FEATURE WRITING

Yves S. Consunji
The Guilds

Features Editor: 2011

Associate Editor: 2012
Editor-in-Chief: 2013
Managing Editor: 2014
Feature Stories – are
dramatized news. Like news, they
are written to inform but they
enlarge upon the news in a
leisurely and entertaining way.
They are written to add life and
their style tends to be more
creative.
 ELEMENTS OF A FEATURE STORY
1. An extended news story – most features rely
on topicality as a peg on which to hang the
piece
2. A short story – as with the short story, it
deals comprehensively with the subject without
the need for a sequel (Exception: The Feature
Series)
3. Essay – constructed to take the reader
smoothly from beginning to end so that it can
be enjoyed and understood
 ELEMENTS OF A FEATURE STORY

4. Letter - your article should be warm and

relevant enough to make the reader feel it was
written just for him
5. Someone else’s view – we have biases and we
can obtain balance by getting other people’s
thoughts on a subject
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FEATURE

1. Features in newspapers are generally shorter

that their magazine counterparts
2. More freedom is allowed in the construction of
features than in news
3. They are timeless. They can be held for a week
or months and still are usable unlike news
which is perishable.
(Exception: features related to current events)
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FEATURE

4. They are written to be read in their entirety so

the highest point may be placed at the end
5. Sentences may be longer than those of the news
stories because of the usage of colorful phrases
but not too long as to confuse the readers
6. Features may end with an ironic, humorous,
sad or summarizing statement to impart the
total effect
 CHARACTERISTICS OF FEATURE
7. They have a more human approach and add a
softer touch to news
8. Photograph and artworks usually accompany
feature articles to “sell” the article and give
readers visual comprehension of the subject
The Lead of A Feature – The first part should
emphasize unusual impact, presents an overall
picture of the topic or strike the keynote of the
article
LEAD DEVISES
Striking Statement
At 4’11, she is a giant to the agency.

Quotation
“Addicts don’t grow old. They die young,” the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Chief said.

Contrasts
While Tuguegarao grows like a future metropolis,
neighboring towns wallow in dire poverty
LEAD DEVISES
Exclamation
A Phd holder at 17? Unbelievable!

Summary
Aiza Seguerra, actress, at 25, she spent 20 years of
her life entertaining people

Question
How would a single policeman serve a thousand
population?
Description
Backpackers to Gotan Beach in Sta. Ana town can
be themselves as they frolic into the virginal
sands romancing the multi colored hermit crabs
amidst a lush vegetation nearby and the Palaui
Island standing like a sentinel to the Northern
seas.
Narration
January 3 was an ordinary day for Julian Rosales.
Without him knowing, it would bring him wealth
and fortune as it would be the day he is to win the
biggest lottery of all time in the Philippines.
THE BODY
The body of a feature is developed in the same way
as any good piece of writing. It should have unity,
coherence and emphasis.

The lead must immediately hold the interest of the

reader. A central theme is carried throughout the
article, eliminating materials not closely connected
with it.

The body presents all the details necessary,

expanding on ideas much along the line of the news
story.
THE BODY

Paragraphs are shorter than conventional literary

composition although they can be longer than news
paragraphs. The body makes use of colorful
descriptions, figures of speech, statistics, incidents,
analogies and humor, if appropriate.
THE CONCLUSION
End your feature imaginatively:
1. Summarized or wrap up the highlights of the
story.
“ For as long as the Cagayan media is beholden to
the powers that be,” freedom of the press” will only
be a four-word battle cry written in the minds of
those who believed they could do better. To slave
the media would mean to cut such freedom”.

2. Have a punch line or the highest point of

interest.
“While everybody sleeps soundly, the much-
maligned barangay tanod continues toclose-watch
his area of assignment till the break of dawn,
selfless and dedicated”.
THE CONCLUSION
End your feature imaginatively:

3. Restate your lead or tie up to round out the

whole.
“Miss Tuguegarao. Miss Cagayan, Miss Luzon,
Miss Earth… just beauty titles.”

