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FEATURE WRITING


LYN R. CATOLICO
Resource Speaker
Division Training for School Paper Advisers and Journalists
August 22-23, 2014





-According to Gene
Gilmore in his book, Inside
High School Journalism,
the best way to describe a
feature is to say it is a news
story written like a short
piece of fiction.
Like a short story writer, a
feature often use literary
devices like color, wit,
humor, dialogue,
anecdotes and emotive
sayings to capture human
interest.
It may also instruct,
inform and advise but
the main objective is
to entertain.
Figuratively, we can say
that while straight news
appeals to the physical,
editorial appeals to
intellect, feature story
appeals to the emotion.
QUALITIES OF FEATURE
ARTICLES
1. It deals with any topic.
2. It usually entertains more
often than it informs, instruct
or advises.
3. It may be long or short as
long as it covers the subject
adequately and keeps it
interesting to the readers.

4. It may be light or serious,
depending on its purpose.
5. It could be formal or
informal and written in any
form and in any style but well
organized.
6. It may or may not be
timely.
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
8. It is written in ascending
interest.
9.It is based on facts. Though
sometimes, the writer uses his
imagination to play up the
details, it is still anchored on
facts.
10. It can be garnished with
adjective, figures of speech,
dialogue, anecdote, local
color and idiomatic
expressions.
11. It can be written in the
first, second or third person.
KINDS OF FEATURE STORY
1. HUMAN INTEREST FEATURE
- A story that involves people and
their troubles, failures and
successes.
2. PERSONALITY SKETCH
FEATURE
-it offers a semi-biographical
account of a newsworthy person.
3. HISTORICAL FEATURE
- it narrates the evolution of
something like the name of a
particular place, origin of a
celebration and others.
4. ANALYTICAL FEATURE
- it dissects problem, such as
school vandalism, student
cheating and describe how people
would try to solve the difficulty.
5. SEASONAL FEATURE
- it presents new angles of
an old theme with some
fresh insights of
information.
6. TRAVELOGUE- it
describes a place and the
kind of people the writer
has met during his travel.
7. ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE
- a story with wit and humor
and aims to entertain the
readers not only of the
unusual topic, but also in the
style of writing and the kind of
language used. It also includes
crosswords, puzzle, maze and
others.
8. NEWS FEATURE
- it takes its material from a
recent event. Unlike the news
story, its focus is less in the
information, but on the deeper
meaning of the incident. It
adds variety and contrast and
to play up the substance of
news.
9. INFORMATIVE FEATURE
It emphasizes the giving of
information with the element of human
interest. It is usually taken from
interview or research materials, such
as drug problems, street children,
victims of calamities and other current
issues. It also deals with scientific
facts presented in non-technical
language.
10. INTERPRETATIVE FEATURE
It instructs, informs or
makes clear to the reader
the background
significance of social,
economic, political and
other problems of everyday
life.
11. HOW TO FEATURE
It aims to explain a
process or how a
certain product or
service is made or
rendered.

12. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
FEATURE
It deals with any
unusual experience,
usually written in first
person.






13. INTERVIEW FEATURE-
It is in the form of question
and answer with little
introduction.

14. SPORTS FEATURE- any
article related to sports.

ELEMENTS OF GOOD FEATURE STORY

1. Creativity- Unlike news
writing, feature writing allows a
reporter to create a feature
story virtually at will. Although
he is expected to observe
accuracy, he is allowed to use
his imagination to enhance the
readability of the story.

2. SUBJECTIVITY
Feature articles can be written
in the first person allowing the
writer to inject his own thoughts
and emotions. The use of exact
facts can be more readable,
informative and entertaining even
though the writer is trained in
objective reporting.
3. INFORMATIVE- the feature story,
while lacking in hard news value, can
constructively inform the reader of a
situation that may escape coverage
in hard news story.

4. ENTERTAINMENT- the feature is a
welcome break in the monopoly of
nerve- chilling news of murder,
scandal, disaster, corruption and
controversy, which comprise much
of the hard news.
5. UNPERISHABILITY-
Yesterday's newspaper is good
only for wrapping dried fish.
so the saying goes. Important
news element fades into
history after 24 hours but
feature articles linger on the
reader for quiet a long period
of time.
SOURCES OF FEATURE
ARTICLES


1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like
newspapers, books,
magazines and other
print media.

