FREELANCE FEATURE WRITING
Instructor: Prof. Beth Haller
Fall 1997
Course prerequisites:
You MUST have already taken MCOM 601 (Media Writing). You CANNOT take this
class concurrently with Media Writing. You also cannot have taken WRIT 713, Freelance
Writing. Please drop the class if you do not meet the prerequisite.
Course description:
This course will give students extensive writing practice on feature articles for
newspapers and magazines. Students should learn to develop ideas for articles, to find a
market for articles, to write query letter to sell those articles, and to research and write the
articles themselves. Copyright and contractual issues for freelancers will also be
discussed extensively.
Textbooks/Supplies:
The Essential Feature, by Vicky Hay (1990)
Writing for Story by Jon Franklin
Literary Journalism (1995) (on reserve at the library so purchase may be unnecessary)
Elements of Style by Strunk and White
An active student computer account for Electronic mail correspondence
A box of High Density, PC-formatted, 3 «-inch computer disks
Grading:
Profile story: 15 percent
Student's choice feature story: 15 percent
Final long-form feature story: 30 percent
Feature writing critique presentation & Feature critique journal: 20 percent
In-class assignments: 10 percent
Attendance/class participation: 10 percent
Grading criteria:
90 - 100 ("A") Publishable work. It is a story that is clear, interesting, and well-
written. It has good organization, effective quotes, smooth transitions and
no spelling, grammar, or accuracy errors.
80 - 89 ("B") Publishable with some editing. It may have some minor spelling or
grammatical errors. The lead is effective. The body is cohesive and well-
organized.
70 - 79 ("C") Requires extensive editing to publish. Several sections must be
rewritten. The lead may be buried or fail to focus on the most important
aspects of the story. The body of the story is disorganized and contains
many minor errors.
60 - 69 ("D") Needs a complete rewrite to be published. The facts are presented
ineffectively. The story contains an unacceptable number of spelling,
grammar, or accuracy errors.
Below 60 ("F") Contains major factual error(s). Names are misspelled. The facts are
so distorted that they could not be rewritten and published.
Form/content:
On the major writing assignments, two grades will be given, one for form and one for
content. This enables students to see specific areas where they may need more
improvement. Also, it allows students to be rewarded for good story ideas or interviews,
although they have not mastered all the technical skills of form. Form refers to spelling,
grammar, punctuation, readability, order of information, general accuracy, etc. Content
refers to topic selection, organization, use of quotes, completeness, good transition,
appropriate sources, effective lead, accuracy, etc.
Rewrites:
You can do rewrites on all writing assignments except the final draft of the final feature.
Rewrites are due the next week after the class period when the assignment was returned.
They will NOT be accepted after that. The original MUST be turned in again with the
rewrite. Up to one full grade can be added to the original grade for a well-done rewrite.
Be prepared to revise an assignment several times before turning it in the first time. Also,
if you are experiencing any difficulties with any assignments, please make an
appointment with me. I always have time for someone who makes an effort.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN WORK IN FEATURE WRITING:
* Make sure you submit a source list with each story assignment.
* Do not plagiarize, fabricate, or submit work you have done for another class.
* Stories must be typed, double-spaced, in correct form and style.
* Proofread and correctly copy edit your copy! All spelling. punctuation, grammar, AP
style, and factual errors will cause you to lose grade points.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Clips of your published works will make you more marketable in the "real world." I,
therefore, give much reward to published stories. You can receive up to 10 points added to your
final grade if one of your features is published during the semester. The points given for extra
credit will be based on the length and placement of the feature article published during the fall
1997 semester. For example, if your feature is the cover story for the Baltimore City Paper, a
section of the Sun, or in a magazine, you would receive all 10 points. If your feature is a smaller
feature for The Towerlight, you might only get 5 points. In that case, you might try to get two
Towerlight feature stories published during the semester for 10 points.
The article must be a feature story, NOT a letter to the editor, opinion piece, or
entertainment review. Your published clip should follow the criteria of a feature story presented
in this class. (i.e. it should not be a rewrite of a press release or a rehash of another publication's
story.) Clips are due the day of the final. You may publish the assignments you do for this class
and receive the extra credit.
ASSIGNMENTS:
All assignments are more than just a writing assignment. They contain several components such
as the market potential, query letter, photo ideas, source list, etc. Consult the Writer's Market in
the library to help find markets for your stories. Note: You should make a serious effort get your
stories published. If successful, you can earn some money, as well as getting some clips that can
help you obtain internships and jobs.
