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How to Write a Personality Feature Story

The world is full of colorful characters, but not all of their faces can be found in magazines or celebrity news shows. A personality feature story is a journalistic article focusing on a single aspect of a person's life. Whether the focus is a career, personal struggle or interesting hobby, the author vividly renders the person's story using descriptions and quotes. Conduct an interview and use the data to craft a detailed, captivating personality feature.

Choosing a Subject

Personality feature stories don't have to be about somebody famous or even well-known. In fact, some of the best articles focus on the everyday stories of regular people. When choosing your subject, personality feature writer Lori Russell suggests brainstorming with interesting people you know and asking yourself why readers might find their stories compelling. You can also think about your personal interests and career goals when choosing a subject. For example, if you want to work for the fire department, you might contact them and see if a firefighter would be willing to let you interview him.

The Interview

You can prepare for the interview by making a list of questions that invite specific answers, not just yes or no responses. To enhance the detail of your essay, try to meet at a meaningful place for the subject. For example, if you're interviewing a person who restores vintage cars, you might meet in his garage. Throughout the interview, write down details about the person and setting as well as significant quotes. The writing advice website "How to Write English" suggests getting a large number of quotes so you have a variety to choose from when you begin writing.

Finding the Story

A personality feature article needs to reveal why readers should care about the subject, states the composition department at Colorado State University. As you review your interview notes, think about what is most compelling about this person. For example, the firefighter may have chosen his profession because he lost a close friend in an accidental house fire, or the car enthusiast's favorite piece is his father's Mustang convertible that he painstakingly restored. Finding a defining trait, such as a desire to serve others or a love of family traditions, can provide the key to helping readers relate to the subject.

Show, Don't Tell

The Air University Defense Information School's basic writing program writes that detail is crucial for bringing both the setting of your interview and the subject to life. Try writing descriptions with the most specific language possible. For example, it's easy to say "Tom seemed young in spite of his age," but those words conjure up only a generic picture. Instead, you might write, "Tom stroked his white beard, his eyes glinting off the red convertible's freshly polished surface." To brainstorm details, you might try writing a description of the subject, including his most notable physical traits and mannerisms.

A personality feature story isn't an interview transcript. As you write, resist the temptation to use the phrases "I asked" and "he responded." This can make the article repetitive and cause the reader to lose interest. Instead, write in third-person, knitting background information, descriptions and quotations together. While traditional essays contain conclusions that tie their main ideas together, Charlton advises writers to save a significant quotation for the final paragraph. Ending with the subject's voice can leave readers reflecting on the importance of the person's story.

  • Colorado State University Composition: Writing and Style: Sample Profile Assignment
  • Sarah Charlton: Profile Feature Articles
  • Air University Defense Information School: Personality Feature

Kori Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and has been crafting online and print educational materials since 2006. She taught creative writing and composition at West Virginia University and the University of Akron and her fiction, poetry and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals.

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How To Write An Amazing Feature Article In 5 Steps

Need to write a feature article for class? Don't worry, in this article, we show you how to write an amazing feature article in 5 steps!

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Unsure of the difference between a feature article and a newspaper report? Well, it’s time to find out! We will show you the different characteristics of an amazing feature article and how to write one!

To show you how to write an amazing feature article, we’ll discuss:

Characteristics of a feature article.

  • Different types of feature articles

Language used in feature articles

  • Research / Planning
  • Header / Title
  • Introduction

What is a feature article?

A feature article is a non-fiction piece of writing that focuses on a particular topic. You will find them in newspapers and news sites, online blogs, or magazines.

However, they are not the same as news reports! Whereas news reports are more factual…

Feature articles are more subjective and emotive.

They commonly present information in a more narratorial manner to make them more engaging.

Now that we have a general understanding of what a feature article is, let’s take a detailed look at their characteristics.

A feature article should,

  • Explore a topic or issue of current importance
  • Follows  narratorial conventions (i.e. There is a plot, complication, and conclusion)
  • Written in short paragraphs
  • Combine facts and opinions
  • Provide a perspective or angle about the topic or issue
  • Includes catchy features (eg. Catchy title, images etc.).

Different types of feature articles:

There are many different types of feature articles. Each one has a different focus and purpose.

So, let’s see a few examples of feature articles!

  • eg.  ‘ Charlie Kaufman’s debut novel, ‘Antkind’, is just as loopy and clever as his movies ‘
  • eg. ‘ A Former High School Football Player Dove and Caught a Child Dropped From the Balcony of a Burning Building’
  • eg. ‘ How to Tie Dye ‘
  • eg. ‘ My 2019 UCAT Experience ‘
  • eg. ‘ Why Australia Day is really held on 26 January and the push to change the date ‘ or ‘ Thanksgiving 2020 – Date, history behind the holiday and what time is Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ?’
  • eg. ‘ Craziness behind the scenes at the White House ‘ and ‘ Two Former McDonald Employees Spill Insider Secrets About Working at the Fast Food Chain ‘

Note : There are many more different types of feature articles. You’ll want to research the genre specific for the task you’ve been set.

Before we go into the nitty-gritty details for writing feature articles, you need to know what skills and techniques you need to acquire in order to write a feature article!

  • Share your opinions
  • Show your personality (eg. humourous, serious…)
  • Use semi-formal language (i.e. some colloquialism)
  • Use emotive language
  • Refer to the audience in second person language (eg. “you”)
  • Use literary and rhetorical techniques to engage the reader (eg. rhetorical questions, anecdotes, imagery…)
  • Don’t overuse adjectives or adverbs . Use strong verbs and nouns to describe, instead of adjectives and adverbs.
  • Use facts, quotes and jargon  to add authenticity
  • Make sure you write in the  active voice

blog-english-how-to-write-a-killer-feature-article-opinions

How to write an amazing feature article in 5 steps

Now that we know what a feature article is, let’s see what you need to do in when writing an amazing feature article:

Step 1: Research and Planning

Remember, feature articles are still based on factual information. So, it is vital that you research your topic very well and that you carefully plan out what you want to write.

We will need to research, plan and research again!

Once you’ve thought about the topic you’ve begin, or decided which issue you would like to discuss, you’re ready to get stuck into researching.

a. Research the general topic

This step is all about reading different perspectives and information about your chosen topic.

Doing this will help you take an informative stance on your topic.

See which perspective interests you most, or which one you agree with most. Also, take into account of the amount of strong evidence you can find for your feature article.

b. Narrow your focus and plan

Now, it is time to take a stance and start planning your feature article!

Here are some points you need to consider when you are planning:

  • What type of feature article do you want to write?
  • What is your stance on the topic?
  • Who is your target audience?
  • What is your article about?
  • Why are you writing about this topic? (i.e. purpose)
  • Chronologically?
  • Level of importance?
  • Like a narrative?

Note : The purpose of your feature article can be to convince, evoke sympathy or anger, praise or even to educate. It is up to you to figure out what you want to say about the topic.

c. Research evidence

Now, it is time to research some more and gather some evidence to support your feature article.

Feature articles are supposed to help readers really understand and feel your story.

So, to do this, you must ensure that you spend this time to really flesh out your story and get a good grasp of what you are writing about.

Here are some examples you should look for:

  • eg. “ According to Cancer.org , 1960 Australians died from skin cancer in 2016 “
  • eg. “ Brendan Thomas will not be deported to New Zealand because he is an Indigenous Australian and is protected by the new law “
  • eg. “ Professor Gabriel Leung, Expert on COVID-19 Epidemic from Hong Kong University , says that COVID-19 could ‘infect 60% of global population if unchecked'”  
  • “ From the live interview with Holocaust survivor.. “

blog-english-how-to-write-a-killer-feature-article-hero-quotes

Step 2: Header / Title

Feature articles are known for their eye-catching headers!

Let’s take a look at 2 headers. Which title would you click on first?

“ Rising film director, Sherrice, just released a provocative stop-motion piece that will change your view about fast food! ”

“ Film director, Sherrice, just released a stop-motion piece about fast food ”

The first line is more catchy because it uses emotive language and it directly addresses the readers.

So, how do you write catchy headlines?

  • Keep it short and snappy
  • Directly address the reader
  • Use adjectives / adverbs
  • Tell readers what your content is about
  • Ask a question
  • Give an imperative

Step 3: Introduction

Like your title, your introduction also needs to ‘hook’ in the readers.

They set the scene and draw interest from the audience.

Think about a narrative’s 3 Act Structure:

  • The opening act sets the scene and captivate the audience’s attention
  • Act 2 is where the action and the major complication occurs
  • The 3rd act is the conclusion. It ‘solves’ the problem.

Feature articles function in the same way.

However, unlike a narrative, feature articles’ introductions are very brief and short. They should never be longer than 15% of your whole article.

So, how do you write effective introductions to feature articles:

  • Make an interesting and provocative opening statement to draw reader’s attention
  • Briefly introduce the topic and purpose
  • Establish a relationship with your reader through your language (eg. second person language, rhetorical questions…)
  • Create intrigue and interest by foreshadowing your points or challenging your audience
  • Provide background information about your topic

Take a read of ABC journalist, Stan Grant’s introduction from  ‘Anger has the hour’: How long must Indigenous Australia Wait for Change? 

“How long must Aboriginal people wait? How many “turning points” must there be, before we stop believing?

Time is something Indigenous people do not have, not when we die 10 years younger than the rest of the population. Every year lost is counted in graveyard crosses.

Yet the Federal Government says there will likely be no referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition this term of Parliament. Three years since the Uluru Statement from the Heart laid out a vision for Australia — Voice, Treaty, Truth — and we are told still to wait.

That is three years lost; a wasted opportunity to finish our unfinished business. First Nations people asked Australians to walk with us for a better future, yet we cannot get beyond those first steps.”

