How To Write Special Feature Articles: A Handbook for Reporters, Correspondents and Free-Lance Writers Who Desire to Contribute to Popular Magazines and Magazine Sections of Newspapers

A Master Class In Journalism From 1920.

“This book is the result of twelve years' experience in teaching university students to write special feature articles for newspapers and popular magazines. By applying the methods outlined in the following pages, young men and women have been able to prepare articles that have been accepted by many newspaper and magazine editors. The success that these students have achieved leads the author to believe that others who desire to write special articles may be aided by the suggestions given in this book.

“Although innumerable books on short-story writing have been published, no attempt has hitherto been made to discuss in detail the writing of special feature articles. In the absence of any generally accepted method of approach to the subject, it has been necessary to work out a systematic classification of the various types of articles and of the different kinds of titles, beginnings, and similar details, as well as to supply names by which to identify them.

“Particular emphasis is placed on methods of popularizing such knowledge as is not available to the general reader. This has been done in the belief that it is important for the average person to know of the progress that is being made in every field of human endeavor, in order that he may, if possible, apply the results to his own affairs. The problem, therefore, is to show aspiring writers how to present discoveries, inventions, new methods, and every significant advance in knowledge, in an accurate and attractive form.” -The Author

CONTENTS

PART I

I. THE FIELD FOR SPECIAL ARTICLES

II. PREPARATION FOR SPECIAL FEATURE WRITING

III. FINDING SUBJECTS AND MATERIAL

IV. APPEAL AND PURPOSE

V. TYPES OF ARTICLES

VI. WRITING THE ARTICLE

VII. HOW TO BEGIN

VIII. STYLE

IX. TITLES AND HEADLINES

X. PREPARING AND SELLING THE MANUSCRIPT

XI. PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS

PART II

AN OUTLINE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF SPECIAL FEATURE ARTICLES

TEACH CHILDREN LOVE OF ART THROUGH STORY-TELLING (Boston Herald)

WHERE GIRLS LEARN TO WIELD SPADE AND HOE (Christian Science Monitor)

BOYS IN SEARCH OF JOBS (Boston Transcript)

GIRLS AND A CAMP (New York Evening Post)

YOUR PORTER (Saturday Evening Post)

THE GENTLE ART OF BLOWING BOTTLES (Independent)

THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAYHOUSE (New York World)

THE SINGULAR STORY OF THE MOSQUITO MAN (New York Evening Post)

A COUNTY SERVICE STATION (Country Gentleman)

GUARDING A CITY'S WATER SUPPLY (Detroit News)

THE OCCUPATION AND EXERCISE CURE (Outlook)

THE BRENNAN MONO-RAIL CAR (McClure's Magazine)

A NEW POLITICAL WEDGE (Everybody's Magazine)

THE JOB LADY (Delineator)

MARK TWAIN'S FIRST SWEETHEART (Kansas City Star)

FOUR MEN OF HUMBLE BIRTH HOLD WORLD DESTINY IN THEIR HANDS (Milwaukee Journal)

THE CONFESSIONS OF A COLLEGE PROFESSOR'S WIFE (Saturday Evening Post)

A PARADISE FOR A PENNY (Boston Transcript)

WANTED: A HOME ASSISTANT (Pictorial Review)

SIX YEARS OF TEA ROOMS (New York Sun)

BY PARCEL POST (Country Gentleman)

SALES WITHOUT SALESMANSHIP (Saturday Evening Post)

THE ACCIDENT THAT GAVE US WOOD-PULP PAPER (Munsey's Magazine)

CENTENNIAL OF THE FIRST STEAMSHIP TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC (Providence Journal)

SEARCHING FOR THE LOST ATLANTIS (Syndicate Sunday Magazine Section)