Profile story:
An in-class interview has been arranged with Kathi Wolfe, a Virginia-based freelance feature
writer. You will be given a copy of her resume and selected writings and should prepare a list of
20 questions before the interview. During the interview, you should ask good questions, take
good notes, and then write a good story. Do not try to recount her whole life. FOCUS on one
significant topic, aspect or event in the her life and tell that story. You could also make it a
profile of a freelancer's life and use her specifically. Your story should be of publishable quality.
You may discuss questions and the writing process with each other, but you should not exchange
notes from the interview. Take your own notes and write your own story. This assignment has 5
components:
* 20 questions
* The completed story (1000-1500 words)
* Source list (Names, titles, phone numbers) of all people or information used in the
story.
* The reason for the focus. You should also write an explanation of the reason for your
story's focus, why you used the quotes you did, etc.
* Publication potential. Describe what type of publication might publish it with this
focus.
* Query letter to the publication you have chosen.
DEADLINE: Oct. 20.
Student's choice formula feature story:
Choose from one of the 4 types of stories: How-to, Travel, Lifestyle, Trend, Human Interest, or
Seasonal/Anniversary. It should have at least 3 different human sources, as well as sources from
library research.
* Reason for the story idea (To be turned in at least a week before the story is due).
* Source list (Names, titles, phone numbers, possibly age and address if relevant) of all
people or information used in the story.
* The completed story (1000-1500 words)
* The reason for the focus. You should also write an explanation of the reason for your
story's focus, why you used the quotes you did, etc.
* Publication potential. Describe what type of publication might publish it with this
focus.
* Illustration/photo potential. Make the photo or art assignment that might go with the
story. What will best illustrate your story?
* Query letter to the publication you have chosen.
DEADLINE: Nov. 17.
Final long-form feature story:
This will be a lengthy feature story on a topic of your choosing, although it must be approved by
your professor. It should have at least 5 different human sources, as well as thoroughly
researched library sources. It may be written magazine style or newspaper style.
* Reason for the story idea and expectations for its focus and sources. (To be turned in by
time of individual meeting with professor).
* Source list (Names, titles, phone numbers, possibly age and address if relevant) of all
people or information used in the story.
* The completed story (2000-3000 words)
* The reason for the focus. You should also write an explanation of the reason for your
story's focus, why you used the quotes you did, etc.
* Publication potential. Describe what type of publication might publish it with this
focus.
* Illustration/photo potential. Make the photo or art assignment that might go with the
story. What will best illustrate your story?
* Query letter to the publication you have chosen.
DEADLINE: Final Exam date.
Feature writing critique presentation & Feature critique journal:
You are to critique 15 feature stories, 1 from Literary Journalism (for your critique presentation),
7 that you find on your own in newspapers, 7 that you find on your own in magazines. Follow the
critique method Hay uses at the end of The Essential Feature.
On two class periods designated, we will discuss your critiques of a selection from Literary
Journalism and one that you bring from a newspaper or magazine (make copies of this article for
the entire class). Be prepared to lead a discussion about the articles. Your critiques need not be
negative; they can reflect on good techniques the writer uses to convey the information, mood,
drama, etc. Please attach originals or photocopies of the feature stories you select outside the
book. When critiquing a story, make sure it is identified in your critique. Each critique should be
250-500 words. Also, keep a running idea list for yourself in the journal, so you will have several
features ideas to chose from as you decide your assignments. The journal MUST be typed.
DEADLINE for journal: Dec. 8.
WEEK & READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS:
________
Sept. 8 What is a Feature: The Essential Feature, Chap. 1 & pp. 185-87
________
Sept. 15 Ideas & Research: The Essential Feature, Chap. 2-3; Elements of Style
________
Sept. 22 Interviewing & Structure: The Essential Feature, Chap. 4-6
________
Sept. 29 Storytelling: Writing for Story
________
Oct. 6 Storytelling: The Essential Feature, Chap. 7-8
________
Oct. 13 (Profile interview) Revision & Profiles: The Essential Feature, Chap.9, 16
________
Oct. 20 (Profile story due) Getting Published: The Essential Feature, Chap. 10, 12
_______
Oct. 27 Legal issues: The Essential Feature, Chap. 11, 14
Business issues: The Essential Feature, Chap. 13, 15
_______
Nov. 3 Formula features: The Essential Feature, Chap. 17, 18, 19, 22
_______
Nov. 10 (Writing critique presentations) Literary Journalism: pp. 3-34
_______
Nov. 17 Formula features due (student choice); Literary Journalism
Final feature proposal should be ready this week.
_______
Nov. 24 No class, work on final feature interviews
_______
Dec. 1 In class writing on final feature
_______
Dec. 8 Discussion of finetuning, revision, and marketing of final feature
Critique journal due
_______
Final exam: Final feature and submission packet due.