How to Write a Feature Story

A feature story is an essay written by a journalist or news reporter on varied subjects of human interest. It can be a profile of someone or about some event. It can also be about your pet, favorite food or dresses and so on. When writing a good feature story, it require certain basic and special skills to make it appealing and generally persuasive. Here’s how to write a feature story.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Preparation

1. Read or watch different kinds of features and stories. Reading and observing can help you understand the nuances of presenting your ideas clearly and concisely.

2. Study the language, ideas, presentation and the wrap-up patterns of various feature stories.

3. Think clearly. Be sure about the purpose of writing the feature story. It can be for dissemination of information, appreciation and instructional. Learn how to distinguish one from the other

4. Visualize the reaction of your reader. Reflect if you can draw the attention of the reader by your presentation.

5. Prepare a framework. A proper introduction, flow of words, relevant quotations and/or anecdotes can go a long way.

6. Identify the sources and collect all the relevant information. If you can, take surveys. You can request people to fill in questionnaires or take interviews, sift through them and retain whatever is necessary.

7. Discuss the feature story with friends and colleagues and get their feedback. They can provide valuable insights by looking objectively at your writing.

8. Introspect and accept reasonably good opinions or ideas.

9. The more features stories you create, the better you will become.

Developing the Feature Story

10. Come up with a catchy short headline. It should communicate the essence of your story and build the curiosity of targeted readers.

11. Follow a systematic path of presenting the feature story with an introduction, main body and the ending highlighting the purpose that you have already thought about. Weave a proper and continual thread to keep the reader glued to your writing.

12. Write an impressive introduction. It can be contain a thought-provoking question or an idea. Use an exclamation point or quotation marks wherever needed.

13. Give a human touch to the feature story as deemed fit to make it more interesting. The plot should build up tension and not be boring.

14. Insert facts or apparent facts depending on whether your feature story is based on real-life events or is fictitious.

15. Use striking illustrations and anecdotes relevant to the topic.

16. Conclude with a powerful message. Good wrap-up is a crucial aspect of any powerful feature story. Otherwise, it will fail to make the desired impact.

17. Evaluate it as neutral reader as it can help improve the overall presentation of the feature story. Get a second opinion from your friends or colleagues and encourage constructive criticism of your write-up.

Tips & Warnings

• Build the main body of the feature story comprehensively. Use the active voice as far as possible. It enlivens the plot or development of the story.
• Avoid verbosity. Do not use long sentences, as reading them becomes drudgery.
• Do not make sweeping statements or insensitive remarks on touchy issues such as religion, ethnicity, culture, etc.
• Remember not to use too many punctuation symbols, as it will make your writing appear amateur and frivolous.

[johnrapp]

on 5/26/2009 i will use this to write my own feature story for my own newspaper and make a million dollars. 5 stars.

[RobertRichford]

on 3/10/2009 Great information for people in this field. Thanks

[nessalh19]

on 1/15/2009 This is a great article! You've made a lot of great points and suggestions for the rest of us :) Thanks for sharing!

[sharishops]

on 1/12/2009 Lots of good info here but what I really want to know is, how did you get that article to divide (Developing the Feature Story) and turn into two sections?

[scottmitzi]

on 1/5/2009 Good points. Always brush up on your grammar or no one will understand your story. Thanks God Bless