4. Special events like
anniversaries and
holidays
5.Advertisements
6. Speeches and
commentaries
7.Movies

8. Casual conversation
9. Travel
10. Tourist spots
11.Fads
12. Interview
13. Imagination

QUALITIES OF A GOOD
FEATURE WRITER
1. Inquisitive
2. Eager to learn
3. Sympathetic towards other
people's feelings
4. Capable of seeing beneath
the surface of ordinary event
5. Keen observer

STEPS IN WRITING
FEATURE ARTICLES
1. Choose topic, which you
know very well.
2. Limit your subject to just
one specific area.
3. Think of a more interesting
and fresh angle of the topic.
4. Make a tentative title.
5. Make an outline.
6. Use appropriate and
striking novelty lead.
7. You can garnish your
article with anecdote,
dialogue and local color.


8. Use graphic description. Don't
just tell, show it to the reader
through the use of senses.
9. Place direct quotations in the
beginning.
10. Use simple words and shorter
paragraphs.
11. Avoid being wordy.
12. Make sure the feature
article contains dramatic
quality.
13. Give examples to make
your article convincing or
easily understand.
14. Tie up ending with
opening paragraph.
15. Make a striking title.
STRUCTURE OF FEATURE ARTICLE
A. THE FEATURE LEAD- feature
story follows the pyramid
structure. The details of the story
arranged according to the
ascending order of importance,
from the least important to the
most important ones. It begins
with a novelty lead.
KINDS OF NOVELTY
LEAD
1. NARRATIVE LEAD. It
draws the reader into the
story by allowing him relate
with the character of the
story.

Example of narrative lead
It was 9:20 in the evening. The family was
watching TV with the house helpers in the sala
except me. I locked myself in our study room
because I had to finish my book report, which
was due the following morning.
Suddenly, there was hurried knock on the door.
The twin tower is burning! said my younger
sister. I rushed downstairs. I can't believe it.
Fear crept inside me. I felt nauseated for I have
an uncle whose house is less than a mile away
from the twin towers.
2. DESCRIPTIVE LEAD
It illustrates a mental
picture of the subject to
the reader. This is
effective in writing a
personality sketch.
From behind a closed door came
the frantic buzz of excited
insects. Then something came
squeezing out the nauseating
stench of rotting flesh. Suddenly,
the door opened and in front of
me, stood a large cage covered
with wire.
3. QUOTATION LEAD
This statement is
uttered by well-
known person or
celebrity.
Honesty is the Best Policy.
Or is it?
Thirteen-year old Jaime got his luck
, 3 days after returning the half-
million peso bills inside an attache'
case he accidentally stepped on
while while heeding back home from
school.
4. QUESTION LEAD

A thought-provoking question to
capture the interest of the
reader and lead them to find the
answer provided by the
succeeding details of the article.
Example: How will you know if your
chosen career is suited for you?



When was the last time I told my
father I loved him?

This question has brought
back memories back into the past
with my father, who never ceased
on loving me even at the time
when he was no longer worth
loving for.


5. TEASER LEAD

A device to deceive the reader in a jesting
manner to arose his curiosity and gently
lead him into the story. It is generally
short, crisps and witty. Riddles are often
used and they do not give the readers
any clue on the nature of the story. They
are mostly suggestive and humorous.
Example: Where do women grow their
curliest hair? Of course, it's in Africa. But
is it?
Where do women
grow their curliest hair?
Of course in Africa, but
is it?
6. PUNCH LEAD
It is short, striking one
sentence lead.

Example: A man, who
attempted to die by
hanging, finally died of
cardiac arrest.
A man who attempted
thrice to die by hanging,
finally died of a cardiac
arrest
7.ASTONISHER LEAD
It uses an exclamatory
sentence.

