Feature Writing

Almost no one can give an exact

definition of a feature story. It is not a news
story written in inverted pyramid form with
no opinion or other embellishments. It is not a
fiction story, for most features deal with facts.
While it may explain, it does not provide
opinion like an editorial.

Figuratively, we can say that while

straight news appeals to the physical and
editorial appeals to the intellect, feature story
appeals to the emotion.
- Gelly E. Alkuino
 Feature stories are portraits of
different facets of life depicted vividly
in writings.
- Gretel Laura Cadiong
 Feature article is the
journalistic equivalent of the essay.
It’s function is to humanize, to add
color and to educate in an
entertaining manner. It tells about
how and why things happen.

- Dominador Pagliawan
 A feature story as a write-up is based
on that mysterious ingredient in
journalism called human interest.
Feature article appeals to the
emotion. It tells stories and paints
pictures in the minds of the readers.

- Antonio Alido
 A feature article is factual. It tells story
showing specific scenes. And it usually
quotes liberally and allows the reader to see
the story through detailed description and
vivid writing.

- Eden Dadap
 Qualities of Feature Articles
1. It deals with any topic.
2. It usually entertains more often than it informs,
instructs or advises.
3. It may be long or short as long as it covers the
subject adequately and keeps it interesting to the
readers.
4. It may be light or serious, depending on its
purpose.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
5. It could be formal or informal and written
in any form and style, but well organized.
6. It may or may not be timely.
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
8. It is written in ascending interest.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
9. It is based on facts. Though sometimes, the
writer uses his imagination to play up the details,
it is still anchored on facts.
10. It can be garnished with adjective, figures of
speech, dialogue, anecdote, local color and
idiomatic expressions.
11. It can be written in the first or third person.
 Kinds of Feature Story
• Informative Feature
- It gives information to the readers. This
includes about subjects of current interests.

• Human Interest Feature

- A story that somehow involves people and
their troubles, failures and successes.
• Historical Feature
- It narrates the evolution of something like
the name of a particular place, origin of a
celebration and others.

• Personality Sketch
- People are interested in people, especially
with people who have become successful or
have attained celebrity status.
• Personal Experience
- It deals with any unusual experience
usually written in first person.

• Travelogue
- It describes a place and the kind of
people the writer has met during his travel.
• Science Feature
- It features anything related to science
and technology.

• News Feature
- This is usually based on a recent event.
Its focus is less on the information, but on
the deeper meaning of the incident.
• Sports Feature
- Any feature article related to sports.

• How to Feature
- It aims to explain a process or how a
certain product or service is made or
rendered.
 Sources of Feature Articles
1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like books, newspapers,
magazines and others
4. Special events like anniversaries, holidays
5. Advertisements
6. Speeches and commentaries
7. Movies
8. Casual conversation
9. Travel
10. Tourist spots
11. Fads
12. Interview
13. Imagination
Steps in writing a feature article
• For publication, you have to choose a topic which
you know well.
• For competitions, try all the possible topics and get
much information about these.
• Limit your subject to just one specific area.
• Think of a more interesting angle of the topic.
• Make an outline.
• Use appropriate and striking novelty lead.
• You can garnish your article with anecdotes,
dialogues and local color.
• Don’t just tell. Show the readers instead.
• Use powerful verbs.
• Make sure the article is filled with dramatic quality.
• Give proofs like statistical values to make your article
more factual.
• Follow this scheme, 90% facts and 10% opinion.
• Try to make use of the T-Q formula/ Transition-
Quote Formula.
• You can play with direct and indirect quotations in
the body to make it more fluid.
• When quoting, proper attributions should be made.
• Tie up your conclusion to the lead.
• Make a striking title.
Structure of a Feature Article
Feature story follows the pyramid
structure. The details of the story are
arranged according to the ascending
order of importance, from the least
important to the most important ones. It
begins with a novelty lead.
Styles in writing Feature Articles

• Blundell

• T/Q
Parts of the Feature Article
Blundell T-Q Formula
Technique
• Lead
• Introduction
• Nut Graph
- Lead and Nut
Graph • Body
• Body - Transition/Quote
• Conclusion • Conclusion
 T-Q Formula
• Lead
- opening statement / sentence must grab and hold the
readers’ attention by using specific, interest-arousing
words
- can be more than one paragraph
- can be and often are longer than one sentence
- should be specific to your stories
- should not be filled with clichés
- should be in the third person (except if you are writing a
personal experience)
• Nut Graph
- contains the 5 Ws and H which were not
answered in the lead
- a summary of what your story about
• Body
- should contain the details of your story
- based on facts (90% facts, 10% opinion)
- should contain the transition/quote formula
(makes the fluidity of your story)
- establish the active voice of verb for the transitions
- In quoting, if you quote a whole paragraph, attribute the
source with the complete name after the first sentence
then continue the quote after the attribution.
- If there is that chance that you have to quote from the
same source, the next time you have your attribution,
just write the family name of the person whom you
quoted from.