You see, Grant draws the audience’s interest by asking provocative rhetorical questions that hints at his stance about the topic.

He then provides background information about his topic to inform his audience about the issue. However, notice how he does this in an interesting and engaging way.

Grant uses literary techniques like tricolon (eg. “Voice, Treaty, Truth”), metaphors (eg. “year lost is counted in graveyard crosses” and “First Nations people asked Australians to walk wth us for a better future, yet we cannot get beyond those first steps”) and the motif of steps (eg. “walk with us” and “first steps”).

blog-english-how-to-write-a-killer-feature-article-relationship

Step 4: Body

Now, let’s move onto the main part of your feature article.

The body of your feature article is where you write all of your juicy information.

This is where the story unfolds and you share your opinions.

So, let’s get started and see what you need to do in your feature article body paragraphs.

a. Show don’t tell

‘Show, don’t tell’ is a commonly taught writing technique. It requires students to describe and ‘show’ what is happening, instead of simply recounting (‘telling’).

Let’s take a look at an example:

  • Tell : Johnny was tired after he ran up the hill.
  • Show : Johnny’s legs were aching as he forced himself up the hill. He was struggling to catch his breath and his cheeks were red and puffed up.

Notice the difference? The second line is much more engaging and descriptive, and we feel more connected to the character.

As such, you need to ‘show’ your information to make your article more engaging and interesting to read.

Remember, a feature article is much more colourful than a newspaper report.

So, let’s learn how to ‘show, not tell’:

  • Write vivid descriptions and imagery
  • Rely on the different senses to describe (i.e. sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste)
  • Use literary techniques
  • Don’t state emotions (eg. ‘He is happy’,  ‘She was excited’ or ‘That was scary’)
  • Use strong verbs and nouns, instead of adverbs and adjectives (eg. ‘sprinted’ instead of ‘ran fast’)

b. Be creative

In other terms, use rhetorical and literary techniques! Using these techniques will help you achieve your purpose and simultaneously engage the audience.

For example, if you want to evoke sympathy from the audience, you can use emotive language and hyperbole:

“Big, brute boys brutally beat small neighbourhood boy until he was unrecognisable” 

Or, if you want to convince the audience, you can use high modality words and an imperative voice:

“The time to take action is now! Get your phones and fill out the survey now”

So, what are some techniques that are commonly used in feature articles:

If you want to find more techniques, or learn more about the listed techniques, take a read of our English Literary Techniques Toolkit .

c. Support your opinions

Remember, a feature article isn’t just a story… it is also an article! This means that you will need a set of strong evidence to support what you are saying.

We already went through the various types of evidence you need for a feature article:

  • Case studies
  • Quotes from critics or experts

So, ensure you use a variety of different evidence and use it across your whole feature article.

blog-english-how-to-write-a-killer-feature-article-evidence

Step 5: Conclusion

We are at the final stage of your feature article!

Too often, students neglect the conclusion because they think it’s unimportant in a feature article.

However, it is quite the opposite.

Conclusions are especially important in feature article because they summarise your ideas and stance, and ultimately inspire your readers to take action.

So, take your time to quickly summarise your article and add a call to action (i.e. tell your audience to do something, either explicitly or implicitly).

Let’s take a look at News.com journalist, Emma Reynold’s conclusion: “ Craziness Behind the Scenes at the White House ”

“ Three levels of the imposing White House are visible above ground, with the rest beneath. The basements include workrooms, bombs shelters and a bowling alley.

I’m told to look out for the famous red-tailed hawks that live in the rafters of the building. While squirrels are a common sight outside the gates, not many survive within.

Back on Pennsylvania Avenue, I note the absence of sewer grates or rubbish bins, a precaution against bombs.

Clearly, there is a strong consciousness of danger here. But it’s covered with a Disney smile. “

Here, Reynold summarises her experience at the White House and comes to a final conclusion.

She also uses rhetorical and literary techniques to engage her audience and make her conclusion more memorable.

For example, we see a metaphor with “while squirrels are a common sight outside the gates, not many survive within [the White House]”, drawing links between squirrels and common people.

She also uses framing (her introduction refers a ‘Disney star’), allusion and metaphor in her final line: “But it’s covered with a Disney smile”.

Furthermore, Reynolds also implicitly warns us to be aware and critical of what is truly happening in the White House. This is her call to action.

This is what you need to do with your conclusions too!

Written by Matrix English Team

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  • January 21, 2024

How to Write a Feature Article: Crafting Captivating Stories

Julia mccoy.

Creator and Co-founder

Ever tried your hand at how to write a feature article ? It’s not just about the facts; it’s an art. You’re crafting a window into another world, painting pictures with words that draw readers in and make them care. If you’ve been spinning your wheels, don’t sweat it.

This piece will guide you on how to write a feature article that weaves human experiences into life stories that resonate. From choosing the right angle to hitting hard with an impactful narrative structure, we’ll show how lifestyle features, travel narratives, or profile pieces can turn into compelling reads.

You’ll learn tips for punchy openings and satisfying endings that leave readers thinking long after they’ve finished reading.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

Want to build a real money-making blog, 10x faster with the use of AI? Check out our AIO Blogger course.

Table Of Contents:

What are feature articles, 1. human interest stories, 2. news features, 3. lifestyle features, 4. seasonal features, 5. interview pieces, 6. color stories, 7. profile features, 8. behind the scenes, 9. travel features, 10. instructional features, step 1: evaluate your story ideas, step 2: do your research, step 3: choose a feature type, step 4: select an appropriate writing style, step 5: craft a compelling headline, step 6: open with interest, step 7: be creative with storytelling, step 8: end with a bang, build a solid narrative, structure for impact, edit like a pro, get feedback, start writing feature articles like a pro.

A feature story is not your run-of-the-mill news piece.

It paints pictures with words, captures emotions, and weaves facts into narratives that hit home.

This genre offers readers an escape from the blunt edges of hard news by infusing human experience into storytelling.

The ever-evolving world of journalism reveals just how potent these stories can be when they bridge connections between the subject and the audience.

In stark contrast to straight news, feature stories give you more than who, what, where, and when; they delve into the why and how.

You get richly textured pieces like lifestyle features or travel adventures rather than bullet-pointed briefs on world headlines. They’re akin to a stroll through intriguing alleys rather than a brisk walk down Main Street.

With each paragraph designed to evoke feelings rather than simply relay events, it’s no surprise that people are drawn to such compelling reads.

And remember: at their core, feature stories aim for emotional impact, connecting on levels beyond mere information exchange. To create this effect, writers often employ descriptive language and narrative techniques that have been proven effective over time.

Your role model might be Pulitzer Prize winners or leather-jacket-clad journalists typing away in coffee shops. But whatever form inspiration takes, keep one thing clear: good writing starts with solid research grounded in real-world perspectives.

10 Different Types of Feature Articles

The world of content marketing is diverse and dynamic, offering a wide range of possibilities for entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. One powerful tool in your arsenal should be the feature article.

Feature articles come in various forms, each with its unique approach and purpose. Here’s a brief overview of 10 different types of feature stories you can write for your audience.

A human interest story centers on individuals or groups, focusing on personal achievements, dramatic events, or everyday life struggles. The goal here is to evoke emotion from readers and create an engaging narrative around people’s experiences.

News features, arguably the most common type of feature articles, delve into current events providing detailed explanations behind these happenings while examining potential implications. These stories are not just about reporting facts but also providing context and analysis.

Focusing on how life can be improved or enjoyed more fully, lifestyle features offer tips and advice ranging from fitness routines to meditation techniques. They aim to enhance your readers’ lives by offering practical solutions for common problems or introducing them to new ideas that might enrich their day-to-day lives.

These articles focus on events, activities, or topics that are relevant to a particular season, such as holidays, festivals, or seasonal trends.

Whether you’re a journalist or content creator, you probably have a scheduled calendar that designates deadlines for various types of feature articles. One notable advantage of these features is the ability to plan and structure them, a luxury not often afforded with conventional news stories.

In this type of feature, the writer conducts interviews with individuals to gather insights, opinions, and personal stories. The article often presents a narrative based on these interviews.

Color stories go beyond the facts and atmosphere of hard news, often serving as companions to news articles.

Skillful feature writing in this context enables readers to vividly envision the experience of being at a particular event, fostering a deeper understanding of the issues and implications embedded in a story.

Profile features center around a specific person, providing an in-depth look into their life, achievements, challenges, and personality. These articles are like mini-biographies that seek to humanize and bring the subject to life.

Behind-the-scenes features take readers into places or processes not typically visible to the public. This type of article provides insights into how something is made, accomplished, or organized.

Travel features explore destinations, cultures, and experiences. They often include personal anecdotes, recommendations, and practical information for readers interested in exploring the featured location.

Instructional features provide readers with step-by-step guidance, advice, or information on how to do something. These articles aim to educate and empower the audience with practical knowledge.

‘How-to’ features have gained increased popularity, especially in the era of internet ‘life hacks.’ There is now a subcategory of these features where writers experiment with instructional content and share their insights on its practicality.

You don’t need to look too far to find an instructional feature article – you are currently reading one.

These types of feature articles offer diverse ways to present information, capture readers’ attention, and tell compelling stories. Depending on the subject matter and the target audience, writers can choose the most suitable format to convey their message effectively.

How to Write a Feature Article: A Step-by-Step Guide

A feature article is an excellent tool to provide in-depth information about a topic, person, or event. Here’s how you can write one effectively:

The first step in how to write a feature article is to flesh out your ideas. These are the seeds from which your story will grow.

But what if you’re staring at a blank page, bereft of inspiration? This is where renowned publications like The New York Times ‘Trending’ section or The Guardian’s Features can serve as fertile ground for ideas.

