Feature writing Feature writing

Michelle Carr HasslerUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnMichelle Carr HasslerUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln

Six tips

Six tips for better feature writing!

FeaturesFeatures

Human interest

People, places, events

Issues and trends

Can be tied to the news – or not

Human interest

People, places, events

Issues and trends

Can be tied to the news – or not

Features v. hard newsFeatures v. hard news

Hard news stories report timely events that have just occurred.

Feature stories are soft news because they are not as timely, not as swiftly reported.

Feature writers have the extra time to complete background research, interviews and observation for their stories. 

Hard news stories report timely events that have just occurred.

Feature stories are soft news because they are not as timely, not as swiftly reported.

Feature writers have the extra time to complete background research, interviews and observation for their stories. 

FeaturesFeatures

Have a beginning, middle and end

Use quotes liberally

Allow the reader to experience the story through detailed description and vivid writing

Have a beginning, middle and end

Use quotes liberally

Allow the reader to experience the story through detailed description and vivid writing

Six tips for better feature writing!

1. Craft an intriguinglede and nut graf

Intriguing ledeIntriguing lede

Grab the readers’ attention so they want to read more.

The lede should catch the spirit of the story and create the proper tone: serious, funny, sentimental, hip

Grab the readers’ attention so they want to read more.

The lede should catch the spirit of the story and create the proper tone: serious, funny, sentimental, hip

Types of feature ledesTypes of feature ledes

Narrative – tells a story

Descriptive – describes a person, place or subject

Startling fact or statement

Compare and contrast

Twist

Narrative – tells a story

Descriptive – describes a person, place or subject

Startling fact or statement

Compare and contrast

Twist

Narrative – tells a storyNarrative – tells a story

Justin Greer’s 2,800 friends have never seen him cry.

His father has seen him cry only once — the day last October when doctors told the 16-year-old football player that what he thought was a bad case of the flu was actually leukemia.

“He cried a bit then,” Mr. Greer said. “But then he squared off and said, ʻWell, I’m not dead yet.ʼ And I haven‘t seen him cry since, although he’s told me that sometimes he cries at night when he’s all alone.”

SOURCE: Jeanne Acton, journalism director, UIL/ILPC

DescriptiveDescriptive

Standing in the lunch line, the boy turned to April Haler and asked, “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Then he turned to his buddy and started laughing.

Just another cruel joke on the fat kid.

April, who once weighed almost 300 pounds, is used to them. Since elementary school she has been teased and taunted about her weight.

“I remember being called horrible names in elementary school every time we went to the playground,” the sophomore said.

But life is changing.

SOURCE: Jeanne Acton, journalism director, UIL/ILPC

The 1994 Big 12 National Championship football game between Nebraska and Miami when the Huskers won the national title was memorable for many Nebraskans. But for senior news-editorial major Richard Schneider, watching this game ignited a sports craze that would eventually lead to a career. 

The 1994 Big 12 National Championship football game between Nebraska and Miami when the Huskers won the national title was memorable for many Nebraskans. But for senior news-editorial major Richard Schneider, watching this game ignited a sports craze that would eventually lead to a career. 

Avoid the general; be specificAvoid the general; be specific

Intriguing ledeIntriguing lede

What type of lede does Rick Bragg use in his story?

What type of lede does Rick Bragg use in his story?

Intriguing ledeIntriguing lede

A feature lede should be creative – not written like a hard news lede.

A feature lede should be creative – not written like a hard news lede.

Intriguing ledeIntriguing lede

Have fun with your lede. If you’re stuck, move on and write the rest of the story. Once your facts are in order, you can relax and let inspiration lead you.

Have fun with your lede. If you’re stuck, move on and write the rest of the story. Once your facts are in order, you can relax and let inspiration lead you.

Nut Graf Nut Graf

The "nut" signifies the hard kernel of the story, what is at the center.

The nut graf is what the story is about. It answers the question “so what.”

The "nut" signifies the hard kernel of the story, what is at the center.

The nut graf is what the story is about. It answers the question “so what.”

Nut grafNut graf

The reader needs to know fairly quickly what the story is about -- or they quit reading.

