Feature Writing

101
 Non – fiction works
reflecting
On various experiences and
human interests.

Hence, it’s not the same

with novels
And short stories.
 topics
• profiles/characters sketches
• experiences/inspiring narratives
• travelouges
• social concerns/phenomena
• how to’s
Describing
5 Techniques
Technique 1
specific information

Using specific information gives

Concreteness to
Your writing.
 Specific info.
IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC
ACTIVITIES AND BEHAVIORS
NAMING AND DESCRIBING
CHARACTERS

DESCRIBING THE SETTING

LISTING OTHER ATTRIBUTE

Specific information
activities and behavior
Describe the actions that the
characters are doing as
concrete As
specific as
Possible.
 Poor
THE MAN LEFT
THE BAG
IN THE
STREET.
 Good
THE MAN TURNED TO
THE LEFT TOWARD
ELM STREET . THERE, HE
DROPPED
THE PACKAGE THAT
CONCEALS THE MYSTERIOUS
OBJECT THAT THE COPS
WERE CHASING AFTER.
Specific information
Naming and describing characters
DESCRIBE THE CHARACTERS BY
TELLING
ABOUT THEIR PHYSICAL
APPEARANCE AND
PERSONALITY.
 Poor
JUSTIN IS
VERY
LAZY IN
SCHOOL.
 Good
ONLY A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
TEENAGER LIKE JUSTIN
CAN AFFORD TO CRAM HIS WORK
LIKE THAT. TALL,
HANDSOME AND ATHLETIC,
HE LOVES IT MORE TO BE IN
THE FIELD THAN IN THE
CLASSROOM.
Specific information
Identifying & describing settings

DESCRIBE THE SETTING

DOWN TO ITS
SPECIFIC LOCATION, TIME,
AND EVEN WEATHER.
 Poor
NEW YORK CITY WAS
A SCARY PLACE TO
GO TO AFTER
THE
TERROR ATTACK.
 Good
CONVERED WITH A HUGE
CLOUD OF DEBRIS, ASH AND
SMOKE, NEW YORK CITY
BECAME A GHOST TOWN
AFTER THE TWIN TOWERS FELL
LAST SEPTEMBER 11.
Specific information
Listing attributes
INCLUDE OTHER DETAILS AND
OBSERVATIONS THAT WILL
MAKE YOUR DESCRIPTION
MORE INTERESTING.
 Poor
THE BOY
WALKED ALONG
THE
BEACH.
 Good
WANTING ONLY TO BE WITH
THE HYMNS OF THE SEAGULLS,
AND THE MELODY OF THE
CRASHING
WAVES, THE BOY WENT
OUT OF THE NOISY HOTEL
AND TOOK A WALK ALONG
THE BEACH AS THE SUN COLORS
Technique 2
creating sensory images

GOOD FEATURE ARTICLES

APPEAL
TO THE READER’S FIVE
BASIC SENSES.
 These are the words that create a mental
picture of the topic/subject one is
describing in such a way that the words or
phrases used appeal to our 5 basic senses.

EYES
EARS
NOSE
MOUTH
SKIN
Sensory images
sense of sight
 The
Bluish haze
Of the
Sky.
Sensory images
sense of smell
 The
Invigorating
Aroma
Of
Coffee.
Sensory images
sense of hearing
 The
Cluttering
Of
Coins.
Sensory images
sense of taste
 The
Sweetness
Of
Cherry.
Sensory images
sense of touch
 The
Rough edges
Of a
Rock.
Technique 3
finding the best angle

GOOD FEATURE ARTICLES FOCUS

ON
THE MOST IMPORTANT AND
INTERESTING ELEMENTS
OF THE STORY.
 CONSIDERING LENGTH AND SPACE
REQUIREMENTS,
A FEATURE WRITER CANNOT AFFORD TO
HIGHLIGHT all elements in his or her story.
Hence, it is important
to focus on the element
that gives the greatest impact
to the readers.
STORY ANGLES
The character

Pay attention to the details

pertaining to the main
actor in the story
you are
developing
 STORY ANGLES
The setting

Emphasizing the
details related
to the place where
the event happened,
works well
if the setting is the
key element that
drives your story forward.
 STORY ANGLES
The phenomenon
There are times when talking
more about the event itself
and how it unfolded is
more significant than the
characters or
the rest of the
elements.
STORY ANGLES
The issue/conflict

Feature articles
are good vehicles
for a more in-
depth analysis of
social issues and
conflicts that
greatly affect
the readers.
Technique 4
incorporating quotes

GOOD FEATURE ARTICLES

make
Their sources
Talk.
 Quotes

An important element of a
good feature article is the
quality of statements the
writer gathered from his or
her source and the way he or
she highlighted it in the story.
 Interview questions
Effective feature writers master the
art of asking quality interview
questions. Your questions must not
only dwell superficially on the “hard
facts” but they must also probe the
motives, emotions and ideas of your
sources.
Technique 5
developing a story arc
There is no definite structure
prescribed in writing a great
feature article but there
are some story elements
that must be
present.
 The Hook

Whether it’s a revelation about a character

or a description of a setting, your opening
paragraph must tickle the imagination and
stir the emotion of your readers.
 The tension

Great feature articles flesh out the issue being

talked about in the story, the problem that needs to
be solved, the challenges a person had to conquer,
the tension or conflict that needs resolution.
 The reflection

Effective feature articles allow the writer to step in

the story from time to time to offer his or her insights
or analysis of the issue. It also helps the readers make
sense of the theme. Context is important.
 The pay-off

Ending a feature article on high note is a must. We

need to answer some questions we asked in the story,
provide salvation to the characters we introduced,
offer solutions to the problems we laid down, or make
our readers think more about our topic.
GREAT FEATURE ARTICLES DO NOT
SIMPLY FEED OUR MINDS. THEY
SHOULD TOUCH OUR HEARTS AND
WARM OUR SOULS.