FEATURE

WRITING
Presented by:
GELLY E. ALKUINO, MT II
 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.
 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.
5. It could be formal or informal and written in any
form and style, but well organized.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
6. It may or may not be timely.
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
8. It is written in ascending interest.
9. It is based on facts. Though sometimes,
the writer uses his imagination to play up
the details, it is still anchored on facts.
 Qualities of Feature Articles
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, second or
third person.
 Kinds of Feature
1. Human interest feature
2. Personality feature
3. Historical feature
4. Analytical feature
5. Seasonal feature
6. Travelogue
7. Entertainment feature
8. News feature
9. Informative feature
10. “How-to” feature
 Sources of Feature Articles
1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like books, newspapers, magazines and
other
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 Feature Articles

1. Choose topic, which you know very well.

2. Limit your subject to just one specific area.
3. Think of a more interesting and fresh angle of
the topic.
4. Make a tentative title.
5. Make an outline.
6. Use appropriate and striking novelty lead.
7. You can garnish your article with anecdote,
dialogue and local color.
 Steps in Writing Feature Articles
8. Use graphic description. Don’t just tell, show it to
the reader through the use of senses.
9. Place direct quotation in the beginning.
10. Use simple words and shorter paragraphs.
11. Avoid being wordy.
12. Make sure the feature article contains dramatic
quality.
13. Give examples to make your article convincing or
easy to understand.
14. Tie up ending with the opening paragraph.
15. Make a striking title.
 Structure of Feature Article
Feature story follows the pyramid
structure. The details of the story are arranged
according to the ascending order of
importance, from the most important to the
least important ones. It begins with a novelty
lead.
The novelty lead has two
objectives:
1. To draw the reader into the story
2. To set the stage for the material to follow
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
The following are the kinds of lead often used in writing a
feature stories:
1. Narrative lead. It draws the reader into the story by allowing
him to relate himself with the character of the story.
Example:
In the old days, before the coming of the earth
satellite, my college professor told me, weather forecasting
was done by intrepid pilots, who flew their one-engine small
planes into the eyes of the approaching storm to measure
wind direction and velocity.
Once inside the eye of the typhoon, however, the pilot
experienced an eerie calm while the winds swirled outside.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
2. Descriptive lead. It illustrates a mental picture of the
subject to the reader. This is effective in writing a
personality sketch.
Example:
The night fell as we descended from the summit of
Mount Makiling. Darkness covered the mountain. The
cicadas were sending us off with their choir. While
walking, we couldn’t stop imagining the possible
appearance of Maria Makiling who, according to legend,
is the goddess of this mountain. We were expecting her
along the trail or under the trees in her white dress, as
we remembered Rizal describing her fabled beauty in
one of his books. The goddess “disappointed” us,
however.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
3. Quotation lead. This statement uttered by well-
known speaker or celebrity in the community.
Example:
“You stole the presidency, not only once
but twice.”
Shouted Susan Roces, widow of
Fernando Poe Jr., during a gathering of the
opposition, denouncing President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s alleged vote-rigging
during the 2004 election.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
4. Question lead. 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.
Example:
When was the last time I told my
father I loved him?
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
5. 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, crisp 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.
Example:
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?
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
6. Punch lead. It is short, striking one-
sentence lead
Example:
Hungry farmers are selling not only
their carabaos, but also their children.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
7. Astonisher. It uses an exclamatory sentence.
Example:
NSPC 2006 Champion!
Bold letters printed on a three-meter long
streamer was hung over the gate of Irineo L.
Santiago National High School of Metro
Dadiangas when the 2006 issue of Ang Metrian,
won as overall Best School Paper (Bracket A-
Filipino/Secondary) during the National Schools
Press Conference held in Kalibo, Aklan on
February 19-23, 2006.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
8. One word lead. I uses a very significant word to
capture the interest of the reader.
Example:
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.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
9. Parody lead. It consists of a parody of a well-
known quotation, song, poem, book or movie
film title.
Example:
“Morn mri as mri as da win mru
As mri as da ngras ngru
Morn mri to faro yur ngrem”
This was the line of the song I heard from
a very beautiful lady, who almost broke not only
my eardrum, but also my love struck heart.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
10. 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.
Example:
It was like the school was put in a time
