It is not too much to say, therefore, that any writer who is willing (1) to study the interests and the needs of newspaper and magazine readers, (2) to gather carefully the material for his articles, and (3) to present it accurately and attractively, may be sure that his work will receive the fullest consideration in almost every newspaper and magazine office in the country, and will be accepted whenever it is found to merit publication.

WOMEN AS FEATURE WRITERS.  Since the essential qualifications just enumerated are not limited to men, women are quite as well fitted to write special feature and magazine articles as are their brothers in the craft.  In fact, woman’s quicker sympathies and readier emotional response to many phases of life give her a distinct advantage.  Her insight into the lives of others, and her intuitive understanding of them, especially fit her to write good “human interest” articles.  Both the delicacy of touch and the chatty, personal tone that characterize the work of many young women, are well suited to numerous topics.

In some fields, such as cooking, sewing, teaching, the care of children, and household management, woman’s greater knowledge and understanding of conditions furnish her with topics that are vital to other women and often not uninteresting to men.  The entry of women into occupations hitherto open only to men is bringing new experiences to many women, and is furnishing women writers with additional fields from which to draw subjects and material.  Ever since the beginning of popular magazines and of special feature writing for newspapers, women writers have proved their ability, but at no time have the opportunities for them been greater than at present.

CHAPTER II

PREPARATION FOR SPECIAL FEATURE WRITING

QUALIFICATIONS FOR FEATURE WRITING.  To attain success as a writer of special feature articles a person must possess at least four qualifications:  (1) ability to find subjects that will interest the average man and woman, and to see the picturesque, romantic, and significant phases of these subjects; (2) a sympathetic understanding of the lives and interests of the persons about whom and for whom he writes; (3) thoroughness and accuracy in gathering material; (4) skill to portray and to explain clearly, accurately, and attractively.

The much vaunted sense of news values commonly called a “nose for news,” whether innate or acquired, is a prime requisite.  Like the newspaper reporter, the writer of special articles must be able to recognize what at a given moment will interest the average reader.  Like the reporter, also, he must know how much it will interest him.  An alert, responsive attitude of mind toward everything that is going on in the world, and especially in that part of the world immediately around him, will reveal a host of subjects.  By reading newspapers, magazines, and books, as well as by intercourse with persons of various classes, a writer keeps in contact with what people are thinking and talking about, in the world at large and in his own community.  In this way he finds subjects and also learns how to connect his subjects with events and movements of interest the country over.