Here are some great feature story angles, some suggestions on how to come up with a story plan and how to craft the actual story:
Personality — A profile of an unusual or outstanding person.
News feature — an up-close angle on a recent news story.
Human Interest — stories with a heartwarming twist, drama or a unique turn on human lives.
Occasional pieces — based on holidays or special events, yet taking a unfamiliar slant.
Historical feature — story based on a current event or person that has a unique connection to the past.
Informative feature — a story based on information your readers need to know.
First-hand experience — a story based on the first hand account of a unique experience.
Consumer report — a story based on the investigation of a product or service.
Background feature — a story that gives readers an insider or a “behind the scenes” account of a person or event.
Unlimited Subject Possibilities
Could be about history, hobbies, unusual situations.
Often describes the mood of an event.
About anything that people are interested in.
How do you craft the story?:
Creative Style
–They provide writers flexibility in word choice, but not license to make things up.
–Don’t have to follow the “inverted pyramid” format.
–Opinion and speculation are not allowed.
–Allow the use of literary devices such as character development and dialogue.
Show, don’t tell
Use details that help the reader see, smell, hear, taste, and touch the elements in the story.
Personalize and localize
Whatever the topic, incorporate real people from your school and community.
Find the angle
Focus on a topic of interest that is unusual.
Built on good quotes
Let people tell the story in their own words.
Use a limited number of anecdotes or quotes to get across a single idea.
Provide resolution
The ending should bring the story to full circle and provide the readers with a strong closing statement.
On your blog please complete the following checklist:
1. Who is your main subject?
2. Supporting interviews (who else do you need to talk to)?
3. What is the topic or potential topic?
4. Which angle from above will you write the story?
5. Then to help you get going faster, come up with 20 questions that you can ask your main subject. Type these in your blog.
6. Once you complete that portion, you need to come up with 5-10 questions you need to ask your supporting interviews. Type these into your blog. You may need different questions for each supporting subject.
7. You will need to do a little research on the topic you expect to interview your main subject about. Take a little time and do some google searching - find at least 5 new things about the intended topic you should know before you interview your main subject. List those on your blog.
8. Write when you plan to conduct the interview(s)?
9. Where you will interview them (some interviews are better to do in the persons environment, while others should be done in public places, ALL interviews should be done in person)?
10. How will you record the information? (taking notes is ideal, and if you want to record the conversation you MUST get permission. You can do both if they will allow you to record, this is a very effective technique that you could use.)
Personality — A profile of an unusual or outstanding person.
News feature — an up-close angle on a recent news story.
Human Interest — stories with a heartwarming twist, drama or a unique turn on human lives.
Occasional pieces — based on holidays or special events, yet taking a unfamiliar slant.
Historical feature — story based on a current event or person that has a unique connection to the past.
Informative feature — a story based on information your readers need to know.
First-hand experience — a story based on the first hand account of a unique experience.
Consumer report — a story based on the investigation of a product or service.
Background feature — a story that gives readers an insider or a “behind the scenes” account of a person or event.
Unlimited Subject Possibilities
Could be about history, hobbies, unusual situations.
Often describes the mood of an event.
About anything that people are interested in.
How do you craft the story?:
Creative Style
–They provide writers flexibility in word choice, but not license to make things up.
–Don’t have to follow the “inverted pyramid” format.
–Opinion and speculation are not allowed.
–Allow the use of literary devices such as character development and dialogue.
Show, don’t tell
Use details that help the reader see, smell, hear, taste, and touch the elements in the story.
Personalize and localize
Whatever the topic, incorporate real people from your school and community.
Find the angle
Focus on a topic of interest that is unusual.
Built on good quotes
Let people tell the story in their own words.
Use a limited number of anecdotes or quotes to get across a single idea.
Provide resolution
The ending should bring the story to full circle and provide the readers with a strong closing statement.
On your blog please complete the following checklist:
1. Who is your main subject?
2. Supporting interviews (who else do you need to talk to)?
3. What is the topic or potential topic?
4. Which angle from above will you write the story?
5. Then to help you get going faster, come up with 20 questions that you can ask your main subject. Type these in your blog.
6. Once you complete that portion, you need to come up with 5-10 questions you need to ask your supporting interviews. Type these into your blog. You may need different questions for each supporting subject.
7. You will need to do a little research on the topic you expect to interview your main subject about. Take a little time and do some google searching - find at least 5 new things about the intended topic you should know before you interview your main subject. List those on your blog.
8. Write when you plan to conduct the interview(s)?
9. Where you will interview them (some interviews are better to do in the persons environment, while others should be done in public places, ALL interviews should be done in person)?
10. How will you record the information? (taking notes is ideal, and if you want to record the conversation you MUST get permission. You can do both if they will allow you to record, this is a very effective technique that you could use.)