Monday, January 13, 2014

Feature Story Notes

Types of Features

  • Personality - A profile of an unusual or outstanding person.
  • News Feature - An up-close angle on a recent news story.
  • Human Interest - Stories with a heartwarming twist, drama, or unique turn on human lives.
  • Occasional Pieces - Based on holidays or special events, yet taking an unfamiliar slant. 
  • Historical Feature - A story based on a current event or person that has a unique connection to the past. 
  • Informative Feature - A story based on information your readers need to know. (News you can use). 
  • First-hand Experience - A story based on the first hand account of a unique experience. 
  • Consumer Report - A story based on the investigation of a product or service. 
  • Background Feature - A story that gives readers an insider or a "behind the scenes" account of a person or event.
Characteristics of Feature Stories

  • Timelessness
  • Creative Style
  • Unlimited Subject Possibilities
Feature Writing Guidelines

  • Show, don't tell
  • Personalize and localize
  • Find the angle
  • Built on good quotes
  • Provide resolution
  • Use examples to illustrate
  • Look for details
  • What did it look like?
  • What did it smell like?
  • What did it taste like?
  • What did it feel like?
  • What did it sound like?

No comments:

Post a Comment