Feature Writing
Because all business is no fun!
FEATURE WRITING VS. HARD OR STRAIGHT NEWS
The primary differences between featuring writing and hard news
The purpose of the stories as determined by the writer
Hard news - intended to inform
Featuring writing - intended to evoke emotion
The reaction to the stories as determined by the reader
Hard news - immediately know the outcome; reader is informed
Feature writing - written in the narrative; reader is entertained
FEATURE WRITING
Reporting is still crucial
Reporting is THE FOUNDATION of all great features
Reporting provides the tools that a journalist needs to build a feature
story
REPORTING = Interviewing, research, observation
THE RULE FOR FEATURE WRITING:
40% OF THEIR TIME
DOING RESEARCH
TO FIND THE
STORY IDEA
40% OF THEIR TIME
DOING
INTERVIEWS AND
REPORTING
20% OF
THEIR
TIME
WRITING
SO, WHAT DO I DO DIFFERENTLY:
Details are fundamental
They help capture a reader’s attention
They draw the reader into the story
THEY ALLOW WRITERS TO SHOW NOT TELL
HOW DO I GET THE DETAILS?
Interview in person so you can observe the person in their own
environment with their own things
Gather more details than necessary
Record EVERYTHING
Shoot photos
Ask a lot of questions
Take a lot of notes
ALL OF THIS WILL HELP YOU DEVELOP THE THEME
Once you’ve completed research and reporting, figure out what it
all means by asking:
WHAT IS THE STORY REALLY ABOUT???
This is the most critical but often overlooked step
Develop your focus statement and write toward that focus
statement
Feature Writing
Because all business is no fun!