The Art and Craft of Feature Writing

ISBN:0452261589

ISBN13:9780452261587

Publisher:Plume

Author:William E. Blundell

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The Art and Craft of Feature Writing Description

The Art and Craft of Feature Writing 0 Edition IntroductionThe disorganized, debilitated reporterLearning to function more efficientlyThe major commandment: Make it interestingChapter 1: Raw MaterialsHow and where to get ideasPicking the proper subject matterThe need for filesFinding and cultivating sourcesThinking about story ideas: Extrapolation, synthesisAdvancing story ideas: Localization, projection, viewpoint switchingWhat readers like and don't like: Dogs, people, facts, observers, numbersWhy the ideas with action in them are the best ideasChapter 2: Shaping IdeasThe importance of forethoughtRange of the story: Keeping it narrowTheme of the story: The importance of the main theme statementDeveloping the theme of a general profile or a microcosm profileApproach of the story: The limits of the profile and the roundupTone of the story: Why it is importantChapter 3: Story DimensionsTime: The importance of the past and the future, as well as the presentScope: The quantity, locale, diversity and intensity of a developmentVariety: Using various source levels and internal proofsMovement: The built-in kind and the alternation of opposite elementsThe reporter's role: Neither lawyer nor scholastic nor objectivist nor formula follower. But what then?Chapter 4: Planning and ExecutionA six-part guide for the reporter:I. History: Does the main theme development have roots in the past?II. Scope: How widespread, intense and various is the development?III. Reasons: Why is it happening now?IV. Impacts: Who or what is affected—and how?V. Countermoves: Who is acting to counter or enhance the development or its impacts—and how?VI. Futures: What could happen if the development proceeds unchecked?A slightly altered six-part guide for preparing profilesAnother story element: Focus points and people. Descending to the lowest level of the actionA reporter's sources: Wise Men, Paper Men and RabbisInterviews and techniques in relation to storytellingHow long should the reporting take? When to begin writing?Chapter 5: OrganizationFollow the laws of Progressive Reader Involvement: Tease me, you devil; tell me what you're up to; prove it; help me remember itA first reading of materials gathered for the story: Refining the main theme statement, looking for conclusions, looking for endingsIndexing materials to help proide orderRules of organization in writing:—Keep related material together—Let what you have already written suggest what comes next—Try to isolate material from one source in one place—Digress often, but don't digress for longType of narrative lines: Block progression line; time line; theme line; and hybridsThe lead paragraphs: Why they are often elusive. What to do when they areChapter 6: Handling Key Story ElementsTypes of leads: Hard news, anecdotal, summaryStandards for anecdotal leads: Simplicity, theme relevance, intrinsic interest, focusWhy the general, or summary, lead is often better, difficult though it may beNumbers: How to handle them; when to avoid themPeople and quotes: Limiting the number of "talking heads" to emphasize the important actors in the storyReasons to quote people: To lend credibility, emotional response, trenchancy or varietyUsing anonymous quotes judiciouslyWhen paraphrasing is preferableThree roles for the reporter in the story: Summarizer, referee and observerChapter 7: WordcraftBeing specific in words and phrasesBeing mean and tough with yourself and your turns of phraseChoosing what to describeHow to describe well: Imagic exactness, the people principle, animation, poetic licensePromoting a conversational qualityThe narrative flow and typical troubles with transitions, attributions and explanationsHow "purposeful structures" in writing can promote speed, force, and rhythmChapter 8: Stretching OutSome tips on handling lengthy stories:The importance of maintaining orderly developmentAlternating plot and characterMaintaining suspense and setting up material to comeUsing typographical
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