How To Write Special Feature Articles

ears has resulted in a type of writing known as the "special feature article." Such articles, presenting interesting and timely

ies and inventions, in significant political and social movements, in important persons and events. Magazine articles on these themes, however, had usually been

as possible. The perennial appeal of fiction gave them a suggestion for the popularization of facts. The methods of the short story, of the drama

ational papers had gone a step further in these attempts to give added attractiveness to news and had emphasized its melodramatic aspects. Other papers had seen the value of the "human interest" phases of

, its touches of description, its "human interest," its dramatic situations, its character portrayal-all

, for the purpose of entertaining or informing the average person. It usually deals with (1) recent news that is of sufficient importance to warrant elaborat

rding the persons, places, and circumstances that appear in the news columns. News must be published as fast as it develops, with only enough explanatory material to make it intelligible. The speci

ents of the day's news in an entertaining form. Like the important news story, it is published immediately after the incident occurs. Its purpose is to appeal to newspaper

rm and style. The most marked difference lies in the fact that it supplements the recognized methods of lite

local or a general appeal. If interest in it is likely to be limited to persons in the immediate vicinity of the place with which the subject is connected, the article is best adapted to publication in a local newspaper. If the theme

r amusement. Special articles on these subjects of limited appeal are adapted to agricultural, trade, or other class publ

" as they are generally called in newspaper offices. Some newspapers publish these articles from day to day on the editorial page or in other parts of the paper. Many more papers h

llustrations, and other matter, for simultaneous publication; (2) members of the newspaper's staff; that is, reporters, correspondents, editors, or special w

special feature stories in addition to their salaries, especially when the subjects are not assigned to them and when the stories are prepared in the writer's own leisure time. Other papers expect their regular staff members to furnish the paper with whatever articles they may wr

submitting special feature articles in addition to news. They may also submit articles to other papers that do not compete with their own

to get his approval before writing it, but, unless the editor knows the writer's work, he is not likely to promise to accept the completed article. To the writer there is an obvious advantage in knowing that the subject as he outlines it is or is not an acceptable one. If an edito

topics, the material for which is right at the amateur's hand, are sought by most newspapers. Third, newspaper editors are generally less critical of form and style than are magazine editors. With some practice an inexperien

small cities papers seldom pay more than $1 a column; in larger places the rate is about $3 a column; in still larger ones, $5; an

day provide room for only concise announcements of such news as a scientific discovery, an invention, the death of an interesting person, a report on social or industrial conditions, proposed legislation, the razing of a landmark, or the dedicati

t he usually looks forward to in this way are: first, those concerned with local, state, and national anniversaries; and second, those growing out of sea

men provides news and special articles that satisfy such readers. A paper that aims to reach the so-called masses naturally selects news and features that will appeal to them. If a newspaper has a considerable circulation outside t

locality, it must, of course, give significant news of the world at large. So, too, in addition to local feature articles, it should furnish special feature stories of a broa

ng matter with which to occupy their leisure at the end of a day's work or on Sunday, some papers print special feature stories on topics of little or no importance, often written in a light vein. Articles

and crime lend themselves to melodramatic treatment as readily in special feature articles as in news stories. On the other hand, the relatively fe

some papers print trivial ones, and others "play up" sensational mate

en well summarized by two well-known editors of such sections. Mr. John O'Hara Cosgrove, editor of the New York Sunday Worl

missed in a passing note. Behind every such episode are human beings and a story, and these, if fairly and artfully explained, are the very stuff of romance. Into every great city men are drifting daily from the strange and remote places of the world where they have survived perilous hazards and seen rare spectacles. Such adventures are the treasure troves of the skilful repo

d in sport. Achievements and controversies are ever culminating in these diverse fields, and the men and women actors therein make admirable subjects for his pages. Provided the editor

ck Boyd Stevenson, Sunday editor of the B

special line of writers who have learned that a character sketch and interview of a man makes you "see" the man face to face and ta

by one who thoroughly knows his subject, who is forceful in style and fluent in words, who can make a picture that his readers can see, and seeing, realize. So every other feature of the S

hat are real and timely, articles of scientific discoveries that are authentic, interviews with men and women who have messages, and interpretati

a distinctly sectional circulation. Some of these publications serve subscribers in only one state or section, and others issue separate state or sectional editions. The best basis of differentiation among magazines, then, is not the extent

s staff, (2) professional or amateur free-lance writers, (3) specialists who write as an avo

ion, has been adopted by a few general magazines and by a number of class periodicals. The staff is recruited from writers and editors on newspapers and other mag

own initiative. From these he selects the material best adapted to his publication. Experienced writers often submit an outline of an article to a magazine editor fo

ly decides on the subject that he thinks will interest his readers at a given time and then selects the authority best fitted to trea

ience articles have a reality and "human interest" that make them eminently readable. To obtain them magazines sometimes offer prizes for the best, reserving the privilege of publishin

rom editors. As a matter of fact, in the majority of newspaper and magazine offices all unsolicited manuscripts are considered strictly on their merits. The unk

ublication welcomes special articles and short stories by novices. Moreover, editors take pride in the fact that from time to time they "discover" writers whose work later proves popular. They not infrequently tell how th

for special feature writers all the greater. Then, too, the number of professional writers of special articles is comparatively small. This is particularly true of writers w

) to gather carefully the material for his articles, and (3) to present it accurately and attractively, may be sure that his work will receive the

he craft. In fact, woman's quicker sympathies and readier emotional response to many phases of life give her a distinct advantage. Her insight into the lives of others, and her intuitive understanding of t

n not uninteresting to men. The entry of women into occupations hitherto open only to men is bringing new experiences to many women, and is furnishing women writers with additional fields from which to draw subjects and