Tips in Feature Writing
Here are some simple tips in enhancing your feature writing.
1. Use alliterations.
Example:
“We happily hopped out the truck…”
“[The rain] waltzed with the wind!”
“Nothing super specific. Nothing deadly demanding. Nothing surprisingly strange.”
“The only things duplicated close to reality were our smiles exuding excitement.”
“…it could mean a warm welcome, a bubbly birthday greeting, a great gratitude, a crowning congratulations, a friendly farewell…”
2. Use rhymes.
The tone of your piece is vital. Sprinkling some rhymes will make the feature more readable. But be aware not to overdo it, or your write-up will end up as a poem.
Example:
“So, you better be there in the flesh and feel the blood come up your head!”
3. Make good use of the Figures of Speech — simile, metaphor, personification, and hyperbole.
The Figures of Speech is an effective tool in enhancing you feature writing. Make use of them frequently.
Example:
Simile:
“My abdomen began to itch like ants infesting it.”
“[The showers were ] like pure, wet silk gently wiping my forehead down to my chin.”
“…smoothly swinging like a fine golden lace.”
Metaphor:
“Emotionally, I was…caught in a cyclone!”
Personification:
“…colorful and transparent stripes rested upon the green leaves of a petite coconut tree; almost kissing the ground.”
“…allowed the [rain] showers tickle my tired face.”
“I am amazed by the electronic box that swallowed up my one-dollar fare…”
Hyperbole:
[The waves ] really were overwhelming, they could swallow a mountain.
“[The leis] almost drowned my face.”
4. Avoid redundancy or unnecessary repetition. Use pronouns, synonyms of words, or alternative description/terms.
Example:
(to avoid too much usage of “rainbows”)
“They say that at the end of a rainbow rests a pot of gold. It was only in Hawaii where I have seen the literal end of those mysterious bows of colors. It was morning when I was strolling down the campus of BYUH when colorful and transparent stripes...Surprisingly, those perfect bows across the Hawaiian sky at times come with another, equally exquisite!”
(to avoid too much usage of “Aloha”)
“These are the things “Aloha” is famous for; but I learned that this sweet five-letter word means more than a greeting; even more than an expression of love — the “Ha” in it means “the breath of life.” “Aloha” is more than a mere word or a simple greeting. It is love; it is life, it is also the spirit of a supreme being.”
* “it” used with grace
(to avoid too much usage of “scratch” and its forms)
My abdomen began to itch like ants infesting it; and scratching was a no-no. At times I just can’t fight the strong urge to run my nails up and down my belly.
(to avoid too much usage of “cry” and its forms)
“…I suddenly woke up howling in pain…My screams and cries got him carried away, he didn’t know what to do. Without any tinge of exaggeration, the bawling didn’t stop…”
5. Use repetition with purpose and with grace.
Example:
“No morning sickness. No dizziness. No nausea.”
“It is love; it is life, it is also the spirit of a supreme being.”
6. Play with hyphenated adjectives. Possibilities are almost unlimited; you could even make up your own.
Example:
“…zit-free skin people noticed it.
“Dancing the enchanting hula, on the other hand is a very relaxing and love-filled experience.”
“…caught helpless in a car-clogged road.”
“That clearly explains the y-shaped gesture.”
“…this sweet five-letter word means more than a greeting.”
“…a self-controlled giggle with a kid-like rubbing of feet on the bed.”
“The robotic, close-to-human voice of the bus still runs through my head.”
“…we were on a swim-at-your-own-risk beach.”
7. Use a variation of sentences– from a one-word sentence to simple, compound, complex, and compound complex sentences.
Example:
“No morning sickness. No dizziness. No nausea. My practitioner said, “Good for you.” Indeed; it was a blessing. No early and unwanted signs of the first trimester. I wanted and needed to work. Otherwise I’ll be as bedridden, immobilized, and could possibly be hospitalized as how my Mother was when she was conceiving me.”