machine and was led back to the past, when
teachers and students who participated in the
culmination program of the Buwan ng Wika,
gathered in front of the four-story building
garbed in old Filipiniana costumes.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
11. Freak lead. This kind of unique lead uses
typographical effects to enhance appeal.
Example:
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.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
12. Contrast lead. It is used to point up
opposites and extremes.
Example:
In the 1960’s, a ten-centavo coin
was already a treasure. Today, nobody
wants to give it a second glance on the
ground.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
13. Staccato lead
Example:
Neglected. Denuded. Abused.
Abandoned. This is the real picture of
our forest today.
 The Body
After you have finished writing the lead,
you are now ready to organize your materials
and develop the body of your story.
Development of the story is sometimes the
most difficult of all, because it involves the
arrangement of the story materials in a manner
that will sustain or hold the reader’s interest and
flow smoothly from the introduction to the end.
While hard news stories are written in
inverted pyramid, formal feature story is in
pyramid structure with conclusion.
Some Types of Feature Ending
Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, during his
lecture in the National Training Program
for School Paper Advisers at Teachers
Camp, Baguio City has given the following
types of feature endings:
Some Types of Feature Ending
1. The Summary Ending. It simply ties up
the loose end of the story with that of the
lead.
Example:
With a contented sigh, the great
man closed his eyes in death fully aware
that he did what he had to do.
Some Types of Feature Ending
2. The Stinger. A surprising ending that jolts
the reader. The writer uses the body of
the story to set up the readers for the
unexpected conclusion.
Example:
Ramon, the shy, lovable Ramon, who
couldn’t hurt a fly turned out to be the
ruthless, vicious rapist wanted by law in
five provinces.
Some Types of Feature Ending
3. Climax. It stops at the point where the
outcome of the story is clear.
Example:
When the song ended, Rosanna
stood petrified in the midst of a
thunderous ovation. In her heart, she
knew she had finally arrived.
Some Types of Feature Ending
4. Unending. An open-ended conclusion,
leaving the reader room to speculate on
the ultimate ending.
Example:
And so the Operation OPLAN X
ended on a limb. The police were
positive that Bungisngis was the brain
behind the murder syndicate. But they
had no shred of evidence against him.
 Other Types of Feature Ending
1. A thought-provoking question
Example:
If we are not going to save our
seas for our children’s future, who
would? And if we are not going to
start it now, when is the right time?
Title: Our Seas, Our Life
 Other Types of Feature Ending
2. A proverb
Example:
Indeed, I have proven to myself
what I believe is true from the very start
of my nerve-breaking climb to where I
am now that “Behind the dark cloud, the
sun is still shining.”
Title: Survivor
 Other Types of Feature Ending
3. Suggested results or significance
Example:
So, take a hearty bite for a healthier you.
Title: Banana Mania
 Other Types of Feature Ending
4. A forecast
Example:
Someday, if we will keep on
selflessly denuding the dwindling forest
of our Mother Earth, we will be wallowing
in the midst of water, for all the
continents will be devoured by ocean
brought about by global warming.
Title: Reforesting the Future
 Other Types of Feature Ending
5. A quotation
Example:
As one unknown philosopher puts it,
“We can never be great unless we are
good and we can never be good until we
are godly.”
Title: Building a Culture of
Excellence with Integrity
 Other Types of Feature Ending
6. A repetition of a sentence or a reference
to the title
Example:
Mama, see, I was alive but not
anymore. So please let my baby brother
live. He could be as wonderful as me.
His life wouldn’t be like mine – a life that
never was.
Title: A Life that Never Was
Qualities of a Good Feature Writer
1. Inquisitive
2. Eager to learn
3. Sympathetic towards other people’s
feelings
4. Capable of seeing beneath the surface of
ordinary event
5. Keen observer
6. Wide reader
 A Life that Never Was
By Marilyn Sanchez
1st Place in Feature Writing
NSPC 1999 – Ilagan, Isabela

Come to me, Mama. Come, touch me

and feel my pain. Don’t be afraid now,
Mama. You weren’t when you killed me.
Here, touch this… can you feel it
now, Mama? The excruciating pain that
consumed my helpless body, you inflicted
that, remember?
 Look at my body, now a mass of
rotting flesh and coagulated blood - the
dregs of what was a tiny human body. A
body that was soft with a tiny head matted
with sheen of baby hair. A tiny body with a
tiny heart, that pulsated in time with yours.
These were my fingers and oh! … Here’s
my thumb, which I sucked while snugly
tucked inside you.
You see, I had long lashes just like
Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like
yours. And here are my ears, which heard
your quickening heartbeat when you’re
afraid.
 I could have been a wonderful child if
you’ve let me live.
I could have been a baby boy just what
Daddy wanted - a strong, healthy and
bubbly bundle in your arms. My
hypersensitiveness would have exasperated
you.
Daddy? Hmmm .. He could have
coached me in playing softball. He’ll be the
pitcher and I the batter. I could have grown
into a writer. You would be proud of be coz
I’m going to join contests.
 Mama, see I was alive but not
anymore. So, please let my baby brother
live. He could also be as wonderful as me.
His life wouldn’t be like mine - a life that
never was.