The Essential Feature: Writing for Magazines and Newspapers

By Millicent V. Hay and Vicky Hay

Book Overview

This helpful guidebook for prospective journalists provides the skills needed to be a successful magazine or newspaper feature writer. The Essential Feature is a writing guide, a file of examples, and a style manual all in one book. The author concentrates on those aspects of nonfiction writing that editors find wanting in beginning journalists: research, accuracy, and the skills needed to tell a story, not just report news. This book tells novice writers what editors want them to know.

The Essential Feature explains how to apply research and literary techniques to journalistic writing; provides eight examples of successful prize-winning published articles; combines approaches to writing with practical advice on working as a staff or freelance writer; and supplies publishing tips to give the beginning writer a better understanding of the market.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231068875
• ISBN13: 9780231068871
• Release Date: October 1990
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.9" x 10.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Still a great guide after all these years-- B. Neuwirth

Although The Essential Feature was published in 1990, it is still extremely useful, well written and interesting. I am surprised, however, that the publisher has not issued an updated version reflecting the changes that have taken place in the writing field. Vicky Hay was by far the best English professor I have ever had, and many of the "tricks of the trade" she taught us in class are in this book. The suggested reading lists after each chapter are particularly helpful. I also appreciate the Appendixes, which include Basic Punctuation Rules, Twenty Rules for Good Writing, Useful Editor's Marks, a Glossary of Magazine and Newspaper Terms, and more. There is something here for everyone.

Buy this book and guarantee your successful writing career.

Vicky Hay makes writing a feature article understandable for the beginner. She takes the entire process apart, and leads the reader through an A-B-C approach to conceiving, querying, researching, writing, and spinning off feature articles. Don't be fooled by its ability to lead a beginner gently into the publishing jungle, seasoned writers will find her style and suggestions equally beneficial in honing their ability to make one topic and set of interviews pay, pay, pay. Hooray for Vicky Hay! The best "How to" writing guide avaible today. Her pointers apply to all genres of writing, not just features and newspaper articles. Read and apply the suggestions in this book, then start collecting clippings featuring YOUR byline!