Writing Feature Articles: Profiles

• Feature articles come in various forms like profiles and how-tos.
• Editors are more likely to consider pitches tailored to a specific format or angle.

Profiles

• A profile is a short biography focused on a person, place, event, or thing.
• Profiles should be centered on a newsworthy event occurring.
• A profile's hook explains why a subject is being highlighted at a particular time.
• Effective profiles delve into a subject's personality and recount struggles and aspirations.
• Profiles should present a complete picture, including flaws, and aim to delve into feelings, attitudes, habits, and mannerisms.
• Profiles should be both entertaining and informative.
• Immersive reporting reveals anecdotes about a subject’s interests, career, education, and family.
• Documenting habits, mannerisms, vocal tones, dress, interactions, and word choice helps readers better understand the subject.
• Interviewing skills are critical to encourage subjects to share personal details.
• The goal is to create a conversational environment, encouraging subjects to reveal their true selves, memories, opinions, feelings, and reflections.
• Interviewing multiple people provides diverse perspectives and valuable background information.
• Observing a subject in various settings provides a comprehensive understanding of them.
• Insufficient sources and limited time with a subject can lead to an incomplete profile.

Profile Framework:

• Start with an engaging anecdotal lead.
• Include a nut graph that conveys the story's essence and its current relevance.
• Show the subject in action using dialogue and descriptions.
• Chronologically recap past activities with relevant facts, quotes, and anecdotes, tying into the theme.
• Describe the subject's current activities in relation to the theme.
• Outline their future plans, dreams, goals, and potential obstacles.
• End with a closing quote that leaves the reader with a sense of resolution.

Q&A

• Easily written and read, Q&As are versatile across many topics.
• Interviewers need to ask high-quality questions that inspire thought and detailed answers.
• Q&As begin with an engaging introduction before transitioning into an interview format: interviewer, interviewee, and reader.
• A Q&A needs to feel conversational.
• The order of questions and the quality of answers are crucial.
• Editing a Q&A transcript can take longer than the interview itself.
• Eliminate redundancies and verbal fillers like "like" or "you know".
• Sentences can be edited out by using ellipses (...).
• Grammatical errors should be corrected or clarified with the subject.

Round-Up

• Feature round-ups compile suggestions from different sources around a central idea.
• Round-ups are similar to list blog posts.
• Each suggestion is typically numbered.
• Round-ups begin with an anecdote that introduces the theme.
• The body consists of sections, each presenting a suggestion with sources, facts, anecdotes, and quotes.
• The order of suggestions is interchangeable.
• Sources should have expertise, not just opinions.

How-To

• How-to articles teach readers how to do something through step-by-step directions, supplies, and suggestions.
• Unlike round-ups, how-to articles should be sequential and end with a successful outcome.
• Topics should be novel or offer a new approach to something familiar.
• Instructions should avoid being too simple or too complex.
• Definitions and anecdotes can illustrate potential successes and failures.

Personal Experience

• Personal experience articles share original, instructive moments.
• Readers should be able to relate, learn, benefit, avoid, or cope with a challenge from the experience.
• The author's experience is the story, not just an introduction as in a first-person lead.
• These articles require the author to share the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable.
• The experience should be complete before pitching.
• An author needs to have gained perspective on the issue to report it objectively.
• The experience should be attainable or achievable for readers.

The Art of Covering Horse Racing

• Thinking outside the box leads to unique stories.
• Focus on different aspects related to an event, like the owners instead of the trainer.
• Highlighting a unique aspect, like a horse's breeding style, that has not yet been told provides value to a reader.

True-Life Drama

• True-life dramas recount almost unbelievable but real events driven by compelling characters.
• They often start as news stories before evolving into in-depth features.
• Penetrating interviews are key to uncovering the "real story".

Seasonal

• Seasonal stories need a fresh angle each year and are planned in advance.
• Themes should be interwoven with a timely observance.
• Consider how a single event can be spun for different audiences.
• Pitches should be submitted well in advance, often six months to a year before the event.

Travel

• Travel pieces need original and unique angles.
• Focus on specific aspects such as budget or a unique perspective.
• The piece has to show the editor and the reader why there is a unique perspective and angle on a traveling experience.
• Travel writing includes how to travel, when to travel, and advice on traveling.
• Targeting a specific group of travelers increases the chances of a unique idea.
• Developing expertise in a subject or area can help separate a writer.
• Build up expertise in one subject or area.
• Be a curious and perceptive traveler, always looking for potential stories.

Other Types Include:

• Essay or Opinion: First-person pieces on timely subjects.
• Historical Article: Focus on a historical aspect with a current connection.
• Trend Story: Captures the current pulse of a population.
• Evergreen: Timeless stories that can be pitched anytime.