- The number of transition/quote may vary in numbers.

There is no such required number of this scheme for as
long as they are still needed in your article.
• Conclusion
- it is good to end your feature article
with a powerful quote
- or you may tie it with the lead
 Best Leads for Feature Articles
• Narrative Lead
- narration of a scenario
Ex.
Before the flood, Romeo visited his relatives
in the village, sensing no signs of weather
abnormalities. He went from house to house
inviting his folks to attend his wedding in the
barrio church, unaware that a strong typhoon was
coming.
• Descriptive Lead
- uses descriptive words to vividly formulate an
imagery
Ex.
The raging rain fell outside of the dilapidated house. For the
past 14 hours, no one could ever hear anything other than raindrops.
Not one from the members of the family uttered a single word, but
deep within themselves, they knew the gnawing shadow of fear that
slowly crept into their senses. For it was the same ambience when a
lethal flood besieged their town two years ago, killing hundreds of
people.
• Quotation Lead
- This is a statement uttered by a well-known
speaker or celebrity in the community.
Ex.
“I don’t care if I burn in hell for as long as
the people I serve live in paradise.”
President-Elect Rodrigo R. Duterte said in
one of his campaign materials during the
recently concluded Presidential Election 2016.
• Question Lead
- is a thought-provoking question to capture
the interest of the reader and lead them to find
the answer provided by the succeeding details
of the article.
Ex.
When was the last time I told my father I loved him?
• Teaser
- A device to deceive the reader in a jesting manner to
arouse his curiosity and gently lead him into the story. It is
generally short, crispy and witty. Riddles are often used and
they do not give the readers any clue on the nature of the
story. They are mostly suggestive and humorous.
Ex.
What comes first, the hen or the egg? Well, egg could not be
made possible without the hen. But where does the hen come from?
• Punch Lead
- It is short, striking one-sentence lead.
Ex.
Hungry farmers are selling not only their
plows and carabaos, but also their children.
• Astonisher
- makes use of an exclamatory sentence
Ex.
The city’s water district is on fire!
People from all walks of life are
lambasting it for its alleged failure to
supply the much needed water to its
numerous consumers not only in the city
but also in the neighboring towns of leyte.
• One Word Lead
- a significant word that can strike the readers
Ex.
BANG!
Sprinters from the different divisions of Region XII
zoomed like bullets to the finishing line during the 100-
meter dash of the Cotabato Regional Athletic
Association (CRAA) Meet, held at Antonio C.
Acharon Sports and Development Center, Calumpang,
General Santos City on April 1-5, 2005
• Parody Lead
- It consists of a parody of a well-known
quotation, song, poem, book or movie film title.
Ex.
Here, there, and everywhere.
This was how Manny Pacquiao moved
in the ring during his latest fight with
Timothy Bradley of USA, making use of
his speed and boxing skills.
• Background Lead
- It describes an event in which the
background overshadows the individuals who
participate in it; often use for stories about
carnivals, festivals, dances and others.
Ex.
The campus was turned into a miniature carnival
ground during its anniversary celebration. Decorated
with buntings and multi-colored lights, the school
quadrangle was a grand setting for a barrio fiesta.
• Freak Lead
- uses typographical effects to enhance
appeal
Ex.
For sale: a kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of Taguig and a
father of seven children said yesterday that he
was forced to sell his kidney to provide his family
a bright future.
• Contrast Lead
- It is used to point up opposites and
extremes.
Ex.
In the 1960’s, a ten-centavo coin was already a treasure.
Today, nobody wants to give it a second glance on the
ground.
• Staccato Lead
- A series of words or phrases, punctuated
by periods, commas, or dashes.
Ex.
Neglected. Denuded. Abused. Abandoned. This
is the real picture of our forest today.
Organizing the Body
1. Provide the readers with vital
information
2. Make your sentences clear and concise
3. Use a thread
4. Connect paragraphs with transitional
words and phrases
5. Use dialogue to keep the story moving
6. Establish a voice
How to end your feature article?
• A summary of the whole article

