Writing a Good Feature

While a feature should be simple and clear just like an inverted pyramid news story, a personal feeling should radiate through a feature. The news story isn’t what should be the most urgent; instead, a feature is about emotion and description.

Features are stories – not to be written as a typical news report. A good feature will have an excellent first paragraph that will draw the reader in. After the first paragraph should be a transition, which may repeat, and then an end – always leaving space to bring the story back to the beginning.

It’s important for a good feature to maintain the flow of the story by having transitions that fit appropriately. Dialogue should also flow throughout, and may be helpful to use as transitions. Be careful of the quotes used because if the writer is making them up without acceptable sources this could cause controversy.

While adjectives are very important to a feature, it’s important to not overwhelm the reader with description. The scene should be thoroughly described, but it is not necessary to gush over every little detail of a person’s home setting.