Creative Expression

I originally signed up for this class to try out a style of writing I really knew nothing about. All I knew was that feature stories really interested me when I read them and that they were always really captivating. I realized that they were structurally different than other forms of reporting but I didn't exactly know how to go about writing a feature story.

When we went around class the very first day and stated why we took the class I answered with something along the lines of, "To get better at writing and expand my horizons."

I feel like I have accomplished both of these but also so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed learning and practicing feature writing...even more so than I thought I would coming into the class.

Feature writing is a nice change in that it allows for the writer to include some of his or her own creative expression. I have always enjoyed telling stories, however, coming into this class I had never really written stories. Instead, I had always focused on hard news where I was limited to facts and making sure information was presented quickly and easily.

This class challenged me, especially at first, because it was so different than any writing I had ever done. It took some time to get used to straying away from the hard leads and structure of hard news articles. Gradually I felt as though my work displayed more details and descriptions that enabled my features to progress and become more interesting.

I learned more than just how to write a feature article in this class. The skills acquired in this class translate magnificently to all of my writings. Noticing details, using figurative language, and gathering tons of background information has strengthened all of my writing not simply my feature writing.

As I progress, I would love to continue working on these skills and getting better at feature writing. I never considered being a sports feature writer before this class, however, now after all I know and have learned I'd love to explore and pursue an opportunity of that nature. I think telling people's stories is so interesting and sharing them with an audience makes it that much more fulfilling.

Using Personal Experiences to Understand Writing Feature Stories

On multiple occasions we used class time to explore our own experiences and turn them into short feature stories. I think this was a very effective and helpful way of really learning to both notice and convey the details of these experiences to our readers.

Feature writing is all about the details. As a writer, you must be able to observe the details all around you. In addition, you must be able to pull the details from sources so that you can then turn around and convey them back to your audience. By focusing on first-hand experiences we eliminated the source. Instead, we acted as our own source. If we can't notice and describe the detail in our own experiences it is impossible to take the experiences of others and share those details.

One of the first exercises we did consisted of recounting a traumatic experience and then painting that scene full of details for the reader. I really enjoyed this exercise as I tried to recollect the sights, sounds and smells of that experience. Below is my entry for that exercise:

The thud echoes; overtaking the silence that previously filled the room. It sounds as though a hammer just obliterated a pumpkin. The chilling and harrowing sound stops everyone’s activity and the room once again falls silent.

I lay on the coarse turf clutching my face, which now feels as though there is a gaping hole right through it. Blood runs out as if it is water pouring from a pitcher.

Three rows of halogen lights continue to brighten the room; however, all I see is darkness. The pain is intense.

The once green turf is now stained a deep, dark red as the pool of blood continues to flow and puddle up around my head. Only one thought can be plucked out of the countless thoughts rushing through my pounding head.

Will I ever see again?

Not many people have experienced a 90-mile per hour fastball straight to their eye. I am one of the few. I remember the entire ordeal; I never lost consciousness. Some say that’s a good thing, I’m not so sure about that.

Using our own experiences shows us how many details we can recollect about the incident and just how much those details add to the story. Without them, the story would not seem nearly as traumatic as it was for myself.

The same holds true for when as a writer we are telling another person's story. If we don't get the details from them and then portray those details for the reader, we are not fully sharing their story the way it should be shared. In fact, most of the story will be missing as the details are the most crucial aspect.

Catchy Leads

We spent a lot of time in class practicing catchy leads with various exercises. An effective and catchy lead is vital to a complete and interesting feature story.

There are several types of leads that a writer can use to start his or her story. Chapter 5 in our books discussed the multitude of different leads, ranging from delayed identification to direct address to freak. There are numerous types of leads to choose from, the key is choosing the one that is most suitable and powerful for the type of feature story you are writing.

A major difference in hard news leads compared to that of feature stories is that in feature leads can be delayed leads. In other words, the writer doesn't have to get to all the important information in the very first graf. Instead the writer can allow the story and scenes to develop and reveal that information. In hard news, the inverted pyramid is used where the most important information must be crammed into the first graf. In feature writing the inverted pyramid is ditched.

It makes sense that feature leads are different than hard news leads since they are two very different styles of writing. Feature writing is a distinct variation of writing and storytelling. By catching the readers attention with a catchy lead, you set the audience up to continue reading and progressing towards the nut graf while becoming enthralled with the story.

Gathering Information for Feature Stories

Writing feature stories is very gratifying in that sharing an in-depth descriptive story with the reader is a good feeling. A lot of time goes into writing a feature piece and using exactly the right words and language to depict the scene for the audience. However, even more time is put in behind the scenes, which the reader never sees or even thinks about.

The reader only sees the final product; the strong and enthralling story that grabs their attention and doesn't let go until the piece is finished. However, before all of that was put together on paper, the writer had to do more research than the reader realizes.

Another reason feature stories may be so gratifying is because of all the work that goes into them. Feature writers must be extremely observant at all times. Often times people get moving so fast that they brush past people and places without noticing details. Feature writers must notice each and every detail and not take those for granted. Without these details, a feature story would be extremely weak.

Furthermore, feature writers must do a good bit of background information and interviewing. Often times, most of this information won't even be used in the story but it's necessary to understand and fully grasp everything you are writing about. Although it can be frustrating to put so much time and effort into gathering information and then not using it for the reader to see, having that knowledge is essential to writing a strong feature and that knowledge will show to the audience.

When interviewing for a feature story, you can't simply focus on the quotes. Instead, just like in building a scene for the reader, you must use your senses and notice everything. Everything includes facial expressions, dialect, scents, sounds, emotions, anything that could possibly be used later on to strengthen the story.