Example:
Olympic Performance!
8. ONE WORD LEAD
It uses a very
significant word to
capture the interest of
the reader.
Example:
Eureka!
9. PARODY LEAD
It consists of a parody of a well-
known quotation, song, poem,
book or movie film title.
Example:
Morn mri as mri as ad win
mru....
This was the line of the song I
heard from a very beautiful lady,
who broke not only my eardrum,
but also my overstruck heart.
10. BACKGROUND LEAD
It describes an event in
which the background
overshadows the individuals
who participate in it; often
use for stories about
carnivals, festivals, dances
and others.

Example:
Irineo L. Santiago National High
School of Metro Dadiangas was
transformed into a barangay
fiesta of the old days, when the
Supreme Student Government
officers hung banderitas and
placed buntings in the
surrounding during the 1
st
Metrian
Festival.
11. FREAK LEAD
This kind of unique lead uses
typographical effects to enhance
appeal.
Example:
For sale: a kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of
Taguig and a father of seven
children said yesterday that he was
forced to sell his kidney to provide
his family bright future.
12. CONTRAST LEAD

It is used to point up opposites
and extremes.

EXAMPLE:
In the 1990's, a ten-centavo
coin was already a treasure.
Today, nobody wants to give it
a second glance on the
ground.
13. STACCATO LEAD
This usually consists of a
series of words or phrases,
punctuated by periods,
commas or dashes.
Example:
Terrorism. Insurgency. Corruption.
Too much political bickering. Uncontrolled oil
price hike. These are but few of the maladies
that crippled our economy.

B. THE BODY
You are now ready to organize your
materials and develop the body of your
story.
The development of the story involves
the arrangement of the story materials in
a manner that will sustain or hold the
reader's interest and flow smoothly from
the introduction to the end.
It follows the pyramid structure
usually with conclusion.
C. THE ENDING


TYPES OF FEATURE
ENDINGS
1. THE SUMMARY ENDING
The summary ending simply
ties up the loose ends of the
story and points back to the
lead.

Example of Summary
Ending
With a contented sigh,
the great man closed his
eyes in deathbed, fully
aware that he did what he
had to do.


2. THE STINGER
A startling, surprising ending
that jolts the reader. The writer
uses the body to set up for the
unexpected conclusion. The
stinger ending is similar to the
modern movie trend where the
good guy loses out the bad
guys.



Example:

Ramon,the shy,
lovable Ramon, who
couldn't hurt a fly turned
out to be the ruthless,
vicious rapist wanted by
law in five provinces.







It stops at the point where the
outcome of the story is clear.
EXAMPLE:

When the song ended, Rosanna
stood petrified in the midst of a
thunderous ovation. I her heart, she
knew she had finally arrived.



3. CLIMAX


4. UN-ENDING

It is open-ended, leaves reader to
speculate on the ultimate conclusion.
Example:
And so the Operation OPLAN X
ended on a limb. The police were
positive that Bungisngis as the brain
behind the murder. But, they had no
shred of evidence against him.
5. A THOUGHT- PROVOKING
QUESTION
If we are not going to save our
seas for our children's future,
who would? And if we are not
going to start it now, when is the
right time?
6. A PROVERB
Indeed, I have proven to
myself what I believe is true
from the very start of my
nerve-breaking climb to
where I am now that
Behind the dark clouds, the
sun is still shining.
7. SUGGESTED RESULTS
OR SIGNIFICANCE
So, take a hearty bite
for a healthier you.
8. A FORECAST
Someday, if we will keep
on selfishly denuding the
dwindling forest of our Mother
Earth, we will be wallowing in
the midst of water, or all of
the continents will be
devoured by ocean brought
about global warming.
9. A QUOTATION
As one unknown
philosopher puts it, We
can never be great
unless we are good and
we can never be good
until we are godly.

10. A REPETITION OF A
SENTENCE OR A REFERENCE
TO THE TITLE

Mama, see, I was alive but not
anymore. So, please let my baby
brother live. He could also be as
wonderful as me. His life wouldn't
be like mine- a life that never was.

Give the kind of novelty lead
used in each of the following:

1. Wanted: Perfect President!
2. General Santos City has
again proven that it is a
wellspring of winners!
3. Who says that fun and
learning cannot go together?

THANK YOU!

GOD BLESS...

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