Anatomy & Common Structures of a Feature Story

The Feature Pyramid: the Upright Pyramid BODY CONCLUSION POINT OF PRESUMABLE INTEREST LEAD Source: Genove’s Feature Writing for Filipinos, 2004

The Feature Pyramid: the Upright Pyramid A defining feature of the feature story: an ending Reasons for having an ending: There is minimal or no “trimming” expected during the editing process. Since feature writing is like storytelling, stories without endings just seem incomplete.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Chronological Structure The writer tells a story from beginning to end. Two time movements may also be used: Flashback – movement back in time Flash-forward – movement forward in time At the minimum, most skilled feature writers use some flashbacks with chronological structures.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Chronological Structure Examples “The Killing of Kristin” The main character narrates to the readers how he learned about his daughter’s death, then begins a long flashback to retrace the events that led to her death. “French” The author describes the grisly murders of a woman and her two daughters, then travels back in time to the beginning of the trip, carries the reader forward past the murders and trial… and finally ends the story in the present.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Least-to-Most-Important Structure The writer always moves the attention of the reader from the simple to the complex. It may or may not present information chronologically. When visualized, this structure actually is the upright pyramid.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Least-to-Most-Important Structure Examples A teacher’s simple lesson Kids learn to read the alphabet first before they learn to read words and finally learn to read short stories. The making of a Boeing 757 jetliner The writer begins with easy-to-understand information such as placing an initial order at the jetliner, and then proceeds to more complicated matters such as construction and testing.

The Feature Pyramid: the Upright Pyramid BODY CONCLUSION POINT OF PRESUMABLE INTEREST LEAD Source: Genove’s Feature Writing for Filipinos, 2004

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Problem-and-Solution Structure The writer presents a problem at the beginning and then a solution at the end of the article. The order may be reversed: solution first and then problem (as a backgrounder) later.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Catalog Structure The writer uses a list in which people, places and events are classified and then explained. In a travel feature about the sights and sounds of a certain tourist destination, a catalog structure will be appropriate.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Repetitive Structure The writer introduces a concept and continues to “hammer away” at it until a point is made. Example: “A Boy of Unusual Vision” In this article, the writer introduces readers to a blind boy and explains that the boy will make his way in the world. Throughout the article, the writer reinforces this concept with quotations.

Effective Structures that Aid Storytelling Flow Combination Structure The writer uses a combination of article types and structures. Writing is a creative process that draws inspiration from many sources and escapes blueprint-like precision.

Remember There is no “proper” form of feature articles. The structure varies with the material… so that even within a single topic, the articles begin differently, develop their themes differently and end differently. The forms represent only a beginning; the possible variations are quite literally endless.

“COPY TIME”