However, remember that these sources should be used purely for educational purposes and inspiration – never copy or plagiarize content. The goal here is not to replicate but rather to stimulate your creative juices by reading about diverse topics and unique storytelling methods.

You can also use an AI tool like Content at Scale to generate ideas or topics that are relevant to your niche.

To effectively evaluate potential story ideas:

  • Analyze Trends: What are people talking about? What issues are making headlines? You could use tools like Google Trends or Buzzsumo to identify trending topics relevant to your industry.
  • Understand Your Audience: Know who you’re writing for — their interests, concerns, and questions. Use this understanding as a compass guiding the direction of your stories.
  • Evaluate Relevance and Value: Your story should ideally offer something new — fresh insights, unexplored angles on familiar themes, or practical solutions. Ask yourself how it adds value to the reader’s life before choosing a story.

Feature stories need more than straight facts and sensory details — they need evidence. This can come in the form of quotes, anecdotes, or interviews.

The significance of these elements cannot be overstated as they lend credibility to your narrative while making it more engaging for readers. Hearing viewpoints from various sources helps make your story feel three-dimensional and thus allows you to craft a vivid tale that resonates with your audience.

  • Quotes: These provide direct insights into people’s thoughts and opinions on the subject matter. They give your piece authenticity and add personal touch points which can evoke empathy among readers.
  • Anecdotes: Anecdotal information serves as illustrative examples that breathe life into statistics or hard data points. They help create emotional connections between readers and subjects.
  • Interviews: Conducting interviews gives you access to first-hand accounts, expert perspectives, or unique angles about your topic that could otherwise remain uncovered.

After doing your research, ask yourself what type of feature article you want to write.

Sometimes, this initial decision can shift as you delve deeper into your research. Perhaps you started out intending to write a lifestyle piece about a local sports team’s fitness regimen but ended up focusing on an inspiring interview with an athlete who transformed their health.

This is not uncommon. It’s part and parcel of content writing where story ideas often evolve based on ongoing reporting and discovery. Embrace these changes as they occur – they might lead you down more interesting paths than you initially envisioned.

Selecting an appropriate writing style is a critical step in crafting your feature article. Your choice of language and tone will significantly impact how your audience perceives the information you present.

To help get you started, here are a few tips:

  • Embrace Your Unique Style: Your unique voice is what sets you apart from other writers. Don’t be afraid to let it shine through in your articles! For example, if humor comes naturally to you, consider incorporating it into your piece — provided it fits with the topic and overall tone of course.
  • Use Emotive Language: The power of emotive language should not be underestimated when engaging readers on a deeper level. By using words that evoke emotions or sensory experiences, we can create stronger connections with our audience.
  • Mind Your Adjectives & Adverbs: While adjectives and adverbs can add color to our writing, overuse may make the text seem overly embellished or insincere. Be selective about their usage for maximum effect.
  • Speak Directly To The Reader: In most cases, referring directly to the reader as ‘you’ makes them feel more involved in what they’re reading – like they’re part of a conversation rather than being lectured at.

The power of your feature article lies not only in its content but also in the strength of its headline. A compelling, catchy title can make all the difference between an overlooked piece and one that attracts readership.

In most cases, you won’t have a dedicated subeditor to help craft this crucial element — it falls on you as the writer or marketer to devise an eye-catching headline that summarizes your story while enticing potential readers.

Creating a captivating header requires time and consideration. It isn’t something to be rushed; rather, it should be seen as an integral part of your writing process.

Tips for creating catchy headlines:

  • Create intrigue: Your goal is to pique curiosity without giving away too much about the story’s content. Think mystery novels – they don’t reveal whodunit on their covers!
  • Use powerful words: Words like ‘Secret’, ‘Free’, and ‘Proven’ are known power words, which trigger emotional responses from readers making them more likely to click through.
  • Pose a question: By asking questions related to your topic, you encourage readers to seek answers within your feature article.

Beyond these tips, another effective strategy involves using intriguing quotes from within the story itself as headers. This technique provides context while generating interest in what else might lie within the body text.

The opening paragraph of your feature article is crucial to drawing in your readers and piquing their interest. It’s the hook that can either reel them in or let them off the line, so it needs to be compelling enough to make them want more.

One method you could use is building tension right from the start. This could involve setting up a conflict or problem that will be resolved later on in the article. The anticipation created by this technique can keep readers engaged as they’re eager to find out what happens next.

You might also consider posing a rhetorical question at the outset — something thought-provoking that encourages readers to think about an issue before diving into your story.

Another way to hook your audience is to make an outlandish statement -– one that may seem absurd initially but gets substantiated as you progress through your content. Outrageous claims are one way to grab attention instantly. Just ensure there’s substance behind such statements, or else your credibility will take a hit!

Lastly, try opening with a significant event familiar to most people and then work backward from there. Explain its relevance and context to your overall theme or argument.

No matter which strategy you employ for crafting compelling introductions, remember: Your primary goal should always be capturing reader interest and making them curious enough to continue reading further into your feature article.

Creativity can be a game-changer when it comes to writing feature articles. Unlike traditional news stories that stick to a rigid structure and tone, feature articles offer you ample room for innovation and creativity.

A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end, but not necessarily in that order. This is particularly applicable to feature articles where there’s flexibility in terms of narrative flow.

In crafting your article, consider playing around with the sequence of information or incorporating elements such as anecdotes or personal experiences that may resonate with your readers on an emotional level.

You could also experiment with different styles — perhaps injecting humor into serious topics or adopting an unconventional perspective on common issues.

While you’re free to explore creative avenues, remember not to lose sight of the core purpose of your feature story: to share valuable information with your audience. The secret is finding the right balance between engaging storytelling and delivering insightful content.

Content Hacker provides more insights into this aspect.

  • Risk-taking: Push boundaries by experimenting with unique ideas or formats that deviate from conventional norms.
  • Audience-centricity: Tailor your creative approach based on what resonates best with your audience – their preferences matter!
  • Balanced approach: Creativity shouldn’t compromise clarity; ensure all key points are effectively communicated within the creative framework.

The best feature writers always leave a little something for the reader at the end of their article. This could be a powerful conclusion or an element that ties everything together, but it’s crucial to provide some sort of closure.

This gives your audience a sense of satisfaction upon finishing your piece and makes them anticipate future articles from you.

The order in which you follow these steps isn’t set in stone, especially if you’re new to this type of writing. However, they should serve as a solid starting point when creating feature articles.

In time, you’ll develop your own style and voice that suits both you and your content perfectly.

Finding success with long-form content like feature articles can do wonders for growing sustainable businesses online — a strategy we wholeheartedly advocate at Content Hacker!

Tips on How to Write a Great Feature Article

Writing a great feature article requires a combination of creativity, research, and effective storytelling. Here are some tips to help you craft a compelling feature story:

Your feature article isn’t just sharing information; it’s telling a tale. With every line, you’re guiding readers on a journey that has them hanging onto every word until the very end.

A solid narrative arc is like a map through uncharted territory. It starts by setting up expectations in the beginning, building interest in the middle, and tying everything together at the end — a perfect circle of storytelling mastery.

We all know a good story grabs you from the start and sticks with you long after it’s done. The same goes for feature articles. When writing an engaging opening paragraph, think of it as your chance to invite readers into a conversation they’ll want to stick around for.

An outline shouldn’t be rigid but rather serve as guardrails keeping your thoughts aligned so that each section smoothly transitions into another without losing focus.

The structure of a feature article should feel natural — like listening to an old friend recounting an adventure.

Editing is where good writing becomes great, and a sharp editor’s eye can transform your feature article into a polished gem.

Crafting an article isn’t just about putting words on paper; it’s also about refining those words until they sing. The editing process demands that you scrutinize each sentence for grammar and spelling errors to present the most professional version of your work. Remember, even Pulitzer Prize winners revise their drafts — so should you.

A key stat to keep in mind: clear and coherent articles are more likely to hold the reader’s interest from start to finish. When revising, read aloud to catch any awkward phrasing or inconsistencies that could disrupt the flow.

While spellcheck helps, there’s no substitute for thorough proofreading. Typos can undermine credibility faster than factual inaccuracies. Take the time you need — every error you catch now is one less hurdle for your readers later on.

You’ve crafted sentences like a pro, but another set of eyes can offer new perspectives. Seeking feedback before finalizing your work allows you to see how others perceive what you’ve written.

Remember that the writing process doesn’t end when you put down the pen; it continues through editing and fine-tuning based on constructive criticism.

Mastering how to write a feature article means diving deep into human stories. It’s about painting vivid pictures and touching hearts. You’ve learned the craft of choosing angles that resonate, structuring narratives for impact, and bringing out your unique voice.

You start with curiosity, build on solid research, and weave in compelling interviews.

Then you edit with precision — every word matters.

Your story breathes life when it reflects real people’s experiences. And now you have the blueprint to make sure every piece keeps readers hooked till the last word.

If writing features was daunting before, let this be your turning point.

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How to Write a Feature Article: A Step-by-Step Guide

Feature stories are one of the most crucial forms of writing these days, we can find feature articles and examples in many news websites, blog websites, etc.  While writing a feature article a lot of things should be kept in mind as well. Feature stories are a powerful form of journalism, allowing writers to delve deeper into subjects and explore the human element behind the headlines. Whether you’re a budding journalist or an aspiring storyteller, mastering the art of feature story writing is essential for engaging your readers and conveying meaningful narratives. In this blog, you’ll find the process of writing a feature article, feature article writing tips, feature article elements, etc. The process of writing a compelling feature story, offering valuable tips, real-world examples, and a solid structure to help you craft stories that captivate and resonate with your audience.

