1. Guidelines for WritingGuidelines for Writing
a Feature Storya Feature Story

2. Choose a single focus and interview onlyChoose a single focus and interview only
on that--do not do a biography.on that--do not do a biography.
Feature leads may be more than one paragraph longFeature leads may be more than one paragraph long
and usually do not include theand usually do not include the
The main purposes of a feature lead are toThe main purposes of a feature lead are to
set the tone and get the reader's attention.set the tone and get the reader's attention.

3.  A chronological, logical or narrativeA chronological, logical or narrative
pattern of organization is used,pattern of organization is used,
lead
Details
(straight news story)
lead
Details are in
Chronological Order
notnot inverted pyramidinverted pyramid..
(feature story)
Logical Order
Narrative Order
Most important
Least important

4.  The final paragraph should complete the story.The final paragraph should complete the story.
 The best ways to do this are to refer back to theThe best ways to do this are to refer back to the
lead or use a quote to refer to the future.lead or use a quote to refer to the future.

5. The story should reflect the subject'sThe story should reflect the subject's
character and personalitycharacter and personality ..
Feature stories should containFeature stories should contain
many direct quotes.many direct quotes.
At minimum, features should beAt minimum, features should be
one-half direct quotes.one-half direct quotes.

6. Write creatively,Write creatively,
useuse color and imaginationcolor and imagination,,
make people come ALIVEmake people come ALIVE
with your feature writing.with your feature writing.
Be careful to avoidBe careful to avoid
becoming too sugar-coatedbecoming too sugar-coated
or editorializing, however.or editorializing, however.

7. Unlike in standard news writing, contractionsUnlike in standard news writing, contractions
may be used to give an informal tone.may be used to give an informal tone.

8.  If a journalist were writing about theIf a journalist were writing about the
Dakota Writing Project, from which thisDakota Writing Project, from which this
activity came, there would be two basicactivity came, there would be two basic
ways to do it.ways to do it.
1. Write a straight news story about the Project.
2. Write a feature story about it.

9.  If the journalist were writing a news story,If the journalist were writing a news story,
it might begin something like this:it might begin something like this:
Twenty-one teachers from across eastern South Dakota gathered at theTwenty-one teachers from across eastern South Dakota gathered at the
University of South Dakota June 14-July 1 to learn techniques used to teachUniversity of South Dakota June 14-July 1 to learn techniques used to teach
writing.writing.
The rest of the story would continue this pattern with theThe rest of the story would continue this pattern with the
most importantmost important information always taking precedenceinformation always taking precedence
over theover the less importantless important information,information,
even if it is more interesting.even if it is more interesting.
This is a basic news lead.This is a basic news lead.
It gives the facts—It gives the facts—
thethe who, what, when, where, why and howwho, what, when, where, why and how
of the story.of the story.

10.  If this were to be written as a feature story,If this were to be written as a feature story,
however, the lead might look more likehowever, the lead might look more like
this:this:
Teacher Jason Lueth cried as he composed a poem about his grandmotherTeacher Jason Lueth cried as he composed a poem about his grandmother
at the keyboard of a Macintosh computer in the basement of the Universityat the keyboard of a Macintosh computer in the basement of the University
of South Dakota Arts and Sciences building recently.of South Dakota Arts and Sciences building recently.
The purpose of this feature lead is to draw the reader in—The purpose of this feature lead is to draw the reader in—
that is, to make him or her curious.that is, to make him or her curious.
What was he crying about?What was he crying about?
Why in a computer lab?Why in a computer lab?
I want to know more!I want to know more!

11. We are going to write about anWe are going to write about an
individual in pure feature fashion.individual in pure feature fashion.
After the feature lead is written, move on to compose the rest of theAfter the feature lead is written, move on to compose the rest of the
story.story.
A feature may take nearly any format, but should be written inA feature may take nearly any format, but should be written in
third person with many first person quotes, as in any news story.third person with many first person quotes, as in any news story.