Rules for Writing Feature Articles

From LoveToKnow Freelance-Writing

Keeping in mind the rules for writing feature articles will help you craft stories that editors are eager to publish.

General Rules for Writing

When discussing how to write a feature article, it's a good idea to remember that most of the rules for successful feature writing apply to all types of written work. For example:

Write in the active voice. This is a great tip for all types of writing, but it's especially important when writing a feature article. In active writing, people "do" things instead of having things "done" to them. If you have trouble telling the difference between the active voice and the passive voice, check out the tutorial on Purdue Online Writing Lab Web site.
Keep your paragraphs short. In most cases, two or three sentences per paragraph is sufficient. Long paragraphs tend to look intimidating to readers.
Use short sentences. Generally, it's good to keep your sentences between 15 and 20 words in length. It's fine to have an occasional long sentence, but you want to make your article as easy to read as possible.
Use action verbs to keep the story moving. This is much more interesting than "to be" verbs that show little action.
Avoid clichés. Writing that lacks originality is unlikely to hold the reader's attention for very long.

Important Rules for Writing Feature Articles

Once you've mastered all of the general rules for good writing, you'll need to incorporate some specific tips for feature writers into your work. For example:

Keep in mind that the purpose of a feature article is to add depth and color to the news. For example, a magazine that prints a story about a new type of hearing aid in one issue may also run a feature about how this technology has changed the life of a hearing-impaired child.
Remember that a feature does not usually follow the inverted pyramid structure of the typical news story. A feature article is written using storytelling techniques that grab the reader's attention instead of simply providing facts.
Use quotes and anecdotes to add color to your story, especially if your feature article is a profile of one particular person. To get the best quotes, try to conduct your interviews in person whenever possible.
Incorporate details that use all five senses. Describe how things look, feel, taste, touch, and sound to make the reader believe he or she is actually part of the story.
Don't include all of your research material. Reporters often feel obligated to include quotes from everyone they've interviewed and statistics from every secondary source they've used when researching the article. However, the best features only make use of material that is interesting and relevant.
Although feature writers can be a bit more creative when structuring their articles, it's still important to get the facts right. Don't forget that your work is supposed to be nonfiction.

Reading Improves Writing Skills

If you aspire to make feature writing a part of your freelance writing career, make a point to regularly read newspapers and magazines that publish features written in the style you prefer. You may even want to start a binder filled with clippings of articles you found particularly interesting, entertaining, or informative. Seeing how other writers have structured their articles will give you new ideas for your own projects. Becoming familiar with a variety of writing markets is also a sound business practice, since finding new sources of income is key to your financial success as a freelancer.