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Feature Writing, A Practical Introduction

As textbooks go, this one’s a very strong volume for the aspiring feature writer ready to make their mark on the world.

This new book is clearly and carefully set out and full of incisive comment from people at the sharp end of the industry, willing to pass on crucial advice gained from the school of hard knocks.

Authors Sue Featherstone and Susan Pape take a long, hard look at feature writing from every angle.

The book is packed with ideas, information and quotes from working journalists, and can only help the journalism trainees who turn to its pages to learn their trade.

Aimed at degree-level journalism media students, it’s an authoritative resource for people who want to get into this popular (even oversubscribed) branch of journalism.

Apart from covering the basics, such as what a feature is, how long it should be and where to get your ideas from, it also tackles more specialist areas such as health features, writing reviews, becoming a columnist – and what makes these different areas work in print.

At the beginning of the book, helping young writers select their sources for instance, Yorkshire Evening Post features editor Anne Pickles writes: “I was told I could claim my bus fares on expenses and was sent out with a notebook and pen to talk to vicars, pub landlords, shopkeepers, undertakers, working mens’ clubs’ social secretaries and local busy-bodies.

“I wasn’t allowed back into the office until I had picked up at least three stories. That kind of basic training never leaves you.”

Enthusiastic writers queue up to inspire the young students. Julie Gillin, former Derbyshire Times and Sheffield Star – now a freelance – adds: “I just really loved features and getting engaged with people in a way that you can’t with news.

“And I like being able to write in my own style and develop my own ideas – being more descriptive and playing around with things.”

Back to the learning though. For the modern reporter, topics such as doing interviews by e-mail are raised. But these can be impersonal, and reporters may fail to spot humour or irony if the words are beamed into their in-box – by their interviewee, their PRO (or even a committee, Sue and Susan mischievously suggest).

The age-old question “Can I see the copy before it’s published?” is also covered. The authors, of course, advise: “Do not show it to them. Their interference will add grammatical errors, ruin perfectly good quotes, and knock the shine off what was a sparkling gem of information.”

And you may miss your deadline, too.

There’s advice on interviewing, the right language to use, what should go in your features and how to pitch your ideas to publishers.

I did quickly check the chapter on reviews, which includes “Writing About Books”, before attacking my keyboard for this article.

The authors’ advice? Use direct quotes from the book to give a flavour of its appeal … write in the present tense … include brief biographical details on the author … always give information about the price, the publisher, and the number of pages.

I squeezed all that in, but at £18.99, to take my advice and invest in this book, you’ll either have to get it on expenses, your student loan or the uni library – or hope that the first commission it helps you to win will pay the bill.

  • Sue Featherstone is a former regional newspaper deputy editor now teaching journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, and is also an assessor and marker for the National Council for the Training of Journalists.
    Susan Pape is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of media experience, and as well as writing, teaches journalism at Trinity and All Saints, Leeds.

    Feature Writing, A Practical Introduction
    Susan Pape and Sue Featherstone
    Published by Sage
    pp176 ISBN 1-4129-0800-0 £18.99.