So the writer gives the reader a concise explanation of why the subject is worthy of their attention ... and why at this time.

The reader needs to know fairly quickly what the story is about -- or they quit reading.

So the writer gives the reader a concise explanation of why the subject is worthy of their attention ... and why at this time.

Nut grafsNut grafs

Can answer any questions raised in ledes

Explain why stories are significant and place stories in meaningful contexts.

Can answer any questions raised in ledes

Explain why stories are significant and place stories in meaningful contexts.

• Osceola McCarty spent a lifetime making other people look nice. Day after day, for most of her 87 years, she took in bundles of dirty clothes and made them clean and neat for parties she never attended, weddings to which she was never invited, graduations she never saw.

• She had quit school in the sixth grade to go to work, never married, never had children and never learned to drive because there was never any place in particular she wanted to go. All she ever had was the work, which she saw as a blessing. Too many other black people in rural Mississippi did not have even that.

• "More than I could ever use," Miss McCarty said the other day without a trace of self-pity. So she is giving her money away, to finance scholarships for black students at the University of Southern Mississippi here in her hometown, where tuition is $2,400 a year.

"More than I could ever use," Miss McCarty said the other day without a trace of self-pity. So she is giving her money away, to finance scholarships for black students at the University of Southern Mississippi here in her hometown, where tuition is $2,400 a year.

2. Create a focused narrative

Focused narrativeFocused narrative

Make sure your narrative (story) is focused on a theme or dominant impression.

Avoid including irrelevant material that would detract from the focus.

This is a story about . . .

Make sure your narrative (story) is focused on a theme or dominant impression.

Avoid including irrelevant material that would detract from the focus.

This is a story about . . .

Focused narrativeFocused narrative

Must have enough detail that the reader knows what is happening

Must not have so much detail that the reader gets bogged down

Be selective!

Must have enough detail that the reader knows what is happening

Must not have so much detail that the reader gets bogged down

Be selective!

“My most important piece of advice to all you would-be writers: when you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.”

-- Elmore Leonard

3. Create an engaging narrative

Sprinkle gold coins throughout the storySprinkle gold coins throughout the story

Think of a gold coin as any Think of a gold coin as any element in a story that rewards element in a story that rewards the reader for reading that far.the reader for reading that far.

Think of a gold coin as any Think of a gold coin as any element in a story that rewards element in a story that rewards the reader for reading that far.the reader for reading that far.

Gold coinsGold coins

As a small scene or anecdote:

A big buck antelope squirms under a fence and sprints over the plain, hoofs drumming powerfully. “Now that's one fine sight,” murmurs a cowboy."

As a small scene or anecdote:

A big buck antelope squirms under a fence and sprints over the plain, hoofs drumming powerfully. “Now that's one fine sight,” murmurs a cowboy."

Gold coinsGold coins

A startling fact:

Lightning ... is much feared by any mounted man caught on the open plain, and many cowboys have been killed by it.

A startling fact:

Lightning ... is much feared by any mounted man caught on the open plain, and many cowboys have been killed by it.

Gold coinsGold coins

A telling quote:

“Most of the real cowboys I know," says Mr. Miller, "have been dead for a while."

A telling quote:

“Most of the real cowboys I know," says Mr. Miller, "have been dead for a while."

Gold coinsGold coins

These three gold coins appeared in a prize-winning story on the dying culture of the cowboy, written by Bill Blundell for The Wall Street Journal.

These three gold coins appeared in a prize-winning story on the dying culture of the cowboy, written by Bill Blundell for The Wall Street Journal.

4. Use details and anecdotes

Details, details, detailsDetails, details, details

Details make a story sing and stand out.

This is where thorough reporting and interviewing yield great results.

Details usually don’t come on the first question. You have to keep prodding and digging and asking more questions.

Details make a story sing and stand out.

This is where thorough reporting and interviewing yield great results.

Details usually don’t come on the first question. You have to keep prodding and digging and asking more questions.

What detail is missing here?What detail is missing here?

She’s been interested in writing since third grade, when her teacher praised her book report in front of the class.

She’s been interested in writing since third grade, when her teacher praised her book report in front of the class.

