What exactly is a feature story: From Writing Feature Story by Matthew Ricketson

"It is hard news that catches people. Features hold them."

What exactly is a feature story?

The book tries to answer basic questions about feature writing starting from what exactly a feature is. A feature story is different from the hard news as it contains information, analysis of events and issues and emotions as compared to the hard news that only has information. The more the information, the more hardness.

Types of features

Categorizing feature stories is also useful for new freelancers as they can select their preference and specifically learn the tools of the trade for that particular category. So this was something I found useful.

1.Color Story (Red Carpet Premier / Less news value more atmosphere)

2.Human Interest (Voyage around the world)
3.News Feature (Explaining meaning of the news and implications)
4. Backgrounder
5. lifestyle Features (entertaining from best coffee shops to buying a house / relevant to everyday life
6.Travel Stories
7. General Features
8.Interview piece (Q and A)  and (engaging lead and describe the subject)
9.Profile and Hostile profile (Mini Biographies about the subject and different from an interview as it studies a subject from different perspectives)
thoroughly researched and sharply portrayed profile of compelling figures.
10. Investigative Features  big hit  must contain revelations
11. Columns: knowledge wit and personality
advice col, gossip col, pundits,
12. Reviews: reviews do not exist without something to review.
Literature, film, theater, / should be entertaining as well as informative.

Plan

This was especially intriguing to plan before start working because the fresh freelancers are often excited and begin working without even little planning. Half an hour planning can save days of efforts.   So better ask yourself four question:

Why now? 

Who is the audience? 

What is the Story  about? 

What are the key questions to be answered?