Writing Feature Articles, 4th Edition

Table of contents

1. Cover
2. Halftitle
3. Title
4. Copyright
5. Contents
6. Illustrations
7. Foreword: From a lecturer
8. Foreword: From a writer
9. Preface
10. Acknowledgements
11. I PRACTISING THE SKILLS
    1. 1 Introduction
       1. The basic skills and resources
       2. Gathering experience and networking
       3. Assignments
    2. 2 Getting organized
       1. Books and equipment
       2. Running a business
       3. Assignments
    3. 3 From idea to publication
       1. The feature defined
       2. The stages in production
       3. Assignments
    4. 4 The world of ideas
       1. Staff writers’ ideas
       2. Freelance writers’ ideas
       3. Development techniques
       4. The place of specialism
       5. Checklist
       6. Assignments
    5. 5 Studying the print market
       1. The world of features
       2. Aiming at versatility
       3. Assignments
    6. 6 Subjects and treatments
       1. Likely targets
       2. Celebrities
       3. Children
       4. Crime
       5. Education
       6. Health and medicine
       7. Old age or retirement
       8. Travel
       9. Assignments
    7. 7 The commissioning and the editing
       1. The editor’s point of view
       2. Preparing to pitch
       3. How to pitch
       4. Using your network
       5. Organizing the assignment
       6. When to send specs
       7. Dealing with editors
       8. Assignments
    8. 8 Ways of finding out
       1. Reliable sources
       2. An interviewing strategy
       3. Verification skills
       4. Assignments
    9. 9 Researching and writing online
       1. Internet basics
       2. Researching online
       3. A writer’s experience
       4. Creating your own website
       5. Writing online
       6. Assignments
    10. 10 Creating the best order
        1. Checking for the right ingredients
        2. Putting your file in order
        3. Discovering what to say
        4. Matching order to content
        5. Assignments
    11. 11 Making a coherent whole
        1. Examples of teamwork
        2. Titles
        3. The intro
        4. The ending
        5. Links
        6. Appendages
        7. Assignment
    12. 12 Developing writing techniques
        1. Choose the precise word
        2. Be simple and concise
        3. Prefer the familiar word to the unfamiliar
        4. Use the concrete rather than the abstract
        5. Avoid clichés
        6. Be positive and honest
        7. Write as you speak
        8. Vary your pace and rhythm
        9. Assignments
    13. 13 The style for the purpose
        1. Describing memorably
        2. Narrating compellingly
        3. Explaining fully
        4. Arguing convincingly
        5. Finding your own style
        6. Assignments
    14. 14 Illustrating with impact
        1. Entering the market
        2. Relevance or art?
        3. Subjects for your pictures
        4. Choosing your equipment
        5. Working with a photographer
        6. Pictures from other sources
        7. Graphics
        8. Captions
        9. The business aspects
        10. A nomadic career
        11. Assignments
12. II EXPANDING YOUR HORIZONS
    1. 15 Writing publicity
       1. Advertising and PR defined
       2. Advertising copywriting
       3. From PR into journalism
       4. Obtaining publicity work
       5. Techniques for publicity writing
       6. Assignments
    2. 16 Interview features and profiles
       1. Choice of interviewee
       2. Getting commissioned
       3. Setting up the interview
       4. Choosing the method
       5. Preparing the questions
       6. Interviewing techniques
       7. Editing the transcript
       8. Formats for writing up
       9. Following up
       10. Assignments
    3. 17 The regular columnist
       1. Learning from the best
       2. Getting a slot
       3. All kinds of discoveries
       4. Many working methods
       5. Assignments
    4. 18 The reviewer
       1. How to become a reviewer
       2. The reviewer’s tasks
       3. The writing-up process
       4. Books
       5. Music
       6. Art
       7. Theatre
       8. Films
       9. Television
       10. Assignments
    5. 19 The specialists
       1. Opportunities galore
       2. A marketing strategy
       3. Producing specialist features
       4. Samples published
       5. Specialist columns
       6. Research and fact checking
       7. Assignments
    6. 20 Selling overseas
       1. Guides to the market
       2. Choosing your countries
       3. Some likely opportunities
       4. Syndication
       5. Assignment
    7. 21 Law and ethics
       1. Copyright
       2. Libel
       3. The question of attribution
       4. Ethical concerns
13. Appendix 1 Suggested responses to assignments
14. Appendix 2 National Union of Journalists – Professional Code of Conduct
15. Appendix 3 Press Complaints Commission: Code of Practice for the Press
16. Appendix 4 The Society of Authors’ Quick Guide 1: Copyright and Moral Rights
17. Appendix 5 Useful contacts
18. Appendix 6 Training
19. Bibliography
20. Index