
It’s a bridge between the lede and body and tells us why the story was written
and why we need to care.

The middle part or body of the feature must have all the usual building blocks
of a story, the setting, scenes, action, conflict or challenge, and character
building. We must get to know the characters and what they’ve endured, so
we care enough to continue and want to see how it all plays out.

Feature stories also need some type of conclusion, so the reader feels they’ve
been following a complete story. Obviously, some tales have no actual or
definite ending, but your piece must come to a satisfying conclusion, tying
everything together. Above all, it must be an ending readers will remember,
and hopefully ponder for days thereafter.

Often when interviewing a source, they’ll casually toss out the perfect end-
quote or opening line for your piece, and you’ll know it the moment you hear it,
scribbling it down frantically with big exclamation points and a grin on your
face. I would often have a feature opening formulated in my head on the drive
home from an interview. I’d rush to my Mac and quickly tap it out before I
forgot.

5. Use descriptive language and have fun with it.

Pull out your notes and try to recall all the details of each scene you
encountered, including the atmosphere and feelings you experienced. What
was the energy like? Joyful like a Christmas parade? Peaceful? Hostile even?

Engage the senses with vivid descriptions of sights, sounds, colors, smells,
textures, and size. Be specific—how tall is that huge metal pink flamingo?
What shade of red was the floor length gown—poppy red, crimson? What
direction is the picture window facing? Was the chair a vintage Eames rocker
or a contemporary reproduction?

Through writing in an active voice and engaging the reader using vivid
descriptions, adding the smallest details and your own observations, you’re
not only sure to elevate your craft but you might have fun in the process.

The best way to learn and improve of course is to read (and study) the work of
successful and talented writers. Here are some notable features for you to
peruse:

Your feature, whatever its length, will have a basic structure of:
 Introduction. Set the scene. Bring it to life. ...
 Body text. Having got your readers hooked at the start, keep them reading. ...
 Conclusion. Create a satisfactory ending so that the reader understands that the story
has reached a conclusion.

5 Tips for Writing a Captivating Feature


Article

1. Do your research. Feature stories need more than


straight facts and sensory details—they need
evidence. Quotes, anecdotes, and interviews are
all useful when gathering information for your own
feature story. Hearing the viewpoints or
recollections of witnesses, family members, or
anyone else who could fill in any gaps or missing
pieces to your story can help it feel more three-
dimensional, allowing you to craft a more vivid and
interesting story.

2. Have a compelling headline. Feature stories rely on a


writer’s ability to maintain a reader’s attention
throughout an entire piece, but one of the harder
parts is getting them interested enough to read the
story in the first place. Your headline is the first
thing readers are going to see, so it needs to pack a
punch or set up a question readers will want your
story to answer.

3. Open with intrigue. If you’ve drawn your readers in


with the headline, the opening paragraph is where
you hook them for the rest of the story. The first
paragraph should introduce tension, where you set
up the question or speculation as to why this
particular news event is worth paying attention to—
your first few lines give the reader a reason to keep
reading.

4. Connect the dots. The feature news style of writing


is similarly structured to how you would write short
story fiction, but don’t be afraid to make the feature
story format your own. As long as information
blends seamlessly with your narrative and creates a
sequence of scenes connected by an emotional arc,
you’re likely writing a compelling feature article.
Even when crafting a personality profile, your
feature story should include why this person
deserves to be talked about and why the reader
should care about them. Each element of your story
should have a purpose—to set the stage for your
readers and convey the main points in a compelling
and enjoyable way.

5. Make sure it pays off. If you’re going to spend time


crafting a tense setup for readers and putting in the
hard work of gathering facts and info from reputable
sources, the reader should feel like there is a point
to it all. The main body of your feature article should
answer questions, provide specific information, and
include the payoffs the reader has been gearing up
for. Even if the situation in real life has no ending,
there must be a conclusion to your piece that feels
satisfying to your audience, like they’ve been told a
complete story.

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