Read Also: Top 5 Strategies for Long-Term Success in Journalism Careers

Table of Contents

Understanding the Essence of a Feature Story

Before we dive into the practical aspects, let’s clarify what a feature story is and what sets it apart from news reporting. While news articles focus on delivering facts and information concisely, feature stories are all about storytelling. They go beyond the “who, what, when, where, and why” to explore the “how” and “why” in depth. Feature stories aim to engage readers emotionally, making them care about the subject, and often, they offer a unique perspective or angle on a topic.

Tips and tricks for writing a Feature article

 In the beginning, many people can find difficulty in writing a feature, but here we have especially discussed some special tips and tricks for writing a feature article. So here are some Feature article writing tips and tricks: –

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1. Choose an Interesting Angle:

The first step in feature story writing is selecting a unique and compelling angle or theme for your story. Look for an aspect of the topic that hasn’t been explored widely, or find a fresh perspective that can pique readers’ curiosity.

2. Conduct Thorough Research:

Solid research is the foundation of any feature story. Dive deep into your subject matter, interview relevant sources, and gather as much information as possible. Understand your subject inside out to present a comprehensive and accurate portrayal.

3. Humanize Your Story:

Feature stories often revolve around people, their experiences, and their emotions. Humanize your narrative by introducing relatable characters and sharing their stories, struggles, and triumphs.

4. Create a Strong Lead:

Your opening paragraph, or lead, should be attention-grabbing and set the tone for the entire story. Engage your readers from the start with an anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description.

5. Structure Your Story:

Feature stories typically follow a narrative structure with a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning introduces the topic and engages the reader, the middle explores the depth of the subject, and the end provides closure or leaves readers with something to ponder.

6. Use Descriptive Language:

Paint a vivid picture with your words. Utilize descriptive language and sensory details to transport your readers into the world you’re depicting.

7. Incorporate Quotes and Anecdotes:

Quotes from interviews and anecdotes from your research can breathe life into your story. They add authenticity and provide insights from real people.

8. Engage Emotionally:

Feature stories should evoke emotions. Whether it’s empathy, curiosity, joy, or sadness, aim to connect with your readers on a personal level.

Read Also: The Ever-Evolving World Of Journalism: Unveiling Truths and Shaping Perspectives

Examples of Feature Stories

Here we are describing some of the feature articles examples which are as follows:-

“Finding Beauty Amidst Chaos: The Life of a Street Artist”

This feature story delves into the world of a street artist who uses urban decay as his canvas, turning neglected spaces into works of art. It explores his journey, motivations, and the impact of his art on the community.

“The Healing Power of Music: A Veteran’s Journey to Recovery”

This story follows a military veteran battling post-traumatic stress disorder and how his passion for music became a lifeline for healing. It intertwines personal anecdotes, interviews, and the therapeutic role of music.

“Wildlife Conservation Heroes: Rescuing Endangered Species, One Baby Animal at a Time”

In this feature story, readers are introduced to a group of dedicated individuals working tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate endangered baby animals. It showcases their passion, challenges, and heartwarming success stories.

What should be the feature a Feature article structure?

Read Also: What is The Difference Between A Journalist and A Reporter?

Structure of a Feature Story

A well-structured feature story typically follows this format:

Headline: A catchy and concise title that captures the essence of the story. This is always written at the top of the story.

Lead: A captivating opening paragraph that hooks the reader. The first 3 sentences of any story that explains 5sW & 1H are known as lead.

Introduction : Provides context and introduces the subject. Lead is also a part of the introduction itself.

Body : The main narrative section that explores the topic in depth, including interviews, anecdotes, and background information.

Conclusion: Wraps up the story, offers insights, or leaves the reader with something to ponder.

Additional Information: This may include additional resources, author information, or references.

Read Also: Benefits and Jobs After a MAJMC Degree

Writing a feature article is a blend of journalistic skills and storytelling artistry. By choosing a compelling angle, conducting thorough research, and structuring your story effectively, you can create feature stories that captivate and resonate with your readers. AAFT also provides many courses related to journalism and mass communication which grooms a person to write new articles, and news and learn new skills as well. Remember that practice is key to honing your feature story writing skills, so don’t be discouraged if it takes time to perfect your craft. With dedication and creativity, you’ll be able to craft feature stories that leave a lasting impact on your audience.

What are the characteristics of a good feature article?

A good feature article is well-written, engaging, and informative. It should tell a story that is interesting to the reader and that sheds light on an important issue.

Why is it important to write feature articles?

Feature articles can inform and entertain readers. They can also help to shed light on important issues and to promote understanding and empathy.

What are the challenges of writing a feature article?

The challenges of writing a feature article can vary depending on the topic and the audience. However, some common challenges include finding a good angle for the story, gathering accurate information, and writing in a clear and concise style.

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Aaditya Kanchan is a skilled Content Writer and Digital Marketer with experience of 5+ years and a focus on diverse subjects and content like Journalism, Digital Marketing, Law and sports etc. He also has a special interest in photography, videography, and retention marketing. Aaditya writes in simple language where complex information can be delivered to the audience in a creative way.

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How to Write a PERFECT Feature Article – Every Time

How to Write a PERFECT Feature Article – Every Time

What is a Feature Article?

Feature articles are a form of written media that are most often showcased in magazines and newspapers. They are generally less formal and require less statistics than say, an analytical essay. Instead, they are typically more casual and emotive. The purpose of a feature article is to provide information around human interest. This could be on events, people, places, or issues.

Topic and Target Audience

Having a clear and concise topic of discussion in mind before creating your feature article is important. This gives you the ability to develop and brainstorm the information you wish to display in your writing. Covering too many topics at a time, however, will cause it to become convoluted and confusing. The underlying message may become meaningless or difficult to understand if there are too many subjects being covered. When writing your feature article, you should try to have a clear target audience in mind. Having a set target audience allows the author to cater to their writing style and emotive language in accordance with the kind of people they are writing for.

How do I write a Feature Article?

Feature articles tend to be versatile and can be written in, first, second and third person or a mix of the three when applicable.

  • First person is from the perspective of the writer and as such, the author can insert their personal thoughts and opinions this way and can use personal pronouns. (E.g. I, me, we, us)
  • Second person is written from the perspective of the audience in which the author describes a scenario using the words ‘you’ and ‘you’re.’ (E.g. ‘You’re walking through the woods…’)
  • Third person refers to the point of view of an outsider looking in and describes a situation or person as such. (E.g. They, them, she, he)

LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE

  • Depending on the target audience and topic of the article, the use of informal, colloquial language or ‘slang’ can be used to add a more personal and conversational tone to the writing.
  • Contractions are allowed in feature articles. (e.g. can’t, didn’t, it’s)
  • Facts and direct quotes are useful in validating the author’s message.
  • Rhetorical questions help to draw in and involve the reader.
  • Hyperbolic and emotive language adds personality and flair into the article.
  • Effective literacy devices such as imagery, personification, alliteration, metaphors , etc, can help to immerse the reader into the writing

FORMATTING AND WRITING STRUCTURE

When creating a feature article, be sure to include:

Example Layout

Below is an example of a feature article layout that has also been appropriately labelled

Example of correctly labelled feature article

WHAT TO WRITE

Feature articles tend to vary in length and are generally laid out into columns. Due to this kind of layout style, typically the writing is broken up into multiple mini paragraphs to create a sense of depth. With this in mind, one could write their article in a standard writing format with an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion and then proceed to break it up into columns once completed.

Introduction

Paragraph 1

  • Use a strong hook to draw the reader in.
  • The general message and subject of your article should be established here.
  • The introduction should also set the tone of the article.
  • The introduction shouldn’t be too long or too detailed.

Paragraph 2, 3, 4 and onwards

  • Lead off your introduction and begin explaining your main points one at a time in detail.
  •  Establish what you are trying to convey with each point and provide an explanation as to why it is important or relevant.
  • Include quotes, anecdotes, and general information surrounding your points to create meaning for the audience.
  • Include images that can aid in any messages being conveyed or as a means to provide context to an explanation.
  • Provide evidence to the reader as to why they should be invested in what you are saying and give them something to ponder.
  • Link each point back to the main message or theme you are enforcing.
  • The conclusion should leave a lasting impression on the reader and should sufficiently summarise and wrap up the rest of the article.
  • Remember not to introduce new information in the article here.
  • The conclusion should encourage the reader to be inspired, make a change, or take action.

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feature article example celebrity

How To Write a Feature Article: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you dreamt of becoming a famous feature article writer do you acquire your muse from writers like maya angelou, ketaki desai , rishab raj, shivani vig, and other popular feature writers have you ever felt writing as a tool for reflection then, this article will teach you the fundamentals of what makes a good feature article and how to write one.  it is better to learn more about feature articles before learning the strategies on how to write a feature article. so, here we go.

How To Write a Feature Article A Step-by-step Guide

What is a Feature Article?

A feature article, according to Dictionary.com, is a daily or fortnightly article or report about a person, event, frontage of a major event, or the like. This writing adds a personal touch, and quite often, it is written in a discrete style. It can be a news story, the main or most prominent story in a magazine.   A feature article is no doubt an article inscribed to give a piece of in-depth knowledge to events, people issues, or news. A proficient person or a journalist can write a feature article. Their writings will provide background information on a significant or a noteworthy topic, and the article will include the writer’s angle or his/her experience. 

Difference between News Article and Feature Article

It is not a news item or advertisement. It is a common fact that people get confused with news articles and feature articles. We get confused with news and features and always think of the dos and don’ts of writing a feature article. All are aware of feature articles in Sunday newspapers, but where does the difference lie?

News  is always instant information, and this needs to reach the mass as breaking news without wasting time. A news article should be concise and clear and finally, the writer should stick to the point directly. A news story offers information about an event, idea, or situation. 