Ex.
Health experts are right: vegetables are
excellent for the body. We need them for
more energy, to fight various diseases, and
for better looks.
• An announcement of the main point

Ex.
It is hard to define a feature
article because it can take so many
forms and can cover so many subjects.
• A question left in the reader’s mind

Ex.
The hand of a feature writer toil for the
love of writing. They turn the wheel of
progress and hold high the torch of freedom
- the freedom of expression.
Do you have these hands?
• Suggestions fro the desired action

Ex.
Let us conserve our water now if we want
to save the future of our households.
• A reference to the title

Ex.
Given this, one would have
doubts that poverty, indeed, is a
hindrance to success.
• A repetition of the sentence or slogan

Ex.
No pains, no gains. Without hard work,
determination, and discipline, Manny
Pacquiao would not have made it to the
list of the country’s few billionaires.
• A forecast or prediction

Ex.
Three years from now, if population
explosion will not stop, we will have doubled
the country’s population count.
 PITFALLS TO AVOID IN
FEATURE WRITING
• news or editorial leads. (Avoid first and second person
points of view.)
• stating the obvious in the lead
• using clichés
• writing in passive voice
• messy handwriting
• using too many adverbs and adjectives instead of specific
nouns and powerful verbs.
• lacking of strong quotes
To make your feature article a great one,
you should remember this mnemonics.
• GQ STUDD
G – great S – story lead
Q – quotes T – transition
U – unique angle
D – description (show, don’t tell)
D – details
Sample of Feature articles
 The Wind Beneath Our Wings
Feldah Ditalo Guitoria

I can fly higher

than an eagle
Cause you are the wind
beneath my wings…

Are these lines familiar?

Yes.. if I have to choose a song which will best fit the
lady behind the performing Campus Journalism Program
of the Eastern Samar Division, it would be this.
 She is kind… but firm; she is stern… but fair; she
gives much but gets little; the epitome of a leader who
exudes honesty, kindness and fairness. She has the
passion for her work, never leaving a single stone
unturned, until it’s done. She never fails to remind
everyone (I’m referring to the DAESPA Technical
Working Group) of his/her duty in big events - trainings
and press conferences. She works with the group from
start to finish, thus, coming up always with a successful
activity.
She keeps her feet on the ground in spite of the
accomplishments she had for our division in line with
campus journalism.
 She remains to be approachable and
accommodating… always ready to lend her ears for
suggestions and “confessions” from her subordinates.
Yes, the lady I’m referring to is our indefatigable and
dynamic Division Campus Journalism
Coordinator… Mrs. Maria Casillano Moscare!
Ssshhh… She may not like what I’m going to reveal
to you now. Let’s keep this a secret between you and
me…on October 1………is her birthday.
Happy Birthday, Ma’am!!!
 Raw yet sweet
Young as he is, tagged as the boy next door in
their school, oozing with cuteness and humility LEAD

attracts girls in his school.

