Arts >> Books >> Literature

How to Paint a Picture That Tells a Story for Feature Writing

It is not the writer's job to simply put words on a page. Writers must make the reader see the words. They need to convey their story in a way that allows readers to imagine themselves as part of the action. By painting a picture in their stories, writers engage the imaginations of their audience. Feature writing that seeks to inform also should entertain the reader. This allows writers to get their points across and educate people on their chosen subject.

Instructions

    • 1

      Chose a topic to write about. Determine the target audience. Think about the market for which you are writing. Do research so you have full command of the topic and can write about it authoritatively.

    • 2

      Outline the story. Make sure you have a strong beginning, middle and end. Structure the article in a logical sequence that will make sense to the reader. Make a list of essential facts that must be included to make a cohesive story. Determine any scenes that you will include that will help give the story life. Make a list of possible scenes in order of importance to the narrative. Choose the ones that will be the most vivid and engaging.

    • 3

      Imagine one of the scenes in your head. Close your eyes and think about all the possible sights within that scene. Ask yourself what you would see if you were there. Write down the first things that pop into your head. Think about the possible colors, sounds and textures that someone would notice if they were there. Write them down too.

    • 4

      Use your notes to sketch out a rough draft of the scene. Read the draft and see if you can visualize what you've written. Make adjustments where necessary. Think of any questions the reader may ask? Rewrite the scene to answer those questions and fill in any gaps. Read what you've written aloud to a friend or co-worker. Make edits where needed.

    • 5

      Incorporate the scene into the overall arc of the feature article. Include other scenes as well and integrate them into the story. Write as many scenes as are necessary to give the reader a visual picture of the action.

Literature

Related Categories