“My bulge began to show; people stared at it and I wasn’t used to it, I wore a jacket. Awkward.”
“Later I realized the irony: the person who bought me my first craving for my first baby was my student, instead of my husband! Funny. My emotions, as well, got the most of me. It was a bit unusually intolerable.”
8. Use ironic descriptions.
Example:
“It was a site both beautiful and dreadful.”
“…stretching our hands out pointing at the furious yet flaunting sea.”
9. “Show” your readers rather than “tell.”
(even in narrative features, let them see and actually imagine what you have written)
Example:
“Gray, coarse sand; non-exhilarating waves; and murky shore; that’ how beaches looked like to me until I had my first plunge into the Hawaiian waters — white, fine sand; thrill-filled waves; and clear, blue waters.”
“The first sight of the azure sky, crystal-clear waters, boosted by the calm kiss of fresh air and the soothing touch of the non-scorching sun, made us charge the tempting sea!”
“…we inevitably panicked holding our heads as high as we could; with lips firmly closed to avoid swallowing saltwater.
10. Use words that are not too elementary nor highfaluting words.
Example:
happy = joyful, blissful
sad = gloomy, cheerless
beautiful = stunning, striking
funny = amusing, hilarious
If unfamiliar or too uncommon words are inevitable, make sure to inject context clues for your reader’s better comprehension.
If using elementary words can not be avoided, use it with purpose — to avoid redundancy, or merely stating/describing a simple idea.
11. Don’t overuse or “under use” a word.
Example:
“The kid was blissful because he saw his missing pencil.”
“Blissful” connotes a feeling deeper than “happiness.” The thought of the sentence doesn’t require a very strong feeling of gladness. Hence, “blissful” is inappropriate.
“The kid was cheerful because he saw his missing pencil,” is more appropriate.
Another Example:
“The clown was funny; I laughed my heart out.”
The sentence’s idea was more than a “funny clown.” “Funny” is not enough to express the full meaning of the line.
“The clown was hilarious; I laughed my heart out,” is better.
12. Be innovative and creative — you could actually make up your own words!
(make sure it has context clues and simply logical, comprehensible to your readers, not compromising good grammar).
“…*swelling with pain, a few touch or movement, even the pull of gravity ouched me.”
* context clue
Recent Comments
lourdes
Hi Tet!
Excellent inputs for writing features!
hungrynez
i need this very badly.
Markus
I’m enjoying this series about feature writing. More to come please!
Ron
Here’s a good article on context clues that may help out!
_http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-use-context-clues-to-improve-reading-comprehension-and-vocabulary/
Ludy Ann Touch
I guess I need to broaden my vocabullary before I could write a good one. Excellent examples!
lourdes
Increase your vocabulary by reading a lot! that’s one thing. we can post some tips later about this.
pia
thank you i learned….. -pia
pia
your lectures are very interesting…… i hope there are still a lot of people that going to be learned from youre lectures…..
abel
These tips will surely help me!
These are the best I have read. Thank you I will use this on my next article 
wolfie
you did great guys..amazing
losTie
real great…=]
Gwen Trudeau
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Laii
well, this post is very helpful.
even my mentor copy and paste it as our lesson.
Gershom
Thanks for this post.
its very useful and very informative…
journaliz ★Author
Thanks Gershom.
Gershom
Thanks for this post.
its very useful and very informative…
young journalists like us will surely appreciate this
journaliz ★Author
Thanks Gershom. Hope it helped you as a budding journalist.
Chris
really helps me a lot…
tnx…i love tip #11 and tip # 4
weeeee….nice website
mz.mhine
oh my.,.,very useful.,.,as a writer i hardly need it.,.,
Werner Burkart
well done!nice job!
Sammii Canillo
nice one…. super!! it helped a lot, its because im a feature writer in our school paper…
)
xd
xoxo
Janette Ann Reid
Nice Tips… I really need this. I learned a lot, BTW
)
anyway, there’s no such word as OUCHED (last sentence) you could’ve just said HURT. That would be better. Still, this article’s very helpful.
two thumbs up :bd
Fullner D.