Avoid clichés

Avoid clichésAvoid clichés

He was laughing all the way to the bank.

We should play it by ear.

The ball is in your court.

He was laughing all the way to the bank.

We should play it by ear.

The ball is in your court.

Be vivid with details -- add colorBe vivid with details -- add color

Add color by providing specific visual images.

Pseudo-colorThe Secretary of State began his

toast in the ornate, formal banquet hall of the Swedish foreign ministry

Real colorHe’s a bear of man, 6-foot-4, with

a thick bush of white hair and eyes the color of wet turquoise.

Add color by providing specific visual images.

Pseudo-colorThe Secretary of State began his

toast in the ornate, formal banquet hall of the Swedish foreign ministry

Real colorHe’s a bear of man, 6-foot-4, with

a thick bush of white hair and eyes the color of wet turquoise.

Show, don’t tell Show, don’t tell

Telling:Telling: He is angry.

Showing:Showing: :: Sitting at his desk, his jaw tightened. His eyes flashed heat waves at me. The words erupted from his mouth, "I want to talk to you after class." The final hiss in his voice warned me about his feelings.

Telling:Telling: He is angry.

Showing:Showing: :: Sitting at his desk, his jaw tightened. His eyes flashed heat waves at me. The words erupted from his mouth, "I want to talk to you after class." The final hiss in his voice warned me about his feelings.

After supper my father says, “Want to go down and see if the lake’s still there?” We leave my mother sewing under the dining room light, making clothes for me against the opening of school. She has ripped up for this purpose an old suit and an old plaid wool dress of hers . . . We leave my brother in bed in the little screened porch . . . and sometimes he kneels on his bed and presses his face against the screen and calls mournfully, “Bring me an ice cream cone!” but I call back, “You will be asleep.”-- From “Walker Brothers Cowboy,” by Alice Munro

Details and anecdotesDetails and anecdotes

What details and anecdotes does Rick Bragg use in his story?

What details and anecdotes does Rick Bragg use in his story?

5. Use good quotes

Use good quotesUse good quotes

Good quotes lend authenticity

Quotes are “those brief, brilliant bursts of life.” – Tom Brady

Good quotes lend authenticity

Quotes are “those brief, brilliant bursts of life.” – Tom Brady

Be SelectiveBe Selective

Good quotes should: summarize what’s on a person’s mindcrystallize an emotion or attitudeoffer an individual perspective – in a

concise and interesting way

Good quotes in Rick Bragg’s story?

Good quotes should: summarize what’s on a person’s mindcrystallize an emotion or attitudeoffer an individual perspective – in a

concise and interesting way

Good quotes in Rick Bragg’s story?

6. End with a kicker

End with a kickerEnd with a kicker

A good ending must do three things, according to Bruce DeSilva of The Associated Press:Tell the reader the story is over.

Nail the central point of the story.

Resonate. "You should hear it echoing in your head when you put the paper down, when you turn the page.”

A good ending must do three things, according to Bruce DeSilva of The Associated Press:Tell the reader the story is over.

Nail the central point of the story.

Resonate. "You should hear it echoing in your head when you put the paper down, when you turn the page.”

End With A KickerEnd With A Kicker

“The very best endings do something in addition to that. They surprise you a little. There's a kind of twist to them that's unexpected. And yet when you think about it for a second, you realize it's exactly right.” – DeSilva

“The very best endings do something in addition to that. They surprise you a little. There's a kind of twist to them that's unexpected. And yet when you think about it for a second, you realize it's exactly right.” – DeSilva

Type of endingsType of endings

Powerful quote

Anecdotal

Details

Scene-setting

Surprise

Powerful quote

Anecdotal

Details

Scene-setting

Surprise

End with a kickerEnd with a kicker

You can’t have a decent story if it doesn’t leave you with a strong feeling or sense of image,” says Rick Bragg.

You can’t have a decent story if it doesn’t leave you with a strong feeling or sense of image,” says Rick Bragg.

Six tips for better feature writing!

1. Craft an intriguing lede and nutgraf2. Create a focused narrative3. Create an engaging narrative (gold coins)4. Use details and anecdotes5. Use good quotes6. End with a kicker

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