Feature

Writing 101
A FEATURE STORY IS
a CREATIVE
sometimes SUBJECTIVE article
designed primarily TO ENTERTAIN
and TO INFORM readers of an
event, a situation or an aspect of life;
it is often NOT PERISHABLE
Elements of a Feature Story
1. Creativity
2. Subjectivity
3. Informativeness
4. Entertainment
5. Imperishability
Elements of a Feature Story

Creativity
not bound by a strict FORMAT or FORM like
news
Elements of a Feature Story
Subjectivity
Sometimes uses the first person;
own thoughts and emotions
Elements of a Feature Story
Informativeness

Though lacking in hard news value,

a feature article can constructively
inform the reader of a situation
or aspect of life.
Elements of a Feature Story
Entertainment
A break in the monotony
of negative/bad news

About people, humanness

Elements of a Feature Story
Imperishability

not time bound

Types of Feature Story
1. Personality Profile/Sketch
2. Interview Article
3. How-to Article/Self-help
4. Personal Narrative or Anecdotes
5. Travel Story
6. Human Interest Story or True-to-life Drama
Types of Feature Story
Personality Profile/Sketch
An in-depth story on an individual that captures the
essence of the person on paper
Brings out the person’s distinctive traits or
personality
E.g. cover stories of magazines, brief biographical
feature on somebody celebrating her 100th birthday
Types of Feature Story
Interview Article
You can interview somebody to obtain information
about an issue (e.g. MMDA Chairman about traffic)
You can interview about a person
You can interview an individual or several people
(e.g. survey on the most embarrassing situation a
teen got into)
Types of Feature Story
How-to Article / Self-help
Contains information about something/advise
Readers are always interested on things that will
benefit them mentally, physically, emotionally
E.g. preparing an impressive resume, how to set up
an online business
Types of Feature Story
Personal narrative or anecdotes
Deals with an unusual experience as
accomplishment that an author or somebody else
has faced
E.g. articles on unusual hobbies or extreme sports,
how you survived being trapped in an elevator
Types of Feature Story
Travel Story
Focuses on a destination
E.g. your travel from house to school
Types of Feature Story
Human Interest Story or True-to-life Drama
Deals with a simple topic given a new attention
E.g. How a poor family helped a rich boy find his
mother
Parts of a Feature Story
1. Title
2. Lead
3. Body
4. Conclusion
Parts of a Feature Story
Lead 4.
5.
Contrast or comparison lead
Shocking statement lead
Sets the tone of the 6. Suspense or teaser lead
story 7. Literary or historical allusion
lead
Ten ways to start– 8. Direct address lead
1. Descriptive lead 9. Quote lead
2. Narrative lead 10. Question lead
3. Summary lead
Parts of a Feature Story
Body
The essential ingredient of a good feature story is
extensive, thorough research
Quotes and descriptions
Observation, take down notes
Parts of a Feature Story
Conclusion
Ties the story together
Several ways to end a feature –
1. Lead replay or summary ending
2. Proximity ending
3. Restatement ending
4. Word play ending
5. Quote ending
6. Surprise ending
Parts of a Feature Story
Descriptive Lead
detailed and vivid;
should paint a clear and precise picture of a scene, an
individual, an event, and set a mood for the reader
should enable readers to visualize exactly what is happening
Parts of a Feature Story
Descriptive Lead
The four o’clock bell blares throughout the building, followed by the
trample of students’ feet pounding down the halls. Soon, all is quiet
and the dust begins to settle, but just for a moment. It isn’t long
before the dust, paper wads, candy wrappers, broken pencils, and
other trash are whisked away into a dustpan with the swish of a
broom guided by an experienced hand.
The students’ day is over, but for _______ and other janitors, it will
be awhile before they start home.
Mini-workshop 1
1. Pick a partner
2. Assign roles: interviewee/interviewer
3. Conduct an interview for a personality profile
article
4. From the interview, write a descriptive lead for
your story
Parts of a Feature Story
Surprise ending
One of the most effective endings;
Writer builds suspense in the story, then startles the reader at
the conclusion
Parts of a Feature Story
Surprise ending
“I’ve always said I’m going to write a book someday and
that it’s going to be about me,” Cheryl said. “I’ve read all
those cancer books, but they left me in tears because the
person dies. This book would be different because I’m still
alive – and intend to stay that way!”
On March 1, Cheryl died in her sleep at the Philippine
General Hospital.
Mini-workshop 2
1. Continue the interview to get more details
2. Write a conclusion for your personality profile
Mini-workshop 3
1. Complete the personality profile story
“journalism is not a profession,
it’s a commitment”