Feature Writing 101 with Writer’s Block Philippines

Ever since I decided to pursue a career as a writer two years ago, I vowed I would do everything I can to succeed. That means never giving up even when the going gets tough. It also means making the commitment to continuously improve my craft.

So, when I got the opportunity to attend a Feature Writing 101 workshop organized by the Writer’s Block Philippines, I enrolled. I planned on joining months ago but wasn’t able to. Luckily, they organized a second run last October 11 and I was able to join them then.

Another reason why I wanted to attend this particular workshop was because of the speakers, Ana Santos and Nikki Sarthou-Lainez. They’re experienced and successful freelance writers who have written various pieces for a number of print and online publications.

Ana Santos is actually an idol of mine (teehee!!!).  I first discovered her years ago in Working Mom magazine, wherein she has a column. I’ve been a fan since. So, you can just imagine when, earlier this year, she discovered a post I wrote in this blog. She loved what I had written so much that she actually sent me a signed copy of her Happy Even After journal. That was such an  ego booster! I can only hope to be as brave and as successful a writer as she.

Anyway, I’ve long since decided that feature writing is what I want to focus on. For me, feature writing is more exciting than news writing. It’s just more fun and colorful.  I’ve started writing features since I began writing professionally but I know I still have a lot to improve on and so I enrolled in this workshop.

The workshop was 5 hours long and it was held at Fully Booked at Bonifacio Global City. The topics discussed were as follows.

1. Feature Writing
2. Different Kinds of Feature Stories
3. Finding a Story Angle
4. Putting the Ooomphh in Your Story
5. Writing Techniques and Rituals
6. Writing a Lead
7. Writing Exercise and Critique

I definitely learned a lot. Ana and Nikki were both very generous in sharing tried and tested tips and tricks that can help newbie writers like me. I wish I can share all of them with you but for those of you who are really interested, I suggest you enroll in their next run of this workshop next year.

However, let me share with you some lessons that resonated most with me, not necessarily of feature writing per se but of writing in general.

There is a difference between Good Writing and Talented Writing.

This was best explained using a quote from Samuel R. Delaney’s book, About Writing.

"Good writing is clear. Talented writing is energetic. Good writing avoids errors. 
Talented writing makes things happen in the reader’s mind — vividly, forcefully — that good writing, which stop with clarity and logic, doesn’t".

Basically, good writing is one that is clear, simple, grammatically correct, and logical. But talented writing is one that has that certain ooompphh! It’s what makes people feel. I think that’s one area wherein I can still improve a lot.

Develop a writing ritual.

To bring out the writer in you, you must follow certain writing rituals that will help you churn out your best work. Usually what I do is to research first then make my outline before I write my articles. But I learned that others do things differently. Others use a mind map instead.

Some do morning pages. Julia Cameron of The Artist’s Way describes morning pages as “three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning”. It’s just as simple as putting anything that crosses your mind on those pages. It’s not something you should worry about because it’s  just for your eyes only. This practice is said to unleash the creativity in you. I hope that I would be able to do this regularly.

Find your Golden Hour.

Your Golden Hour is the best time for you to write. It really depends on you. Some WAHMs like me find it easier and more peaceful to write at night when all the kids are asleep and chores are already done. Some like waking up very early in the morning to write.

Because my schedule can be quite erratic, my strategy has always been to write whenever I can squeeze in the time. It may be an hour in the morning in between chores. Then another hour in the afternoon when my son takes his nap. This strategy helps me beat deadlines but now I wonder if this somehow hinders me from really focusing on my work. So, one of my goals now is to figure out what my Golden Hour really is and stick to that as much as possible.

Aspiring writers can learn a lot more from workshops organized by the Writer’s Block Philippines. This one has truly been helpful to me. It helps motivate me more to become the best writer I can be. Nothing can stop me now.

Photo Credit: © Johnlric c/o Dreamstime