Write Feature Story

What argon afford Stories? suit stories argon human-interest crafticles that focus on particular people, places and concomitants. Feature stories be journalistic, researched, descriptive, colorful, thoughtful, reflective, thorough writing about original ideas. Feature stories espouse topics in depth, going further than mere hard-fought parole coverage by amplifying and explaining the most interesting and burning(prenominal) elements of a situation or occurrence. Feature stories be popular content elements of intelligence operationpapers, magazines, blogs, websites, newsletters, television broadcasts and early(a) plenitude media.While journalists reporting late-breaking hard news dont have enough preparation magazine and copy length to include much background and description, authors of shoot a lines have the space and epoch to evoke imagery in their stories and fill in expand of the circumstances and atmosphere. A feature study is not meant to report the latest breaking news, except rather an in-depth look at a subject. Feature articles set from the news feature that provides sidebar background to a current event hard news boloney, to a relatively timeless paper that has inborn human interest.Features generally be colossaler than hard-news articles because the feature penetrates deeper into its subject, expanding on the expatiate rather than trying to c at a timentrate on a few great key points. In hard news stories, often referred to as inverted pyramid style, the reporter makes the point, sets the tone, and frames the issue in the first paragraph or two. In a feature story, on the other hand, the author has the time and space to develop the theme, but sometimes postpones the of import point until the end. The all story does not have to be encapsulated in the lead. Typical typesThere ar many kinds of feature stories. Here are some popular types human beings Interest The best- pick outn kind of feature story is the human-in terest story that discusses issues by means of the experiences of another. Profiles A very common type of feature is the profile that reveals an individuals character and lifestyle. The profile exposes different facets of the subject so readers provide feel they know the person. How-To These articles help people learn by telling them how to do something. The writer learns about the topic through education, experience, research or interviews with experts.Historical Features These features commemorate important dates in history or turning points in our social, political and heathen development. They offer a useful juxtaposition of then and now. Historical features engineer the reader back to revisit an event and issues surrounding it. A alteration is the this date in history short feature, which reminds people of significant events on a particular date. Seasonal Themes Stories about holidays and the change of seasons address matters at specific times of a year. For instance, they cover life milestones, social, political and ethnical cycles, and business cycles.Behind the Scenes Inside views of unusual occupations, issues, and events give readers a feeling of knowing the inner circle or being a mouse in a corner. Readers like feeling privy to unusual details and s tumesce up kept secrets about procedures or activities they might not ordinarily be exposed to or allowed to participate in. Non-fiction stories Feature stories are journalistic reports. They are not opinion essays or editorials. They should not be confused with productive writing or works of fiction. The writers opinions and attitudes are not important to the story.The writer keeps herself or himself out of the story. Writing in the third person helps keep open the necessary distance. Telling stories Hard news stories report very by the way events that have just occurred. Feature stories, on the other hand, are quiet news because they are not as timely, not as swiftly reported. Feature write rs have the extra time to complete background research, interviews and contemplation for their stories. Here are some suggestions for polishing feature writing skills and develop an eye for feature story ideas.Feature stories give readers information in a pleasing, entertaining format that highlights an issue by describing the people, places, events and ideas that shape it. Feature stories are really more like nonfiction short stories than hard news stories. While there should a news peg for the existence of a story at a particular time, the immediacy of the event is alternative in a feature story. In fact, sometimes there is no immediate event. The power of a feature story lies in its superpower to amplify the focus on an issue through first-rate story telling, irony, humor, human appeal, atmosphere and colorful details.Features have a clear beginning, warmness and end and are longer than hard-news stories. Gathering data Journalists use trio tools to gather information for s tories observation, interview and background research. After completing these, the writer brings the story to life through colorful description, meaningful anecdotes and significant quotes. These elements are obtained when interviewing and observing by jotting down everything encountered smells, noises, colors, textures, emotions, details seen and heard in the surroundings. The journalist keeps an open mind while interviewing subjects and researching sources.The writer avoids steering the story or imposing personal ideas on the sources. The writer avoids deciding on the theme of the story until sufficient information has been gathered to show a direction or point of view. Story format The information in a feature is organized differently from hard news stories. sometimes a writer uses several paragraphs of copy at the outset to invade the reader before getting on with the main elements of the story. After the appellation and opening paragraph grab a reader, narrative hooks are us ed to persuade the reader to continue reading.These hooks are gentle story elements such as action, mystery, drama or appealing characters think to pull the reader forward through the story. They are complex narratives that recognise to life through colorful description, meaningful anecdotes and significant quotes. In hard news stories, the reporter makes the point, sets the tone, and frames the issue in the first paragraph or two. In feature stories, the whole story does not have to be encapsulated in an inverted pyramid lead. The writer can develop the plot line in a variety of ways and choose to postpone the main point until later in the copy or even the end.A writer can choose to tell the story out of order to film the readers interest. A story could begin with a dramatic moment and, once the reader is curious, the story could flash back to the history needed to assure it. A story-within-a-story could be used with a narrator in the outermost story telling the inner story t o satisfy the curiosity of readers. A storyline could alert readers that the story began in a way that seemed ordinary, but they must follow it to understand what happened eventually. As with any news reporting, feature stories are subject to the journalistic standards of accuracy, fairness and precision.The quality of a story is judged on its content, organization and mechanics. Features writers use The Associated Press Stylebook for correct journalistic style. How long are these articles? Newspaper features often are 500 to 2500 words in length. Magazine features usually are 500 to 5,000 words. Features on websites and blogs generally range from 2502500 words, but hard drive space is relatively inexpensive so the length could vary dramatically through the use of non-linear hyperlinking of content. Any forte might use a shorter or longer story than usual, depending on its perceived value.Attention spans seem to grow ever shorter so brevity is valued. much than ever, all writing t oday needs to be clear and concise. Illustrations every(prenominal) story is illustrated, usually with one or more photographs, but the art can be drawings, paintings, sketches, video or machinima, colorful graphs and charts, or other creative expressions depending on the medium for which the feature is big moneyd for dissemination. Is this just for print journalists? As newspapers and other print media face stiffer competition today from mesh news media, more feature stories are published because they can be more engaging to read.Wire services, such as the Associated Press and reuters, which once distributed by and large hard news, now send feature stories to members. Public relations professionals oft write feature articles. For instance, a company newsletter story write employees voluntarily helping the local community could benefit employees and their families as well as the firms stockholders. Or a profile of a corporate chief operating officer could be released to media when the firm makes news. Broadcast journalists use human interest stories, profiles, historic pieces, seasonal packages, behind the scenes revelations and even how-to descriptions.These can be seen and heard everyplace in television and radio news. A typical television news package includes an edited set of video clips for a story narrated by a reporter following a written script. Unlike a magazine article, for example, the TV feature story also will have audio, video, graphics and video effects. A news anchor with an over-the-shoulder graphic will be seen reading a lead-in introduction before the package is aired and concluding the story with additional information called a tag.