Real Feature Writing (Routledge Communication Series) - Softcover

Aamidor, Abraham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805831800 ISBN 13: 9780805831801

Publisher: Routledge, 1999

Synopsis

This text is a contemporary approach to feature writing, written for students of journalism and young professionals. It covers all types of features, including profiles, trends, and reported essays.

About this title

From the Author

A book on writing that's fun to read
Most books on writing non-fiction include hundreds of tips, rules, suggestions and tidbits, plus countless excerpts from articles that often are out of context. Yet real journalists don't paste rules and checklists to their foreheads before sitting down to actually write a story. They work from good notes, then the nub or heart of a good story idea. "Real Feature Writing" is mostly organized along story shapes and types, such as profile, trend story, advocacy piece, essay, pro-and-con story and more; each chapter includes full-text samples of the story types in question, followed by candid critiques (warts and all) for each story presented. Later chapters in the book include traditional subjects such as using quotes effectively, how to interview people, active voice and more. The book also supports diversity in that it includes stories on Jackie Robinson; the issue of reparations for slavery; and an introduction to noted African-American journalist William Raspberry. Women authors also are included, of course. By the way, I am a multiple award-winning feature writer at The Indianapolis Star and have taught journalism at Southern Illinois University, Georgia Southern University and Indiana University.

Synopsis

This work emphasizes story shape and structure by illustrating several distinct types of feature and non-fiction stories, all drawn from the real world. The author presents distinct story types, explains them, offers examples and analysis, and provides directions for producing similar stories. The book covers a diverse mix of authors and subjects, including African-American, women's, and environmental issues. Parts One and Two include the story shapes and examples, and move from basic to more advanced types. Part Three offers chapters on leads, quotes, descriptive writing, databases and reference books, and a chapter on breaking into newspaper feature writing that includes several interviews with feature writers and editors.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805831800
• ISBN 13: 9780805831801
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176