This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I enjoy seeing websites that understand the value of providing a prime resource for free. I truly loved reading your post. Thanks!
claire
Great! Keep up the good work you have shared a lot to the journalists… God bless.
claire
Great! Keep up the good work and God bless.
Deavine Aprille Cardente Tortola
it is very useful for me.. especially because i am a journalism student of our school at Central Mindanao University Laboratory High School.
jay ann
thank you!!!
LOLLLIE
LOVE IT! THANKS! Keep up the good work. You will make me a journalist. Oh and proudtobeaswiftie.thetaylornation.com
jason
this are amazing tips………….it can help on our contest on journalism contest………….even that im just a kid
xerxes
what country are you?
journaliz ★Author
Proud to be from the Republic of the Philippines!
SMA student (graders)
Anyways thanks journalist, It really helped me a lot! I’m good and kicking.. These will cheer my spirits up.. Nothing less If I blow my contest. I will be CHEERLESS. Be enthusiastic ,_,,.. Think positive.. That’s what I believe when I’m down and depressed
jason
really wow
^_^ :3 o:) 
john collen
thanks a lot t!! that was great i’ve learned many things ’bout it .. It really helps to me in writing feature articles… GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!
LOIDA M. HERSAN
THANKS YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING….
jimwel dematera
hilarious!they are simply true…
xerxes
thanks for all this will help in feature writing contest here in Philippines now I’m in high spirits to a contest
journaliz ★Author
You are welcome Xerxes, and goodluck in your feature writing contest!
lorena bolanos basco
hello!a great thanks!i badly need this information for coaching (as a new skul paper adviser…
journaliz ★Author
Good luck Lorena Bolanos! By the way, my mom was also a school paper adviser for many years!
asia cathrine mahayag
thank you for the information yo gave on me!thank you very much
journaliz ★Author
you are welcome Asia Catherine Mahayag! Make writing your passion and you will write wonderful features!
ELIJAH DHANDA
thanks we need more of this type of information
journaliz ★Author
You are welcome Elijah! there will be more coming so keep on browsinG!
ralph abes
hoo! tnx a ton! It really helps a lot, even though the competition is done it still helped me. tnx again!
kevin
thanks a lot.. i needed this so much for my article..hehe..
it helped me alot to improve my writing skills.. now im blissful.. haha
assumpta_feature
thank you for this website. it helped me a lot. Thanks for the tips.
(3 
Christian
TY ..
assumpta_feature
thanks again!!!! ;D
Rheanna Tuazon
Thanks for the tips, I really need it..
dominic
thanks very much
Buba saminu
Your lecture was very interesting,i really learned from it so i would like to read more of your articles
julie ann abundabar
wow! i learned a lot from it
kulokoy
thanks men im a very good i feature you want to battle me against feature writing so come on
mimijapoy_18
…. very helpful!…. i would’nt have to struggle hard on how to writa an article… thanks much!!… mwahh..
nikka
this is so cool. it would be my first time to write a feature and this helped me a lot! thanks
Irish Nicolette Sicat
love it!! thanks,really need it for my feature writing contest!!!!
anjoline cate
know i know how
ameni villena
That’s why I love Feature writing.. Thanks I learned a lot from it..
roxtadz
wow! what a great help . .
I was about to do a feature article for our journalism class. Thank you. GOD bless you.
looking forward to learn more from you
SMA student (graders)
Hi I really learned something.. I really need details and tips.. Yeah I guess I’m to childish for that tips up there.. I’ll really love it If you can somehow post full potential articles so that we can get a close eye.. So that we can learn more.. That’s my suggestion, If you can agree with me..
Beca:">>
very helpful ! thanks ,
jonathan
I LOVE READING YOUR TIPS ABOUT FEATURE WRITING