FEATURE
WRITING
THE FEATURE ARTICLE:
Unlike news stories,
there’s more leeway for creativity in writing feature stories. However, it doesn’t mean that facts and grammar can be sacrificed in the process.
Feature articles appeal to the emotions. They paint stories in the reader’s minds with facts for credibility, but they do so with a
different structure, varied
orders of presentation, and with the inclusion of opinion and viewpoint.
They may supplement news, entertain, explain, amuse, invoke sympathy or inform. Often an article does several of these.
KINDS OF FEATURE ARTICLES
· How to deals with Do-It-Yourself techniques and practical problems. It explains and its strength depends largely on
humor.
· Inspirational is associated with Triumph over Tragedy, stories that deal with emotions that
uplifts and strengthens one‟s faith in human nature.
· Personal Experience the popular first person narrative adds appeal and effect if the narrator knows his/her way around tragedy, drama or humor.
· Humorous
nothing appeals better to most readers than sharp,
intelligent, subtly humorous, well, humor.
· Travel
such articles may end up as travel brochures if
you’re not careful. Be creative, be very creative.
· Think Pieces giving people something to ponder upon
can be seen in two ways. On the one hand, saying people don‟t make
medicine bottle caps like they used to can be seen as witty and fresh, or just silly.
· Biographical these used to be only about important dead people.
However, writing about the living is great, too, right?
· Interview perhaps one of the easiest to write, it leafs through an interviewee’s main points.
WRITING
THE TITLE
The title’s main purpose is to grab the reader’s attention.
It should charm, amuse,
intrigue, and get the reader to start reading the article.
THE INTRODUCTION
The introduction is a sampler; it should hold the reader‟s attention, promise the reader more, establish the writer‟s angle and keep the reader reading the feature.
Anecdotes help
Quotes enliven leads
Analogies bring things closer
Use irony
Celebrity pegs can improve leads
Humor
is welcome
Vivid description enhance
KEEPING
IT FLOWING: THE BODY
So you get them reading because your title was captivating. You even kept them awake with your witty introduction. Now they can’t stop- and you have to deliver on
your promise. The body relies much on unity, coherence and proper emphasis. Got
that?
Ask what they would
Know your synonyms
Watch your tenses
Quote when necessary
Interpret carefully
Utilize the introduction tools
PARTING WITH YOUR BELOVED ARTICLE: THE
ENDING
It’s usually difficult to tie up a good piece, and endings can be very unclear. Just as
the
best way to introduce may be to scrap the first two paragraphs, good endings sometimes require that you omit the last two. Whatever the case, the writer has to
leave a feeling of satisfaction, fulfillment, or completion.
Sum it up
Try your wits
Make them think about your message
Listen for ironies
Look to the future 