Write Feature Articles That Get Exciting Results

Ernest Hemingway once said: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” Now that seems a bit dramatic, especially if you write feature articles for a living.

Writing is like a channel through which you express your perspective on a particular topic. Feature articles help you practice this aspect of writing to the full extent.

Source: Freepik

So, what are feature articles and why do they matter? 

The simple answer is that these feature articles bring the human element to an article or blog. These articles are not just a collection of facts like other news items. They explore the various scenarios that culminate in the final event.

What Are Feature Articles?

Source: Freepik

Feature articles explore certain topics or incidents from different angles. These articles are different from news reports in that they dive deep into the human perspective. They follow a proper narrative-like structure including an introduction, complication/ climax, and resolution. 

Unlike other news stories, the feature article format includes anecdotes, quotes, and facts. It reveals the story from the perspectives of the people involved in the event. For example, the people who write feature articles might explain a bomb blast from their perspective. They will quote the onlookers, the people who got injured, and the families of the victims. 

Why Should You Write Feature Articles?

Source: Freepik

Feature articles provide a unique perspective of a particular event or a person. People mostly write feature articles to attract the reader’s attention. However, feature articles do more than just tell a story. They help the reader understand the perspective of the writer. They show how the writers’ interest in the story and highlight its importance in a wide perspective. You can see how the event impacts each individual through the description given by the writer and its relevance in the real world.

Neil Patel’s blog on the comedian Louis CK is a great example. Neil focuses on Louis making one million dollars in twelve days. This personal element enhances the article’s value and convinces the audience to read the article till the last sentence.  

Structure of a Feature Article 

Source: Freepik

Feature article writing is completely different from writing a modern blog. The structure of a feature allows for a lot of flexibility. If you want to learn how to write a feature article, take a look at its basic structure below.

• Headline

Featured articles use catchy headlines like trending blogs which aim to shock the reader. The headline is usually in the form of a statement or a question. This statement hints at an event or a person depending on the type of feature article you are writing. It also includes keywords related to the content to improve the article’s SEO.

• Introduction

The introduction of a feature article starts with a surprising statement to grab the audience’s attention. This is also known as the hook. Some feature articles may also use the most unusual part of the story in the introduction to spark the reader’s interest.

• Body

When you are writing feature articles, the body is the meatiest part. It goes deep into the topic and explains everything in detail. Profile feature articles explore the life story of the protagonist. Other feature articles focus on the details through tables, subheadings, quotes, and visual elements.

• Conclusion

The conclusion of a feature article summarizes all the information in one or two paragraphs. It may also include a moral or a final perspective by the writer. Since feature articles are subjective, you can share your unique perspective at the end of the article to enhance its impact.

7 Steps to Write an Outstanding Feature Article

Source: Freepik

If you open your laptop and think that you know everything there is to know about writing feature articles…think again. It is not enough to know the structure of a feature article. You need to understand its depth and nuance. So, if you really want to learn how to write feature articles, keep reading on. 

Here are seven steps that will give your feature article an instant boost.

1. Decide On The Article Type

The first thing you need to do when you write feature articles is to decide what type of feature article you want to write. The different types of feature articles include:

• Human interest articles – focus on events.
• News feature articles – focus on news stories.
• Profile feature articles – focus on personalities.

2. Choose A Compelling Topic

One of the most important features of article writing is to find a compelling topic. Read the news, check your social media, and find out what’s trending. This process will help you find a topic your audience will want to read. Make sure the topic has potential for research and explanation to avoid difficulties while writing.

3. Conduct Thorough Research

Once you select a topic, do thorough research. Check all the resources at your disposal and compile all the data in one document. This will help you fall back on your research when you are writing. You won’t have to open multiple tabs while writing, giving you more time to focus on the writing part of it.

4. Structure A Clear Outline

You can easily convert the data from research into an outline for your feature. Look closely at the most important parts of the story, event, or person. Use that information to craft an outline that will guide your writing process. When you start writing a feature article, you can add further details to your outline to make it more attractive.

5. Craft An Engaging Title 

The hard part is over. You have done your research, collected the data, and have a clear outline. All you have to do now is to create an engaging title for your feature article. You can brainstorm new ideas or come up with a unique title by using a blog post idea generator. These titles will define your article and help you expand the topic in one direction.

6. Write With An Engaging Narrative Flow

When you write feature articles, make sure you follow an engaging narrative flow. You can either use a circular narrative and jump right into the action or use a chronological order. Set the tone for your article by evoking an emotional response from the reader. Try to connect with your audience by emphasizing the relatable facts of the story.

7. Conclude with impact

Wind up your feature article with a powerful message. You can provide a new perspective on the topic or offer insights on improving a particular situation. For example, the feature article on the doctor’s death in India could end with a condemnation of sexual assault. You can also use powerful words in the conclusion to leave a strong impression on your audience.

[Bonus] Pro Tips to Level Up Your Feature Article

Source: Freepik

Feature articles are one of the few pieces of content that inform as well as educate the audience. Writing a feature article means improving the quality of journalism and blog writing. It is not just a job, but rather a creative pursuit. 

If you go through examples of feature articles, you will find that these articles have a lot in common. Let us take a look at some of the tips we can apply to make our feature articles a success.

1. Always focus on the human aspect of the story by highlighting the grief, ecstasy, or awe of the people who are part of your feature.
2. Create an attention-grabbing hook. Convince the reader that the story you are about to tell is more intriguing than anything else on the internet.
3. Take direct quotes from the personalities you are talking about. These quotes will help readers identify with the people in your feature article and increase its impact.
4. Write feature articles with a unique perspective. Think about the point that will make people curious and build your article around that point.
5. Describe all the events in detail. Do not leave anything to the imagination and let the readers immerse in the feature article reading experience.
6. Add validity to your arguments by giving insights from experts on your topic. Explain how these experts view a certain incident or person and draw your conclusion.

Final Thoughts

Feature articles are one of the few literary genres that let your creativity flow. In a world where commercial blogs are taking over the web space, feature articles provide a sigh of relief. They allow you to dive deep into an incident. So, when you write feature articles, make your audience feel like they are experiencing everything firsthand. Keep writing and you will be a professional feature writer in no time.