A feature story is a type of news writing that focuses on a particular person, place, event, or issue in a more in-depth and descriptive way than a straight news story. A feature story allows a writer to delve deeper into a subject and provide readers with a richer, more nuanced understanding of it. Here are some steps to help you write a feature story for a newspaper:
- Choose a subject: Pick a subject that is interesting, unique, and relevant to your readers. It could be a person, place, event, or issue that people are talking about or that you find fascinating.
- Research: Gather information about your subject from a variety of sources, including interviews with people who are knowledgeable about it, books, articles, and the internet.
- Organize your information: Decide what information is most important and how you want to present it. This is also a good time to think about the angle or perspective you want to take on your subject.
- Write a lead: The lead is the first paragraph of your story and is often the most important. It should grab the reader’s attention and give them a reason to keep reading. A strong lead can be a quote, a surprising fact, or an interesting anecdote.
- Develop the story: Use quotes, descriptions, and anecdotes to illustrate your points and bring your subject to life. Don’t be afraid to use creative writing techniques to make your story more engaging and memorable.
- Add context: Make sure to provide enough background information so that readers understand the context of your story.
- Write a conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points of your story and provide a sense of closure. It can also include a call to action or a thought-provoking question.
Here are some high-quality examples of feature stories that you can read:
- “The Slow Death of a Small Town” by J.R. Moehringer – This story tells the story of a small town in decline and the people who live there.
- “The Choice” by Susan Orlean – This story profiles a man who made a difficult decision that changed his life forever.
- “The Butter Man” by David Sedaris – This is a humorous and touching profile of a man who makes butter sculptures for the state fair.
- “The Island of the Colorblind” by Oliver Sacks – This is a story about a remote island where a high percentage of the population is colorblind and how it affects their lives.
- “The Fireman’s Wife” by Joan Didion – This is a moving and intimate portrait of a fireman’s wife and the challenges she faces.