Features are the most exciting and readable stories in newspapers, magazines, blogs, news websites or lifestyle portals. They are well researched, descriptive, engaging, thoughtful and even reflective.
Unlike news stories that are limited to the main news points, features are in depth. That is why they are longer and tell a story in detail. They can be described as long-form articles that range from 500 to 2,000 words and written in an engaging style.
Good feature writers spend countless hours interviewing subjects, doing background research, observing and noting points that are missed out by the hard news reporters who are required to report the story as soon as it breaks.
Feature stories may or may not have a news peg but they are factual. They have a clear beginning, a middle and an end. However, there is no one single way in which a news feature can be written. Each feature writer has his or her own style, which may differ from subject to subject. They bring out the best in a reporter. This is what makes features unique.
Nine steps to craft arresting features
Here’s a step-by-step guide to for writing great news features:
# Step 1: Map your story
The first step requires exploration of all possible angles. For instance, if you are writing a news feature on hotel discotheques or discos as they are popularly known in India then you first need to make a list of issues involving discos.
This may include the kinds of hotels that run discos, the ambience at discos, the bands that play at hotel discos, the background of teenagers who flock to discos, the dresses they wear, their mannerisms, the prevalence of drugs or drinks culture etc
# Step 2: Decide your angle
You can’t possibly write a news feature on Indian discos that covers all the points listed above. Such a feature will either become too long or too generalized. It makes sense to narrow your feature down to two or three points.
# Step 3: Break down key points into sub-points
For instance, if you have decided to focus on teenagers who crowd such discos, then you can build sub-themes like:
- Dressing: How do these teenagers dress? Is it in keeping with the general social trends or it is different? Bring out specific styles favoured by disco goers.
- Age Group: What is their age group?
- Average spends: How much money do they spend on a single night? What are the products that they buy? Is it drinks? Is it food? Is it drugs?
- Background: Are they students? Are they working professionals? Do they have BPO backgrounds? Are they married?
- Hair styles: How about their hair styles? Are they permed? Are they spiked?
# Step 4: Get information
Obviously, the first place to visit are the discos. Meet the manager, meet the waiters, meet the bartender, meet the DJ. Speak to them at length to get details about the dressing, attitudes and mannerisms of diso goers.
Next speak, to a cross section of dancers. Make sure, you get to speak to collegians, working couples, single men and women. Find out about their backgrounds, and the reasons that bring them to the disco.
Speak to their parents, friends if possible. Speak to the police. Find out if there are brawls, scuffles, drug taking etc at the discos, and if yes, what is the background of youth involved.
You also need to log on to the net, and download as much information as is available on the subject. You also need to check from your newspaper library if any rival publication has done a feature on hotel discos, and the angle taken by them.
Step 5: Review your research
Please remember that this is not a news story, which has to be written in an inverted pyramid format. You have to relate it as a storyteller.
Your goal should be to transport your readers to a hotel disco and let them visualize groups of teenagers, working couples, single mothers gyrating to music under psychedelic lights. They should be able to recreate the scene simply by reading your feature.
This can only happen if your description is accurate and realistic. It is not enough to say that young boys and girls from affluent families are making a beeline to hotel discos. It is important to describe a 15-something girl in a top and shorts clinging on to the arms of her boyfriend with spiked hair and tattoos on his arms as they make their way to the dance floor. It is essential to describe the brand of cigarette a young man is smoking as he stares at single girls and makes smoke rings.
But make sure you stick to the themes that you have selected. Your feature should not stray into areas that are not relevant to your immediate focus.
Also, please put your opinions on the backburner. Your job is not to moralise; your job is to narrate a story. You should use quotes to add colour and drama to the feature.
# Step 6: Craft the beginning
The toughest is the start. Where do you start? Every point looks as if it is an attention grabber, every quote dramatic.
To avoid this, you need to look upon yourself as a storyteller. You can start with a dramatic quote or a description of gyrating bodies on the dance floor.
It is important that the intro should create an image in the minds of the readers that should make them want to read the feature.
You can even focus on anyone youngster whose clothes, mannerisms, behaviour best symbolise the story, setting the tone and mood.
# Step 7: Decide the style
A feature must be written in an informal, conversational, engaging style. It should be devoid of flab, and should be easy to read.
Avoid first person, unless you are the subject of the story, which can happen if, for instance, you are a hijack victim. Then, a first person account can be gripping. Otherwise, write in third person.
Never give your own opinion, but don’t hesitate to use specialists to buttress a point. Such opinion adds depth and value to features.
# Step 8: Write the middle
A good intro may draw a reader into a feature. But how do you sustain the interest of the reader?
This is where your storytelling skills get into play. Make a list of points that excite you as unusual, gripping or dramatic,
Now flesh out each point with description and quotes. Make sure that each paragraph focuses on one point. Also, keep your paragraphs short. Use short words, and short sentences. Be ruthless, when it comes to deleting superfluous points or words.
Don’t forget the transitions. These are extremely important. They maintain continuity, and reader interest.
Step 9: Plan the ending
A feature is not a news story that can trail off. It must have a proper ending, ideally one that is positive or uplifting. It should leave the reader with a feeling of contentment.
Once again there are no rules for feature endings. They can be an analogy, a smart turn of speech or a reiteration of the introduction theme. But it should not be a summary. Remember, a feature is not an essay that needs to end with a summary.
Related report:
5 easy ways to improve your news writing