The article should cover all the “W” (who, what, when, why, where) and “H” questions, which any reader would like to know. News items generally do not add much spice or any additional information to entice the reader. Readers are spared with extra material or statistics, and as far as possible a writer will use adjectives sparingly. In a nutshell, the introduction will summarise the story for the benefit of the reader.

The source and slant of the writer can include slight variations but should not cover more than one approach. The news writer or a journalist can use an inverted pyramid structure. The writer prefers to present the most important information as an introduction or they can be considered as a conclusion as well. This will help a writer exemplify how the news can be prioritized and structured.

feature article example celebrity

A feature writer adds depth, wisdom, and color to the story and may entertain or instruct. In short, writing a feature article can be like adding jaggery to gulp bitter gourd. It can be like a stimulant or a catalyst. A feature article is a longer article compared to the news. It is all about lettering a human-interest story to match the target audience. A feature article is written after an event. So, naturally, they try to provide more and more information about the event, or else they give a different perception or a changed viewpoint. 

The main aim of a feature writer will be to analyze, broaden the understanding, and give different approaches to a reader. Remember to note that a feature article is a non-fiction piece of writing. 

Where do we find feature articles? 

A feature article is published in newspapers, magazines, and online blogs , and they add an emotional touch. They are more personal. As a writer, when you write a feature article, it is good to make it more narrative and more appealing for the readers.

If you want to become a professional blogger, then learn from the experts with the Best Online Content Writing Course

Different Types of Feature Articles:

Before starting to write a feature article, different articles and their characteristics will give you the insight to decide, which type to choose before you pen your thoughts to words. Every article should be the voice of a writer and the other characters or places or incidents. Now start thinking of writing a feature article and understand the different types before you shake your thoughts into words.

Types of feature stories : Each article has a divergent focus, and the motive also changes.

⮚      Human interest stories:  In this kind of feature article, the emphasis is given to a person or a set of people. Such an article emphasizes a dramatic incident. Normally, the focal point will be emotion first and later on the information.

⮚      Colour Stories : Describe a location using life and blood, so that the reader can visualize the same in this kind of feature article. A news story can be written in this form to transport the feel.

⮚      News Feature: This is the m ost popular kind of feature article in the newspapers. It conveys news, motives and implications, and consequences.

⮚      Informative Feature:  For this article, the writer conducts an interview, research, data compilation for data, and of course, relies on personal observation. The writer tries to add human stories and give information and education. It offers interesting information and guides the reader.

⮚      Historical Feature:  This type of feature article is for those, who are good at dates, chronology, turning points in history. The main motive of this feature article is to rekindle memory to invoke interest. 

⮚      Lifestyle Feature:   The most widespread feature articles people look for. How to live healthily? How to grow vegetables?

⮚      Scientific Feature : As the name suggests, this feature article voices on science policy and topics related to current topics.

⮚      Interpretative Features:  Political, social, and economic problems could be touched upon, while writing this feature article. Interpretative feature articles provide details, direct, and shed light on the context of specific issues.

⮚      Review:  Review of books, film, and music, etc. This article should highlight why a particular genre is good or extremely good and the specific reason for this extraordinary or ordinary nature.

⮚      Behind the scenes:  This article gives a reader a revelation about the backdrop scenes, or the reader can pry into the behind scenes.

Now you are familiar with different types of feature articles and the next step is to progress a set of skills required to write, organize and edit a feature article before writing a feature article and get set to write a feature article.

Why do you write a feature article ? It is either to instruct, persuade or entertain the readers. Do not miss the fact that feature articles are longer pieces of writing that range from opinions, issues, experiences, and ideas. 

How to Choose and Tempt the Audience When You Write a Feature Article?

It is a common fact that there are thousands of newspapers, magazines, and print media in the market flooding articles with online material. It can be considered as an uphill task to pitch the right audience and to get noticed in this market.  

How to break this discord and attract the audience is to offer the target audience a noteworthy article that is of interest which speaks a lot. Once the target audience is decided, think of their age, status, attitude, culture, and lifestyle. As a writer, you have to know their thought process, language, and vocabulary. 

As a next step, you have to analyze the topics of interest for that selected audience. Technology, travel, health, home travel are striking topics for features since they can be used in specific sections of newspapers or weekend magazines. Feature stories are frequently published in trade publications, usually as special supplements.

Steps to writing a feature article to keep the reader on tenterhooks

● The first point is to  choose the right topic  and the word limit of the feature article. Is the topic relevant and of interest or can this topic hold the breath of the audience until the last word? Do not exceed the word limit (minimum 1500 and maximum 4000 words). 

Briefly, discover a topic of existing importance. Further to that, think of a topic that sells and start forming great ideas that are exclusive.  The brainstorming  technique will help you bring out the best, and this technique will ensure you have a free flow of ideas. Understand the purpose of writing that can take you to the next step of writing.

●        Research the topic  and it all depends on your research. Find out what strikes and how well you can produce it. Read, read, research all aspects and perspectives of the topic, and give an edifying stance. 

Mind mapping techniques will allow you to channelize your ideas and thoughts. How do you do that? After your research and free flow of your ideas or overflow of ideas, create a central theme that will allow you to write. Of course, you can branch your central idea with different color codes and keywords, and colorful images to start with a bang and get inspired. 

More and more branches will make you more confident and with an organized flow of thoughts. Establish your principle and remember that is the meat of your article.

●        Narrow down your plan : Think of the target audience and what type of attitude do they like and what is your attitude towards that topic? Start thinking of all the  Ws and H  (who, why, what, when) and find out the answers for these common elements. Your battle is half won if the major reason for writing this article or the drive to write this feature article can answer all these questions.

●        Structure your astute ideas : Sequence them logically and according to the level of significance.

Now you are ready to start painless writing. Your writing process is also complete, and now time to start writing a feature article of your choice, your passion, and your ideas at your fingertips. Before you put words into life, it is better to know the language used to write a feature article.

Linguistic or language usage in feature articles:

● Use semi-formal language (not formal and not informal) with a human touch 

● Sprinkle sentiments, emotions, and feelings

● Use second person singular when you address the audience

● Adjectives and adverbs can be used sparingly but use action verbs

● Do not forget to use statistics, facts

● Quotes give a better edge or slight superiority to your writing

● Write in active voice

● Use literary techniques to create a special effect for a deeper meaning. This divulges the authors’ motivation.

● Rhetorical questions can invoke interest and allow the reader to think and increase certain insight.

● Anecdotes, imagery, and certain jargon are other language techniques that you can try.

Now you are ready to start writing with  more tips  to chisel and delve deep into writing.

How will you structure and organize a feature article?

  • Headline:  A good introduction is the root of your writing. The publicity of your article lies in those first lines. Grab the attention of your reader with a catchy introduction or try to hook the reader’s interest. In the introductory lines, the main point is emphasized or highlighted.
  • Subheading : Expresses a perspective or point of view of the author and it is also called a  deck . This is the second attempt of the author to tempt the reader. The gist of the article inscribed will allow a reader to be hooked on your article. 
  • By-line : You can express your identity using a by-line and introduce the persons who helped you for an interview or a survey.
  • Hook -: An intriguing initial sentence that will hook readers’ attention and keep them reading. It could be done by using an example, a metaphor, a rhetorical question exactly like how Barak Obama grabs the attention with his rhetorical questions. This paragraph develops on the hook and sets the tone of your article.
  • Introductory paragraph 

This paragraph develops the hook and sets the tone for the rest of the article and defines the tone and focus of the article. The opening paragraph opens with a scheming, plot, or intrigue. You can win the heart of the reader and make them hold their attention with this paragraph. Do not forget to set the section and bring life into those words.

●        Paragraph two of the body: the first main topic . A description of how this person or problem has benefited society. In the author’s own words, this should be an interpretation of events or how to stick to the genre you have selected. Show and try not to speak.

●        From paragraph three onwards , more major points are offered to clarify to inform about vital events or accomplishments about the person/issue. The reader is more clear with more details using facts, evidence, and quotations. 

These pose difficult questions to the reader and include their responses. Paragraphs, photographs, tables, diagrams, and graphs are frequently used to present information in feature articles to present facts or proof to back up the content or support the author’s interpretation and explanation of the text person/issue/events.

●        Summary:   Now you are ready to summarise the article. The final paragraph should create a lasting impression by reminding the reader, the article’s core point and suggesting a suitable course of action, and promoting a shift in standpoint or attitude. 

This should prompt the reader to take a feat or encourage taking a deed. The reader should be able to confirm that the article is ready for a conclusion. Now, you have gulped the capsule to set and write a feature article.

●        Reread and Edit:  This is the most important step of the writing process before you write a feature article.                                                  

Revision and editing are important processes of writing. Editing suggests the chance to see a clear picture, evidence, specifics, fix the language glitches, and polish the article. 

Editing will help you to find out grammatical errors, typos, repetitions, and even dull writing the bugs in writing. This is sure to guide and bucket the thoughts to give a long-lasting impression of the feature article. Final editing and polishing will help you to find out whether you have put in your ideas succinctly and impactfully and whether you were able to connect the dots.

Learn about editing and proofreading here.

4 Personalities of Writing to Reduce Writer’s Block .

Madman, architect, carpenter, and madman. .

A madman creates ideas exactly like a madman. The architect gives the writing structure by moving paragraphs around and looking at the plot. The sentences, phrases, and word choices are being crafted by the carpenter. The judge removes elements of the document that aren’t required. This article will remove the block and help you to write a feature article.

Here are additional tips to become an ace before you write a feature article: 

▪ Be relaxed and conversational

▪ Keep it simple

▪ Short sentences and vary sentence length

▪ Paint a picture

▪ Spice up your writing

▪ Voice your opinion

▪ Smooth your writing by using transitions

▪ Don’t judge the first draft

▪ Always rely on peer editing

▪ Don’t write in the same tone

▪ Don’t put all the interesting facts at one go

▪ Harness the power of comma and punctuation

▪ Don’t dump information

Now you have the style, grace, and power of expressing your thoughts clearly and enlivening your writing with vivid images. It is an inborn talent that requires a knack and relevant guidelines to convert your thoughts into words that become a reader’s delight. This article is to reinstate the writing process and try to refresh your memory and change your writing blocks and procrastination habits to write a feature article.

