Deconstructing Features

Good editors

• know more than where to put the commas and the quotation marks. Such corrections are called "fixing the trees."

Good editors

• also know how to see—and help the writer fix—the "forest." How well does the feature story read?

To fix 'the forest'/look at the Big Picture

• How does the LEAD work?
• Does it grab your attention?
• Does it avoid reporter opinion (No "I/We")?
• Does it convey a clear, focused, original start?

To fix 'the forest'/look at the Big Picture

• Is there a NUT GRAF, a section after the lead that summarizes or makes the topic clear?
• As a reader, does the writer answer the "So what?" early in the story?

To fix 'the forest'/look at the Big Picture

• Do FACTS and EXAMPLES support the focus?
• Are FACTS and EXAMPLES credible and striking?

To fix 'the forest'/look at the Big Picture

• Are the QUOTATIONS memorable?
• Is a powerful QUOTATION parked within the first five paragraphs?
• Does the story end with a powerful QUOTATION? (Don't end with your opinion!)
• Does every QUOTE graf have attribution AFTER the first full sentence? ("I love journalism," junior Nez Braun said. "I get to interview fascinating people."

To fix 'the forest'/look at the Big Picture

• Does the writer use thoughtful, smooth TRANSITIONS?
• Does the REPETITION of key words create a transition bridge from Facts and Examples to Quotations?
• Does the STRUCTURE enhance understanding and provide for flowing cohesion?