4. Recommend or have a future outlook of the

article.
“Just think how office life would be without
bickering and personal interests”.
TIPS TO FEATURE WRITERS
Feel free to treat your material in any way you
choose.
• Enrich your vocabulary. Acquire new words and
learn to use sharp, spicy and high-powered
expressions. Study synonyms and antonyms and
their meaning so that you can use them.
• Learn to use figures of speech and idiomatic
expressions
EXAMPLES:
Out of place- unsuitable
In full swing- going on at fast pace
Kick up dust- cause disturbance
 Use incidents and comparisons to enhance your
article; humor, if appropriate
 Use dialogues and quotations

 Feel free to leave the point of the story or the

punch line until the last sentence.
 Allude to things unknown to readers.

 Put feelings into your story.

 Write on topics that would interest your readers.

 Unusual occupations are interesting and

intriguing
 Places- popular places and little known places
make interesting features
 Health- the mad for the slimmest belly, for
example
 Bits of History- you may want to write the
history of your barangay or your section
 Science- features presenting progress in
medicine and technology attract great readership
 People- an achiever is a good subject for profile
TYPES OF FEATURES
• Personality sketch - the focus is on individuals
• How to’s - a feature on procedures, processes,
methodology, strategies and others
• Historical highlights – discusses significant
events
• News features – a feature based on current
events
• Seasonal or holidays - focuses on special
occasions, other events
• Travelogue - features on adventures, tourism
among others
 Calendar events- serious and humorous aspects
of holidays
 For your information- “So you know” and
similar items
 Reporters- write about amusing incidents of
media
 Rare collection---

 How to do it- practical guidance articles

NEWS AND FEATURES, THE DIFFERENCE
Unlike the news, the feature articles
 Does not follow the inverted pyramid style

 Should be read in its entirety

 Does have more quotations

 Descriptive than the news

 Lengthy
STEPS IN WRITING A FEATURE
1. Set the scene and the mood- this is done in
the introduction and the two or three succeeding
paragraphs.
Are you writing a drama of the violent kind?
Then, establish the mood in your first few lines.
Is it an essay/ profile on the Pope? Then set the
scene and mood according to what you wish to
say about the Pope.

As we have seen from the news intro, there are a

variety of ways on how to set the scene and the
mood.
STEPS IN WRITING A FEATURE
You can shock the reader into reading on with the
blunt, clubbing introduction.

You can lead him gently by the hand with two or

three teasing paragraphs and then club him on the
head in about the fourth.

You must always bear in mind that, whatever

method you use, the reader’s attention is not easily
held.
Great expertise is needed to keep his eyes glued to
your particular feature.
STEPS IN WRITING A FEATURE
2. Which brings us to stage 2? - This is where
you develop the theme. And this is also where
your feature can sag in the middle like a long
overloaded shelf supported only at either end.
This is the point where you are in the greatest
danger of losing your reader. So the middle stage
must be a sound development of the theme and
not a gap to be plugged with a load of padding.
STEPS IN WRITING A FEATURE
3. Is rounding off the feature. The
finishing touch can be in the form of :
 A summary
 Your strongest point with a twist
 Conclusion arrived at from your text
 Your own observations, either serious or funny.
The aim is to make the reader sorry the feature has
come to an end.

To make him think: what a thundering good yarn.

It is seldom possible on a newspaper to practice the next

stage in the production of a feature. That is to read it
through critically and then put it aside for hours or
even days.

No feature has yet been written which could not have

been improved by revision.

The brilliant phrase can ring hollow and unconvincing

after a few days in a drawer.
Even the greatest of authors rewrite-and rewrite their
initial articles or books. And if ever we are given the
luxury of time then, we too, can improve our handiwork
by reshaping and re-polishing where necessary.

Under deadline pressure most newspaper writers will

have to settle for the unpolished original. They must
learn to write quickly and well against the clock.
Most feature writers have developed their own style. To
the point where you can recognize the authorship
without the help of a by-line. Their style may be due
partly to individual flair. But each – even the most
brilliant – has been influenced by great writers, past or
present.
Thank You and God Bless 