Writing Feature Articles: Laying the Groundwork

"Too many students mistake reporting for a journalistic version of a police dragnet.  They pull in everything they can find and then try to figure out what the story is.  Such an approach results in stories riddled with holes and lacking any dominant focus." 

(http://journalistsresource.org/syllabi/syllabus-feature-writing#)

Before you set out to write an article, you have to lay the groundwork.  First, make sure you have the right angle.  Zero in on the story.  Bring the lens in tight.  Don't write about the playground.  Write about the two boys who are jockeying for a spot on the jungle gym.  Don't write about the battle. Write about the soldier who has returned from Afghanistan with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Don't write about the tornado.  Write about the pastor whose church building is as flat as a pancake.  

Second, do your homework.  Read up on what has already been written about the subject.  Find out what areas have not yet been touched upon.  Identify sources for the story.  Who are the authorities who can give you their expert opinion?  Who are the "street level" people who have lived the experience?

Third, establish a strong theme.  According to Larry Brooks in Story Engineering a powerful theme can get your story published (see (http://www.amazon.ca/Story-Engineering-Larry-Brooks/dp/1582979987).  The same is true in the newspaper and magazine world.  Make sure your article's theme is clear and concise.  "Writers who fill stories with exhaustive documentation but fail to establish a clear story line file copy that reads like a government report."  Your aim as a writer is to both inform and entertain your readers. 

William Blundell, in The Art and Craft of Feature Writing (http://www.amazon.ca/The-Art-Craft-Feature-Writing/dp/0452261589), recommends that you write a theme statement before you conduct your research and reporting.  "Entering the reporting process without one is like running through brambles instead of along a clearly marked path."  A theme statement allows you to write with purpose.

Here are some useful questions recommended at journalistsresource.org to help you lay the groundwork for your article:

1.  Is the story's scope too broad?

2.  Do I have time to report and write a story of the scale I'm proposing?

3.  Am I getting down to street level in my reporting?

4.  Can I establish an element of surprise or anticipation at the outset of the story that isn't answered until the end?

5.  Does something happen in the story?  Does something change?  According to Jon Franklin in Writing For Story:  Craft Secrets of Dramatic Non Fiction (http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Story-Dramatic-Nonfiction-Reference/dp/0452272955):  "A story consists of a sequence of actions that occur when a sympathetic character encounters a complicating situation that he confronts and solves."

6.  Does the story's contemporary context or past make it more interesting to tell?

http://www.wikihow.com/Develop-a-Theme-when-Writing

How to Write a Feature Newspaper Article

Feature articles are windows into the human experience, giving more detail and description than a hard news story, which typically relies on the "inverted pyramid" style of writing.  Features focus on an event or an individual, giving the reader a chance to more fully understand some interesting dimension of the world.  (http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Feature-Article)

The purpose of a feature article is to inform, entertain and persuade the reader.  Feature articles are composed of five different components.  They are:

Headline

Compose a catchy, to the point headline which attracts the reader's attention.  Remember, if the headline is boring, chances are the reader won't want to read any further.  For more information about catchy headlines, read http://alinefromlinda.blogspot.ca/2015/02/ten-tips-to-writing-irresistibly.html.

Byline

Insert the writer's name here.

Lede/Lead

This is the preview of the story.  It helps the reader decide whether or not to read the article.  Try to insert a hook here to draw the reader in.  The lede sets the writer's tone and establishes a relationship between the writer and the reader.

Story

This is where the writer includes relevant facts from his or her research.  Quotes from interviews and experts should be inserted here.  Anecdotes and stories are also valuable, helping to maintain the reader's interest.  Names, dates and places should be identified here.  Any supporting information should follow including photos, tables, diagrams and graphs.

Conclusion

The purpose of the conclusion is to leave a lasting impression.  Remind the reader of the main idea. Suggest a course of action.  Encourage a change of opinion.  Bring the article full circle by referring back to the introduction.  

Tips

Here are some suggested tips to follow when preparing, researching and writing your feature.

1.  use tight writing; features can be as short as 500 words, but some are as long as 1500 or 2000 

2.  show, don't tell

3.  use strong verbs and nouns; use adjectives sparingly

4.  use identifiable, reliable sources; if sources are weak, it's better not to use them

5.  write about a well defined topic

6.  avoid the passive voice; use the active voice whenever possible

7.  vary sentence length

8.  use an informal tone or the first person to make it more personal

9.  facts validate the writer's view

10.  exaggeration helps a humorous article

11.  use rhetorical questions to draw the reader in

12.  sprinkle the article with imagery to engage the reader's imagination

13.  include direct quotes to personalize the topic

14.  don't forget to proofread; consult The Elements of Style by Strunk & White at www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/strunk

For a feature article scaffold, visit http://stage6.pbworks.com/f/How+To+Write+A+Great+Feature+Article.pdf.

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