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It’s not easy defining a feature. Most people can agree features are articles built from facts that include a level of narrative and information gleaned from talking with human sources. But Wikipedia, for example, defines the feature as “a piece of non-fiction writing about news also known as ‘soft news’.” The entry cites the Pulitzer Prize criteria that states features are “distinguished by the quality of their writing” and should be memorable for “their reporting, crafting, creativity and economy of expression.”

I don’t disagree, because defining a feature needs more.

In features, the facts ride in on waves of scenes and true stories called anecdotes to show characters having experiences and living life. Features can go behind the news and unpack it for readers so they can understand more than the who, when and where. They engage with the how and why of news. They are filled with color and emotion, they show with description rather than tell the facts.

There are many who feel features are fluffy, and they can be when handled without care, where clichés overwhelm crafting and that can often be the struggle for young journalists starting out. For the most part, the people who succeed are the ones who do their research, do solid reporting and care about their writing.

And that is the goal of this book.

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