Interviews are another great source. When you talk to people, they might share some really interesting stories or facts that can serve as leads. Let's say you're interviewing a chef. He might start by telling you about a special ingredient he discovered on a trip, and that could be a great lead for a feature story on his cuisine. Also, reading other stories, whether in newspapers, magazines or online, can inspire you. You might come across a unique angle in someone else's work that you can adapt or expand on for your own feature story lead.
Research is key in finding good leads for feature stories. Dig into the history of a place or a person. For instance, if you're writing about a historical building, researching its past might uncover a scandal or a heroic event that took place there. This can be a very engaging lead. Social media can also be helpful. People often share interesting personal experiences or local news on social platforms. You can follow relevant groups or pages and look for potential leads. Additionally, attending local events can expose you to new stories and people, which may provide you with excellent leads for your feature stories.
You can find good leads by observing your surroundings. Notice the little things that happen around you. For example, if you see an old man feeding pigeons in the park every day, that could be a lead for a feature story about his life or the community in the park.
You can start by looking at well - known magazines like 'The New Yorker' or 'National Geographic'. They often publish high - quality feature stories. For example, 'The New Yorker' has many stories that focus on different aspects of human nature, culture, and society. Another option is to search online on platforms like Medium, where many writers share their feature - style articles.
You could also follow BuzzFeed on social media platforms. They often share links to their best feature stories on Twitter, Facebook etc. This way, you can get notified whenever they publish a great new feature story.
A good lead for a feature story could be an interesting anecdote. For example, if you're writing a feature about a local coffee shop, you could start with a story about a customer who found their long - lost wallet there. It immediately grabs the reader's attention and makes them want to know more about the place.
Look for unique and interesting topics. Something that hasn't been covered extensively before or has a fresh perspective can make a great feature story.
One can start by searching in well - known newspaper archives. Many major newspapers have digital archives where you can search for articles from 2015. Another option is to look into magazines that are known for their feature stories. Some magazines might have a 'best of' section on their website for previous years, including 2015.
One way is to search on the internet. Use search engines and type in keywords like 'free feature stories' along with the topic you're interested in, such as 'free feature stories about art'.
Reading a lot can give you inspiration. When you read different kinds of stories, you can pick up on the types of leads that work well. For example, if you read a detective story that starts with a strange object found at a crime scene, you might be inspired to use a similar approach in your own story.
You can interview people. Everyone has a story to tell. By talking to different individuals, you can discover unique tales. It could be an elderly person with a wealth of life experiences or a young entrepreneur with an innovative idea. Also, exploring different cultures and sub - cultures can give you great ideas. There are always interesting stories within different ethnic groups, art scenes, or music communities.
You can start by checking sports magazines like Sports Illustrated. They are known for their in - depth sports feature stories. Also, major sports websites such as ESPN.com often have well - written feature articles. Another way is to follow sports journalists on social media. They often share their best work or recommend other great feature stories.
To find 'back to school feature stories', you can search online on educational blogs. There are many bloggers who write about school - related topics and they might share interesting stories during the back - to - school time. Another option is to join school - related groups on platforms like Reddit. Members in these groups may share or discuss such stories. Also, attending school open houses or parent - teacher association meetings can be a way to hear some real - life 'back to school feature stories' as people often share their experiences and the great things happening in the school.