Now you are ready to start your dream job or have a go. Good luck and best wishes!

Scope of Feature Article Writing:

Newspapers, magazines, and social media are employing freelancers and regular columnists. Print and online media depend on freelancers for making their publications interesting and noteworthy. 

The work from home concept is gaining momentum. Hence, it is beneficial for a featured columnist to be in their comfort zone and earn at leisure. Any individual with a flair for writing and a good grasp of language and creativity can make a decent living. 

A feature article writer can choose any genre of your choice and if you are consistent and stick to the timeline with utter sincerity, then nothing can pull you behind. Freelancers are in demand and make use of your painless writing techniques.                                                                                             

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a feature article different from a blog?

Yes, it is different. While feature articles are published digitally and in print, blogs are published only online. 

2. Is feature writing well as a career?

Yes. With the present changes in the world, it has got ample scope. If your writing style is exclusive, then you have more possibility to be popular. 

3. What are the basic steps for new writers?

✔ Include all the fundamentals of writing (who, what, where why, when, and how)

✔ Plan and organize your writing

✔ Include your viewpoint

It is a fact that writing entails basic principles. It is good to master the rules. This will help you make your foundation before you venture into different kinds of writing. As stated before, writing a feature article is more than facts and includes interesting facts, and recall the points stated in this article before you write a feature article. 

It is of paramount importance to add a dimension of human touch and make it more pleasing. This article has guided you through the steps to write a feature article and touch the chords of the readers. 

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How to Write a Feature Article

Last Updated: April 29, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Mary Erickson, PhD . Mary Erickson is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Western Washington University. Mary received her PhD in Communication and Society from the University of Oregon in 2011. She is a member of the Modern Language Association, the National Communication Association, and the Society for Cinema and Media Studies. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 41 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,450,860 times.

Writing a feature article involves using creativity and research to give a detailed and interesting take on a subject. These types of articles are different from typical news stories in that they often are written in a different style and give much more details and description rather than only stating objective facts. This gives the reader a chance to more fully understand some interesting part of the article's subject. While writing a feature article takes lots of planning, research, and work, doing it well is a great way to creatively write about a topic you are passionate about and is a perfect chance to explore different ways to write.

Choosing a Topic

Step 1 Find a compelling story.

  • Human Interest : Many feature stories focus on an issue as it impacts people. They often focus on one person or a group of people.
  • Profile : This feature type focuses on a specific individual’s character or lifestyle. This type is intended to help the reader feel like they’ve gotten a window into someone’s life. Often, these features are written about celebrities or other public figures.
  • Instructional : How-to feature articles teach readers how to do something. Oftentimes, the writer will write about their own journey to learn a task, such as how to make a wedding cake.
  • Historical : Features that honor historical events or developments are quite common. They are also useful in juxtaposing the past and the present, helping to root the reader in a shared history.
  • Seasonal : Some features are perfect for writing about in certain times of year, such as the beginning of summer vacation or at the winter holidays.
  • Behind the Scenes : These features give readers insight into an unusual process, issue or event. It can introduce them to something that is typically not open to the public or publicized.

Step 4 Consider the audience you’d like to talk to.

Interviewing Subjects

Step 1 Schedule an interview at a time and place convenient for the interviewee.

  • Schedule about 30-45 minutes with this person. Be respectful of their time and don’t take up their whole day. Be sure to confirm the date and time a couple of days ahead of the scheduled interview to make sure the time still works for the interviewee.
  • If your interviewee needs to reschedule, be flexible. Remember, they are being generous with their time and allowing you to talk with them, so be generous with your responses as well. Never make an interviewee feel guilty about needing to reschedule.
  • If you want to observe them doing a job, ask if they can bring you to their workplace. Asking if your interviewee will teach you a short lesson about what they do can also be excellent, as it will give you some knowledge of the experience to use when you write.

Step 2 Prepare for your interview.

  • Be sure to ask your interviewee if it’s okay to audio-record the interview. If you plan to use the audio for any purpose other than for your own purposes writing up the article (such as a podcast that might accompany the feature article), you must tell them and get their consent.
  • Don't pressure the interviewee if they decline audio recording.

Step 6 Confirm details about your interviewee.

  • Another good option is a question that begins Tell me about a time when.... This allows the interviewee to tell you the story that's important to them, and can often produce rich information for your article.

Step 8 Actively listen.

Preparing to Write the Article

Step 1 Choose a format for your article.

  • Start by describing a dramatic moment and then uncover the history that led up to that moment.
  • Use a story-within-a-story format, which relies on a narrator to tell the story of someone else.
  • Start the story with an ordinary moment and trace how the story became unusual.

Step 2 Decide on approximate length for the article.

  • Check with your editor to see how long they would like your article to be.

Step 3 Outline your article.

  • Consider what you absolutely must have in the story and what can be cut. If you are writing a 500-word article, for example, you will likely need to be very selective about what you include, whereas you have a lot more space to write in a 2,500 word article.

Writing the Article

Step 1 Write a hook to open your story.

  • Start with an interesting fact, a quote, or an anecdote for a good hook.
  • Your opening paragraph should only be about 2-3 sentences.

Step 2 Expand on your lead in the second paragraph.

  • Be flexible, however. Sometimes when you write, the flow makes sense in a way that is different from your outline. Be ready to change the direction of your piece if it seems to read better that way.

Step 4 Show, don’t tell.

Finalizing the Article

Step 1 Check for accuracy, and check again.

  • You can choose to incorporate or not incorporate their suggestions.

Step 3 Check spelling and grammar.

  • Consult "The Associated Press Stylebook" for style guidelines, such as how to format numbers, dates, street names, and so on. [7] X Research source

Step 4 Get feedback on the article.

  • If you want to convey slightly more information, write a sub-headline, which is a secondary sentence that builds on the headline.

Step 6 Submit your article by the deadline.

Sample Feature Article

feature article example celebrity

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Ask to see a proof of your article before it gets published. This is a chance for you to give one final review of the article and double-check details for accuracy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

feature article example celebrity

  • Be sure to represent your subjects fairly and accurately. Feature articles can be problematic if they are telling only one side of a story. If your interviewee makes claims against a person or company, make sure you talk with that person or company. If you print claims against someone, even if it’s your interviewee, you might risk being sued for defamation. [9] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

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Write an Article Review

  • ↑ http://morrisjournalismacademy.com/how-to-write-a-feature-article/
  • ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/learning/students/writing/voices.html
  • ↑ http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20007483
  • ↑ http://faculty.washington.edu/heagerty/Courses/b572/public/StrunkWhite.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.apstylebook.com/
  • ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/166662
  • ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/libel-vs-slander-different-types-defamation.html

About This Article

Mary Erickson, PhD

To write a feature article, start with a 2-3 sentence paragraph that draws your reader into the story. The second paragraph needs to explain why the story is important so the reader keeps reading, and the rest of the piece needs to follow your outline so you can make sure everything flows together how you intended. Try to avoid excessive quotes, complex language, and opinion, and instead focus on appealing to the reader’s senses so they can immerse themselves in the story. Read on for advice from our Communications reviewer on how to conduct an interview! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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6 Best Examples of Profile Stories Plus Top Tips for Creating Engaging Human Interest Features

Discover our guide with tips and examples of profile stories to help you capture and keep your reader’s attention.

Personal profiles are a unique approach to news writing. Unlike hard news stories, they aim to humanize events and individuals by profiling them in a narrative rather than journalistic style. These features are also a popular way for businesses to connect more intimately with their customers.

A profile story on a restaurant’s chef, for example, can bring in customers who are excited by the menu and feel invested in an individual’s success.

What’s a Profile Story?

What makes a good profile story, 6 examples of successful profile stories, 1. one of texas’s greatest artists lives quietly in east texas, by john baxter, 2. she’s inheriting millions. she wants her wealth taxed away, by emma bubola, 3. how a blind surfer got over his fear of surfing (and you can too), by jackie snow, 4. brad pitt opens up about his dream world, by ottessa moshfegh, 5. the eternal sunshine of harry styles, by rob sheffield, 6. jaques pepin, in search of lost cars and cuisine, by jaimie lincoln kitman, what are some ways to write a profile story, where are profile stories published.

What's a profile story?

A personal profile feature story is a written portrait of an individual whose real-life experiences are compelling in some way. Perhaps they are connected to current events, have achieved something extraordinary, or have overcome incredible odds. Through direct quotes, telling anecdotes, and compelling storytelling, writers, create profile feature articles that shed new light on high-profile figures, events, or places. You can also check out these articles of examples about profile stories .

A good personal profile story makes its subject seem real and relatable. It allows the reader to walk around in someone else’s shoes for a while and to see life from a new perspective. A well-written profile draws the reader in with an attention-grabbing hook and holds their interest by using vibrant and unexpected details. A well-written profile story is a compelling newspaper column idea  because it can offer a new take on a dry subject.

Examples of well-written profile stories offer key insight into what makes these human interest stories so captivating. These five articles each demonstrate the qualities of engaging and memorable storytelling.

This article about the little-known artist and professor Lee Baxter Davis works because it tells an unexpected story. Though Davis is a master of his craft and boasts an impressive list of now-famous former students, he has chosen to live and work in a way that is decidedly beyond the boundaries of the art world.

This piece tackles weighty issues like taxation and economic policy through the eyes of a young heiress who believes that her inheritance should be taxed to create a more just society. By giving it a personal perspective, the author can grab readers’ attention who might not ordinarily be interested in economics.

