Aims

This intensive course has been designed to take you through the entire process of researching and writing a professional feature to deadline, and the opportunity of an in-depth look at how to angle, pitch and structure a feature. You will analyse different publications for variations in style and construction, appreciate what makes a good feature and receive a thorough introduction and explanation of all the techniques required in the specialist field of planning, developing and writing with emphasis on structuring your work.

You will be asked to bring examples of your writing to look at how to angle, pitch and structure a feature and you will be offered an assessment and given advice on your strengths and weaknesses.

Suitability

If you are interested in pursuing feature writing as a career or are already working in the media, but have no formal training, this course will help you develop your writing skills. You will find it of particular interest if you work in research or editorial assistant roles and need a more in-depth knowledge. You should have some experience of writing features and a good level of written and spoken English. An awareness of current affairs is advisable.

Content

the basic principles of feature writing

generating and developing ideas

structuring and planning a feature

various forms of structure

how to prepare a sample structure, the use of standfirsts as an aid to structure

research and language – the uses of style, sentences, paragraphs and intros and endings

researching, interviewing and using language effectively

targeting different publications and different readerships

marketing your features

writing a profile

increasing reader involvement

working to a brief

sharpening the angle and possible structure in workshop form

advanced research and interview techniques for features

writing to deadline

Duration: 1 week

Dates: See dates below

Location: Elephant & Castle