John Lloyd Silva, a grade 8 student of
Immaculate Conception School, paints a perfect
Nut
emblem of an ideal guy for a relationship as the Graph
female students fondly call him “boyfriend” for he
possesses what it takes to be a boyfriend material.
His young age doesn’t seem to hinder him to Transi-
tion
get a lot of admirations from his girl schoolmates.
 “When I saw JL, it’s as if I saw my future boyfriend
already,” Jillian May Andres said. “He is so cute. He caught
Quote
my heart. I always want to see him each day. Actually, he
inspires me a lot. I don’t make any absences anymore at all.”
Silva treats his admirers just like sisters. He doesn’t take
those sweet notes and heart striking calls of him whenever Transi-
tion
he passes along the corridor going to his room.
“Oh my God, I can’t control myself not to be fascinated
and get hooked about John Lloyd for he is so sweet,”
campus crush, Alexa Jane Mendez said. “Sometimes, I feel Quote
awkward whenever he takes notice of me and answer back
when I say ‘hi,’ he replies, ‘Hi ate!’ So it was just a sister’s
treat.”
 His innocence that he is a campus crush adds more
admirations from the girls about him for he acts so Transi-
young like what the typical boys do. The only trait of tion
him is his cuteness and sweetness. He is young, yet when
he deals with his peers especially with girls, his sweetness
to them is loud.
“I don’t know exactly what it’s like to love them,”
Silva said. “I am still young for that. Though I just love
the thought of showing them comfort and ease when
Quote
they approach me. There were even times that they
misinterpreted my smile that they thought I have a crush
on them but the truth is, I have my respect for them and
that I need to be nice and as much as possible
accommodating.”
 His spark as a young boy to all who have
a crush on him is but nothing but a plain
admiration according to him.
Though maturity doesn’t mark him yet,
he has that early sign of a perfect lover
Ending
however; he is still raw for that matter. His
sweetness gives so much foundation to the
so called “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationship.
 Now you see… Now you don’t…
“Tantaradan-taradan-taradan,” rang my phone. My cousin
called me up reminding me to get packed and get ready before
lunchtime as we would be leaving for the island.
Excitedly, I gave an exalting response saying yes to her
finally after the resets. I could now grant myself a treat of
relaxation and could soak myself enjoying the last few days of
my summer.
The ball of fire stood straight above the skies allowing fine
weather with tender blowing wind to complete the scene of our
departure for Sulu-an island with my cousin with her husband
and two of my close friends during the last days of summer.
 We left from our abode before lunch and reached the
terminal just as the time the expected pump boat which we
would be riding on arrived from the island which soon we
would visit.
My cousin approached the driver and asked if we would be
leaving already, then in reply, he asked for a little time to wait to
buy for a gas.
“Tara palit la anay kita hin tinapay ngan tubig,” my cousin
said. “Maghulat daw anay kita kadali kay mapalit pa hin gas kay
bangen daw kita mahubsan. Adto daw kita magbinugsayay kun
dumeritso kita.”
 Of course, the rest of us don’t want to paddle in the
middle of the sea if the boat would be out of gas. And so we
waited by the RLM store and bought bread and water. Later,
the driver came and signaled us that we would be leaving
now.
“Smile guys,” my friend said. “We should take a picture
before the engine starts so that we have a proof that we are
really leaving for Sulu-an.”
The five of us took a “groufie” while the driver tried to
start the engine. I and my two friends exclaimed that this was
it pancit! This was a trip that would conclude our summer
vacation.
 “Da-da-da-da-da-da-da,” the engine sounded. “Fasten your
seatbelt guys as we would traverse the sea like you can’t imagine.
The tossing waves are just waiting there,” Kuya Jay-R jokingly said a
bit.
It was still a very fine and calm sea as if we were just riding on a
plain. No humps and disturbances. Yet, just as we thought it was
like that through the travel, shocks! It was not! Little by little the
waves got bigger and stronger. The front part of the boat racked
off as it fought against the approaching bulge of water. Meanwhile,
the driver said that we should relax for they were still normal.
“Oh my God!” Charlie shouted. “Are these still normal Kuya?
They are no joke anymore. What the! Earlier when we left, I
thought it was a smooth sail but now it’s as if the seas are mad at us
that we travel!”
 Nervousness enveloped the four of us except for my
cousin’s husband for he was used with the waves for his family
was a native of the island. This was really a proof of what I
usually hear from my friends back in the mainland that the
waves are just big that I couldn’t imagine.
The feeling of fright was intensified more when we were