It took some time getting used to just how much detail and information you have to gather as a writer. However, if you want your piece to be as strong as you'd like then it's a necessity. Ultimately, once you are finished with the story it should feel as though all the background work was well worth the time and effort because the story will be so in-depth and detailed that both you and your readers will love it.

Finding a Feature Story

One thing I learned in this class is that everyone has a story to tell.  We hear that saying a lot but when you are focused with coming up with feature stories idea you realize that we are really surrounded by so many fascinating stories each and every day.

We started out the semester by researching a feature writer of our choice.  I chose Sports Illustrated writer Gary Smith.  I chose him because I had read multiple articles of his and had always been captivated by the way he was pulled me into the story to the point I couldn't put it down.

While researching his work I found a quote that taught me a very important lesson for class.  Smith once stated that his best feature stories come from focusing on the obscure rather than the famous.  In other words, there are so many various pieces written about the people we talk about and hear about day in and day out.  He realized that those people who were often overlooked also had stories to tell.  In fact, most of the time their stories were actually better because they had never been heard before.

This lesson helped me when I looked to come up with feature story ideas.  There truly are so many feature story ideas surrounding us in our every day.  All we have to do is probe and ask questions and be willing to listen to those with a story to tell.  If we listen and give those around us an opportunity to share their story, we as writers will have several incredible stories to recreate and share with our audiences.

Using Language to Improve Feature Stories

At the beginning of the course I think I struggled implementing strong language to paint a picture for the reader. My descriptions were bland and dull rather than attention grabbing and interesting.

Now, I think they are much stronger although I definitely still have work to do. What really helped me learn to develop stronger descriptions was learning more about using figurative language within features.

Scattering similes, metaphors, onomatopoeias, alliterations, and personification throughout my stories has really added a different element to my feature stories. Figurative language enables the writer to appeal more to the audiences senses by comparing two things that interest or even surprise the reader.

It took a while for me to understand the importance of having figurative language in feature writing since it's different than a hard news story. However, as I began using these techniques I found that my feature stories were not only stronger but also more interesting.

In addition, I started surround the figurative language with more specific adjectives and verbs that really enhanced the figurative language and story as a whole.

This lesson has really improved my feature writing.

Writing Descriptively

A key to feature writing is painting a vivid picture for your audience to capture the moment or scene that you as a writer are trying to recreate. Chapter 6 discussed what I found to be one of the most helpful explanations of why and how to add color to feature stories.

Feature stories should have recreated scenes. As a writer you want to engage the audiences senses rather than just summarizing a specific event. By bringing in their senses they become more involved with the story. So, as a writer the need to be very specific and descriptive is important. The motto that should be adopted is, "show don't tell."

Furthermore, you are your audience's eyes and ears. Therefore, if you don't portray the sights and sounds of the scene your audience will be left deaf and blind and the feature won't be nearly as effective at grabbing the reader. A writer must also remember that when gathering scene information from a source, the source is your eyes and ears so the writer must make sure to get enough details and information to once again recreate the scene for his audience just as the source did for the writer.

University Center Observation

The blue light rapidly pulsating above the red digital score shows that human life once existed down here. The score reads 80,000. It’s a high score; however, the champion is no longer in sight.

Nobody is.

The room is as desolate as the desert in the middle of summer.

It is as quiet as a mouse; a stark contrast to the normal screams of victory and groans of defeat that resonate throughout the room.

The destitute chairs and benches rest there longing to be sat on. It’s as if they want to scream, “Somebody! Anybody! Sit on me!”

The surrounding games are going insane. “What do we do when nobody needs our entertainment?” they ask themselves. They repeat their generic demo screens over and over in hopes of attracting potential gamers. It is all to no avail.

Deserted. Discarded. Dumped.

The arcade is alone. The gamers have abandoned it and all its inhabitants. All they can do is sit around anxiously awaiting the return of gamers. Without them the arcade has nothing.

Slane Center Observation

Sitting anxiously, he taps his right foot rapidly on the tile floor. Sinking into the oversized leather recliner, he moves his fingers briskly across his keyboard. The taps of his fingers against the keys almost creates a rhythm that matches the beat his headphones are emitting.

His suitcase is already packed; the only obstacle standing in his way of fall break now is this paper. He gazes at the screen and re-reads what he has just typed.

As friends brush past him he continues to answer the same question.

If the huge grin that overtakes his face before he answers doesn’t give it away, his standard response to the question does.

“Can’t wait,” he proclaims with his smile growing larger. “Been counting down the days and I’m headed out after this.”

He promptly returns to moving his fingers across the keyboard as if he were playing a classical song on the piano. Whisking his fingertips across each letter, he puts the finishing touches on his work.

A smile creeps onto his face once again. There is a glow in his eyes, the kind only a sense of true excitement could create.

He slams shut his laptop and stuffs it into his black backpack. After a deep breath the feeling of freedom sets in as he removes his headphones.

He struggles to put on his backpack as he fights with one of the twisted straps. When he finally gets it on, he pulls out the handle on his suitcase and begins to wheel it outside.

Finally, it is the start of his break.

Children of Heaven

His worn, course hands show his years of labor. Callouses overtake nearly every inch of skin on his hands and exhibit his tough lifestyle. Dirt and muck packed tightly underneath his worn down fingernails show this isn’t a job for just anyone. But he’s been doing it every day for as long as he can remember. His hands are actually his best tool. They move back and forth so elegantly. In and out, out and in, as he continues to weave the pink thread across the hole. His face shows no emotion as it’s just another day repairing shoes.