Feature Story Brainstorm

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.

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.

First-hand experience — a story based on the first hand account of a unique experience.

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.