Pete Gustin’s popular TikTok account gives his more than 680,000 followers an intimate look at everyday life as a blind person. Though he is well known, this article is successful because it relates new and exciting information about his background and his works as a professional voice actor.

You can’t get much more famous than Brad Pitt. Countless words have been written about this Hollywood darling, yet this personal profile story is fresh and engaging because it portrays an icon as a relatable human being. Readers learn that Pitt’s refrigerator is rather empty, that he keeps a dream journal, and that he taught himself to play guitar during the pandemic. These small details make even a well-covered subject new and exciting.

The rich, vivid detail stands out about this profile of singer Harry Styles. From his pink and mint green fingernail polish to his blue bell bottoms and tuna sandwich, the reader can imagine being right there, spending an afternoon one-on-one with a pop sensation. This article is an excellent example of how details can make all the difference.

At 87 years old, renowned French chef Jaques Pepin is a fount of knowledge regarding cooking and ingredients. This profile story , however, centers on his love for French automobiles and how that affinity mirrors his thoughts on food. By framing the article through an unexpected lens, Kitman’s readers gain a new look at an already well-covered subject. 

FAQs On Examples of Profile Stories

1. Research and plan ahead . A good storyteller digs into their subject’s background. Read other articles on your subject, study their social media, and document the questions that arise as you research. This will help you create questions that will get your subject talking. 2. Talk to others. One helpful way of gathering background information is to talk to your subject’s neighbors, family, friends, and coworkers. Asking people to relate stories and impressions of your subject will shed new light on the person behind the persona. 3. Conduct an interview. Use open-ended questions and allow your subject to do most of the talking. Create a friendly rapport and relaxing environment to encourage your subject to feel safe and open. If possible, observe your subject in their environment. Take photos and record your conversation to make recall easier when it’s time to write. 4. Look for a new angle and create a strong lede . A good profile story reveals a new aspect of the subject, so search for that special something your readers can’t find anywhere else. The most compelling ones always begin with a strong lede – a hook that draws the reader in and makes them want to know more. 5. Paint a picture for your readers. Use a narrative, conversational style and include lots of sensory details to put your reader in the moment with your subject.

Companies often hire ghostwriters to show the human side of their businesses through personal profiles of staff and leadership. What is a ghostwriter? Simply put, a freelance writer is paid to take someone else’s idea and turn it into a story. These ghostwritten profiles may appear on the company’s website or social media.

Journalistic profile stories are published in magazines, newspapers, and online. The New York Times is well known for its Saturday profile. Vogue, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Esquire , and the Los Angeles Times also publish highly regarded personal profiles.

When editing for grammar, we also recommend taking the time to improve the readability score of a piece of writing before publishing or submitting

feature article example celebrity

Stefani is a freelance writer who specializes in lifestyle and literary pieces. She worked for several years as a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer. Stefani is pursuing a graduate degree in English literature focusing on contemporary poetry. When not writing, you can find her in the garden, making plans for her next road trip, or in her workshop, where she restores vintage and antique furniture.

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  • NEWS FEATURE
  • 20 February 2024

Mind-reading devices are revealing the brain’s secrets

  • Miryam Naddaf

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Scientists have studied how brain–computer interfaces, such as this non-invasive cap, change brain activity. Credit: Silvia Marchesotti

You have full access to this article via your institution.

Moving a prosthetic arm. Controlling a speaking avatar. Typing at speed. These are all things that people with paralysis have learnt to do using brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) — implanted devices that are powered by thought alone.

These devices capture neural activity using dozens to hundreds of electrodes embedded in the brain. A decoder system analyses the signals and translates them into commands.

Although the main impetus behind the work is to help restore functions to people with paralysis , the technology also gives researchers a unique way to explore how the human brain is organized, and with greater resolution than most other methods.

Scientists have used these opportunities to learn some basic lessons about the brain. Results are overturning assumptions about brain anatomy, for example, revealing that regions often have much fuzzier boundaries and job descriptions than was thought. Such studies are also helping researchers to work out how BCIs themselves affect the brain and, crucially, how to improve the devices.

“BCIs in humans have given us a chance to record single-neuron activity for a lot of brain areas that nobody’s ever really been able to do in this way,” says Frank Willett, a neuroscientist at Stanford University in California who is working on a BCI for speech.

The devices also allow measurements over much longer time spans than classical tools do, says Edward Chang, a neurosurgeon at the University of California, San Francisco. “BCIs are really pushing the limits, being able to record over not just days, weeks, but months, years at a time,” he says. “So you can study things like learning, you can study things like plasticity, you can learn tasks that require much, much more time to understand.”

Recorded history

The idea that the electrical activity of the human brain could be recorded first gained support 100 years ago. German psychiatrist Hans Berger attached electrodes to the scalp of a 17-year-old boy whose surgery for a brain tumour had left a hole in his skull. When Berger recorded above this opening, he made the first observation of brain oscillations and gave the measurement a name: the EEG (electroencephalogram).

Researchers immediately saw that recording from inside the brain could be even more valuable; Berger and others used surgery to place electrodes on the surface of the cortex to study the brain and diagnose epilepsy. Recording from implanted electrodes is still a standard method for pinpointing where epileptic seizures begin, so that the condition can be treated using surgery.

feature article example celebrity

The brain-reading devices helping paralysed people to move, talk and touch

Then, in the 1970s, researchers began to use signals recorded from further inside animal brains to control external machines, giving rise to the first implanted brain–machine interfaces.

In 2004, Matt Nagle, who was paralysed after a spinal injury, became the first person to receive a long-term invasive BCI system that used multiple electrodes to record activity from individual neurons in his primary motor cortex 1 . Nagle was able to use his system to open and close a prosthetic hand, and to perform basic tasks with a robotic arm.

Researchers have also used EEG readings — collected using non-invasive electrodes placed on a person’s scalp — to provide signals for BCIs. These have allowed paralysed people to control wheelchairs, robotic arms and gaming devices, but the signals are weaker and the data less reliable than with invasive devices.

So far, about 50 people have had a BCI implanted, and advances in artificial intelligence, decoding tools and hardware have propelled the field forwards.

Electrode arrays, for instance, are becoming more sophisticated. A technology called Neuropixels has not yet been incorporated into a BCI, but is in use for fundamental research. The array of silicon electrodes, each thinner than a human hair, has nearly 1,000 sensors and is capable of detecting electrical signals from a single neuron. Researchers began using Neuropixels arrays in animals seven years ago, and two papers published in the past three months demonstrate their use for questions that can be answered only in humans : how the brain produces and perceives vowel sounds in speech 2 , 3 .

Commercial activity is also ramping up. In January, the California-based neurotechnology company Neuralink, founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, i mplanted a BCI into a person for the first time . As with other BCIs, the implant can record from individual neurons, but unlike other devices, it has a wireless connection to a computer

And although the main driver is clinical benefit, these windows into the brain have revealed some surprising lessons about its function along the way.

Fuzzy boundaries

Textbooks often describe brain regions as having discrete boundaries or compartments. But BCI recordings suggest that this is not always the case.

Last year, Willett and his team were using a BCI implant for speech generation in a person with motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). They expected to find that neurons in a motor control area called the precentral gyrus would be grouped depending on which facial muscles they were tuned to — jaw, larynx, lips or tongue. Instead, neurons with different targets were jumbled up 4 . “The anatomy was very intermixed,” says Willett.

They also found that Broca’s area, a brain region thought to have a role in speech production and articulation, contained little to no information about words, facial movements or units of sound called phonemes. “It seems surprising that it’s not really involved in speech production per se,” says Willett. Previous findings using other methods had hinted at this more nuanced picture (see, for example, ref. 5).

Frank Willett working at a computer with a participant who has a brain implant that interprets her attempts at speech into words on the computer screen

Researcher Frank Willett operates software that translates Pat Bennett’s attempts at speech into words on a screen, through a BCI. Credit: Steve Fisch/Stanford Medicine

In a 2020 paper about motion 6 , Willett and his colleagues recorded signals in two people with different levels of movement limitation, focusing on an area in the premotor cortex that is responsible for moving the hands. They discovered while using a BCI that the area contains neural codes for all four limbs together, not just for the hands, as previously presumed. This challenges the classical idea that body parts are represented in the brain’s cortex in a topographical map, a theory that has been embedded in medical education for nearly 90 years.

“That’s something that you would only see if you’re able to record single-neuron activity from humans, which is so rare,” says Willett.

Nick Ramsey, a cognitive neuroscientist at University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands, made similar observations when his team implanted a BCI in a part of the motor cortex that corresponds to hand movement 7 . The motor cortex in one hemisphere of the brain typically controls movements on the opposite side of the body. But when the person attempted to move her right hand, electrodes implanted in the left hemisphere picked up signals for both the right hand and the left hand, a finding that was unexpected, says Ramsey. “We’re trying to find out whether that’s important” for making movements, he says.

feature article example celebrity

The rise of brain-reading technology: what you need to know

Movement relies on a lot of coordination, and brain activity has to synchronize it all, explains Ramsey. Holding out an arm affects balance, for instance, and the brain has to manage those shifts across the body, which could explain the dispersed activity. “There’s a lot of potential in that kind of research that we haven’t thought of before,” he says.

To some scientists, these fuzzy anatomical boundaries are not surprising. Our understanding of the brain is based on average measurements that paint a generalized image of how this complex organ is arranged, says Luca Tonin, an information engineer at the University of Padua in Italy. Individuals are bound to diverge from the average.

“Our brains look different in the details,” says Juan Álvaro Gallego, a neuroscientist at Imperial College London.