already in the glimpsed of the island for the darkened clouds
covered the blue skies and fell its precipitates thinking that the
situation could go worse. But in God’s will, it stopped after a
few minutes.
It was just an inch away, really it is true! Everybody of us
was in awe! It was a jaw dropping landscape. The seas were
sparkling blue, the shore waved its long inviting white sand,
and the whole island was really a piece of God’s masterpiece. It
was as if commending its wealth of green and offering its
abundance to us.
Indeed, as we stepped on the shore, I said that this was a
haven. After the now you see and now you don’t experience in
the vast sea, thank God we arrived safe and sound.
“Hello Sulu-an! Here we are!”
First Place NSPC 2014
Subic, Zambales
Sulat.
Bura.
Sulat.
Bura.
Sa patuloy na pag-inog ng mundo, patuloy rin ang
pangungukilkil ng kaisipang “ang pluma ay higit na
makapangyarihan kaysa anumang sandata.” Isang
kasabihang totoo at hindi na bago para sa akin bilang
isang mamamahayag.
Sa pang araw-araw na pagsusulat at
paghahanap ng solusyon sa pang araw-
araw na mga suliranin, may mga bagay
na mismong ako ay aking
nakaliligtaan. Mga isyung hindi lang ikaw
at ako ang may kinalaman, kundi pati
ang bansang tinubuan. Ito ang di
mapiglas-piglas na isyu ng tanikala ng
kahirapan.
Isa lamang akong simpleng manunulat
ng aming paaralan sa Cagayan de oro
at inaamin kong wala sa akin ang lahat
ng solusyon sa lahat ng problema.
Subalit nagbago ang lahat ng ito nang
aking kapanayamin ang aming guro sa
Araling Panlipunan na si Gng. Naildred
Suan.
Sa edad niyang 55, agad na
mababanaag ang kanyang pagiging
seryoso sa buhay. Bantad na bantad ang
kanyang pagiging desente at respetadong
guro at indibidwal na kahit sa simpleng
pakikipag-usap sa kanya ay sandamakmak
na impormasyon at kaalaman ang
matutuhuhan—bagay na siyang naghatak
sa akin para siya’y kapanayamin.
“Ma’am, gaano na po kataas ang antas
at lebel ng kahirapan sa Pilipinas?“ Ito
ang linyang bumulalas mula sa aking
nangungusap na bibig. Sa puso’t
damdamin ko’y nagsalimbayan ang
samu’t saring emosyon at palaisipan—
mga katanungang nag-aapuhap ng
mga kasagutan.
Wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa
kanya sa loob ng ilang segundo.
Katahimikan ang tanging bumalot sa
silid na aming kinaroroonan.
Nakabibinging katahimikan na tumutulig
sa munting mga tainga na siyang
lagusan tungo sa pahat na isipang puno
ng katanungan
“Hindi ko alam kung gaano. Tanging
alam ko ay kung ano.“ Tanging linyang
bumasag sa nakabibinging
katahimikan. Linyang lalong
nagpagulumi sa aking isipan. Wala
akong nadarama kundi ang bugso ng
pagkalito na dulot ng kanyang sinabi.
“Tanging alam ko ay kung ano—kung ano ang
dahilan ng kahirapang ating dinaranas. Ang dahilan
ay ang korupsyon na kagagawan ng mga opisyales
ng pamahalaan na nagnakaw, nagtaksil at
nanlinlang. Kanilang ninakaw ang perang galing sa
kaban ng bayan na nakalaan para sa mga proyekto
at hakbanging pangkaunlaran. Sila’y nagtaksil sa
ating mga mata at nanlinlang gamit ang kanilang
mga maiitim na kasinungalingang hindi naikubli ng
huwad na katotohanan. Sa katunayan, ang mga
taong ito ay ang mga binoto at iniluklok ng
sambayanan sa posisyong kanilang kinalalagyan.….
Binigay niyang halimbawa ang isa sa
mga episodes ng programa ng ABS-CBN
na “Failon Ngayon.“ Doon ay ipinakita ang
kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng karamihan
sa mga pamilyang Pilipino na ang isang
kahig ay isang tuka. Makabagbag
damdamin ang kanilang kalagayan
habang patagong ninanakaw ng mga
nakaupo sa katungkulan ang perang
nakalaan.
“Maraming aral ang patuloy na sinasabog ng isyung ito sa
moral at kamalayan ng taong-bayan. Mga aral ito na hindi
dapat mailista lamang sa hanging tiyak na hahawiin ng
rumaragasang usok ng kapalaluan. Kaya’t kailangang
mahanapan ng agarang solusyon ang problemang ito.
Dahil kung hindi, patuloy at lalo itong titindi at darating ang
araw kung saan tuluyan nang nakalugmok ang bansang
Pilipinas sa kumunoy ng di matibag-tibag na balangkas ng
kahirapan. Ikaw, bilang isang kabataang Juan dela Cruz;
ano ang maiaambag mo para sa malutas ang isyung ito?”
Ito ang huling linyang mula sa bibig ni Gng. Suan na
umurirat sa lahat ng aspeto ng aking pagkatao. Mundo
ko’y tila huminto sa pag-inog nang kanyang sinambit ang
huling pangungusap na nagbadya ng isang napakalaking
palaisipan sa akin.
Sulat.
Bura.
Sulat.
Bura.
Maraming araw ang lilipas. Maraming dahon ang
malalagas. Maraming papel ang maalpas at
maraming tinta ang maipapamalas. Magpapatuloy
ang aking pagsusulat at pagbubura. Subalit sa bawat
sulat na aking gagawin at bawat burang aking
tatahakin, akay-akay ko na ang bandila ng Pilipinas
ng may responsibilidad. Dahil sa murang gulang ko,
ako’y maituturing na isang responsableng Juan dela
Cruz na naniniwalang responsableng pluma ang
kailangan tungo sa walang-patid na daloy ng
kaunlaran.
 “Fostering 21st Century Skills
and Character-based Education
through Campus Journalism”
Thank You!