To others, findings from such a small number of people should be interpreted with caution. “We need to take everything that we’re learning with a grain of salt and put it in context,” says Chang. “Just because we can record from single neurons doesn’t mean that’s the most important data, or the whole truth.”

Flexible thinking

BCI technology has also helped researchers to reveal neural patterns of how the brain thinks and imagines.

Christian Herff, a computational neuroscientist at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, studies how the brain encodes imagined speech. His team developed a BCI implant capable of generating speech in real time when participants either whisper or imagine speaking without moving their lips or making a sound 8 . The brain signals picked up by the BCI device in both whispered and imagined speech were similar to those for spoken speech. They share areas and patterns of activity, but are not the same, explains Herff.

That means, he says, that even if someone can’t speak, they could still imagine speech and work a BCI. “This drastically increases the people who could use such a speech BCI on a clinical basis,” says Herff.

The fact that people with paralysis retain the programmes for speech or movement, even when their bodies can no longer respond, helps researchers to draw conclusions about how plastic the brain is — that is, to what extent it can reshape and remodel its neural pathways.

It is known that injury, trauma and disease in the brain can alter the strength of connections between neurons and cause neural circuits to reconfigure or make new connections. For instance, work in rats with spinal cord injuries has shown that brain regions that once controlled now-paralysed limbs can begin to control parts of the body that are still functional 9 .

But BCI studies have muddied this picture. Jennifer Collinger, a neural engineer at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, and her colleagues used an intracortical BCI in a man in his 30s who has a spinal cord injury. He can still move his wrist and elbow, but his fingers are paralysed.

Collinger’s team noticed that the original maps of the hand were preserved in his brain 10 . When the man attempted to move his fingers, the team saw activity in the motor area, even though his hand did not actually move.

Close up on the head of a patient with a brain implant about to be connected to a computer

Brain–computer interface technology is helping people with paralysis to speak — and providing lessons about brain anatomy. Credit: Mike Kai Chen/The New York Times/Redux/eyevine

“We see the typical organization,” she says. “Whether they have changed at all before or after injury, slightly, we can’t really say.” That doesn’t mean the brain isn’t plastic, Collinger notes. But some brain areas might be more flexible in this regard than others. “For example, plasticity seems to be more limited in sensory cortex compared to motor cortex,” she adds.

In conditions in which the brain is damaged, such as stroke, BCIs can be used alongside other therapeutic interventions to help train a new brain area to take over from a damaged region. In such situations, “people are performing tasks by modulating areas of the brain that originally were not evolved to do so”, says José del R. Millán, a neural engineer at the University of Texas at Austin, who studies how to deploy BCI-induced plasticity in rehabilitation.

In a clinical trial, Millán and his colleagues trained 14 participants with chronic stroke — a long-term condition that begins 6 months or more after a stroke, marked by a slowdown in the recovery process — to use non-invasive BCIs for 6 weeks 11 .

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Abandoned: the human cost of neurotechnology failure

In one group, the BCI was connected to a device that applied electric currents to activate nerves in paralysed muscles, a therapeutic technique known as functional electrical stimulation (FES). Whenever the BCI decoded the participants’ attempts to extend their hands, it stimulated the muscles that control wrist and finger extension. Participants in the control group had the same set-up, but received random electrical stimulation.

Using EEG imaging, Millán’s team found that the participants using BCI-guided FES had increased connectivity between motor areas in the affected brain hemisphere compared with the control group. Over time, the BCI–FES participants became able to extend their hands, and their motor recovery lasted for 6–12 months after the end of the BCI-based rehabilitation therapy.

What BCIs do to the brain

In Millán’s study, the BCI helped to drive learning in the brain. This feedback loop between human and machine is a key element of BCIs, which can allow direct control of brain activity. Participants can learn to adjust their mental focus to improve the decoder’s output in real time.

Whereas most research focuses on optimizing BCI devices and improving their coding performance, “little attention has been paid to what actually happens in the brain when you use the thing”, says Silvia Marchesotti, a neuroengineer at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Marchesotti studies how the brain changes when people use a BCI for language generation — looking not just in the regions where the BCI sits, but more widely. Her team found that, when 15 healthy participants were trained to control a non-invasive BCI over 5 days, activity across the brain increased in frequency bands known to be important for language and became more focused over time 12 .

One possible explanation could be that the brain becomes more efficient at controlling the device and requires fewer neural resources to do the tasks, says Marchesotti.

Studying how the brain behaves during BCI use is an emerging field, and researchers hope it will both benefit the user and improve BCI systems. For example, recording activity across the brain allows scientists to detect whether extra electrodes are needed in other decoding sites to improve accuracy.

Understanding more about brain organization could help to build better decoders and prevent them making errors. In a preprint posted last month 13 , Ramsey and his colleagues showed that a speech decoder can become confused between a user speaking a sentence and listening to it. They implanted BCIs in the ventral sensorimotor cortex — an area commonly targeted for speech decoding — in five people undergoing epilepsy surgery. They found that patterns of brain activity seen when participants spoke a set of sentences closely resembled those observed when they listened to a recording of the same sentences. This implies that a speech decoder might not be able to differentiate between heard and spoken words when trying to generate speech.

The scope of current BCI research is still limited, with trials recruiting a very small number of participants and focusing mainly on brain regions involved in motor function.

“You have at least tenfold as many researchers working on BCIs as you have patients using BCIs,” says Herff.

Researchers value the rare chances to record directly from human neurons, but they are driven by the need to restore function and meet medical needs. “This is neurosurgery,” says Collinger. “It’s not to be taken lightly.”

To Chang, the field naturally operates as a blend of discovery and clinical application. “It’s hard for me to even imagine what our research would be like if we were just doing basic discovery or only doing the BCI work alone,” he says. “It seems that both really are critical for moving the field forwards.”

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Windows Photos gets Generative erase, and recent AI editing features now available on Arm64 devices and Windows 10

  • Mala Srivatsa

Hello Windows Insiders,

We’re excited to share with you our latest editing capability available for the Photos app, Generative erase. Plus, all our recently released AI edit features, including Blur background, Remove and replace background, and Generative erase, are also now available in the Photos app for Arm64 devices and Windows 10. This update is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in all channels today (including Windows Insiders on Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel). Make sure to update your app to version number 2024.11020.21001.0 or higher .

Generative Erase

Our well-known Spot fix tool has received a boost with the help of AI and is now known as Generative erase in the app. This feature allows you to fix and remove distractions from your photos, like background objects or miscellaneous visual clutter. Compared to Spot fix, Generative erase creates a more seamless and realistic result after objects are erased from the photo, even when erasing large areas.

Before and after using generative erase to remove unwanted objects from the photo.

To use Generative erase, go to Edit Image and select the Erase option. Brush over the objects or areas you want to remove. Adjust the brush size to get the right level of precision you need.

For even finer control or removing multiple objects at once, you can disable Auto Apply to add or remove masks, where each mask represents an area that will be erased.

Other fixes and improvements

  • All of the current Photos app AI edit features, including Blur background, Remove and Replace background, and Generative erase are now available in the Photos app for Windows 11 for Arm64 devices.
  • For the first time, Windows 10 will be receiving all of the AI editing features that were previously available only on Windows 11, including Blur background, Remove and Replace background, and Generative erase.
  • Various stability fixes and improvements.

We appreciate your comments and suggestions, so please share your feedback with us!

FEEDBACK: Please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Apps > Photos .

Thanks, Mala Srivatsa, Senior Product Manager – Windows Photos

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Google suspends Gemini from making AI images of people after a backlash complaining it was 'woke'

  • Google says it plans to fix issues flagged with its AI model, Gemini.
  • Users complained Gemini generated historically inaccurate images of people of color.
  • The company will pause Gemini's image-generating feature of people while making the changes, it said.

Insider Today

Google says it will fix Gemini , its answer to OpenAI's GPT-4 , after people complained the multi-modal AI model's image-generating feature was "woke."

On Thursday, the company said in a statement sent to Business Insider that it was pausing Gemini from generating AI images of people while it makes the changes.

Social media users have complained that Gemini was producing images of people of color in historically inaccurate contexts.

BBC News was one of the first outlets to report this.

New game: Try to get Google Gemini to make an image of a Caucasian male. I have not been successful so far. pic.twitter.com/1LAzZM2pXF — Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) February 21, 2024

For example, software engineer Mike Wacker posted on X that a prompt to generate images of the Founding Fathers produced an image of a woman of color and, later, a man of color wearing a turban.

"Can you generate images of the Founding Fathers?" It's a difficult question for Gemini, Google's DEI-powered AI tool. Ironically, asking for more historically accurate images made the results even more historically inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/LtbuIWsHSU — Mike Wacker (@m_wacker) February 21, 2024

Others on X complained that Gemini had gone "woke," citing instances where prompts regularly resulted in responses including the word "diverse."

Woke AI Gemini is awkward… it keeps inserting the word “diverse” into its responses even though the prompt isn’t for such content. And look what it did for the 1800s request. pic.twitter.com/CBdoP5gIN0 — Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) February 21, 2024

Debarghya Das, a computer scientist who used to work at Google, said on X that "it's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist."

It's embarrassingly hard to get Google Gemini to acknowledge that white people exist pic.twitter.com/4lkhD7p5nR — Deedy (@debarghya_das) February 20, 2024

In a statement provided to Business Insider via email, a Google spokesperson said it was "working to improve these kinds of depictions immediately."

The spokesperson highlighted the importance of generating images representing a diverse range of people, given Gemini's global user base, but admitted that it's "missing the mark here."

A post from Google on X acknowledged that Gemini was "offering inaccuracies in some historical image generation depictions."

In further comments released on Thursday, provided to BI by email, a Google spokesperson said Gemini would temporarily pause the feature that generates images of people while the changes are made.

The spokesperson added that Google will "re-release an improved version soon."

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