IDEASFEATURE WRITING: IN SEARCH OF

DEVELOPYOURFILES

n Keep a list of your IDEAS and your SOURCES in a notebook, on your computer, your phone, your tablet. You can keep them on sticky notes if you’re feeling especially, well, sticky.n The medium doesn’t matter. The data does.

Note to self:Call Deep Throat

IS THERE A STORY

HERE?

ASK YOURSELF THIS SIMPLE QUESTION:Why does Gene Weingarten usefake poop for his Twitter icon? That query led to one hell of a profile story for writer Tom Bartlett (be sure to treat yourself).

Weingarten, by the way,

is the only two-time

winner of the Pulitzer

Prize for feature writing

PAY ATTENTIONIf people are talking about it, then maybe you should be writing about it.

BE WILLING TO READ PROLIFICALLY ABOUT TOPICS BEYOND YOUR REALM.

REBECCASKLOOTThe author of this bestseller isn’t a scientist, she’s a successful journalist who made herself an expert and a lot of money!

And talk about making yourself an expert

_ check out this next guy, a real repeat

offender ...

PROLIFIC.Literary journalist Tracy Kidd has immersed himself in learning and writing and often spends months or years studying his subject matter. He makes the seemingly ordinary (building a house) extraordinary.

LOOK FORNEGLECTEDBEATS DEATH for example. Despite the fact that

we’re all going to experience it, almost nobody wants to write about it. Reporters such asCorey Kilgannon of The York Times under-stands what gems are, well, buried, on this beat. This one, for example, about a sassy Brooklyn “Undertaker With Purple Nails.”

SOURCEFROM NOW ON, EVERYONE YOU MEET IS A POTENTIAL

n Expertsn Professionalsn Spokespeoplen Publicists n And, most importantly, us regular folks.

STORIESABOUT

DOGS

But also ...n Stories that surprise themn Stories that inspire themn Stories that make them feel smartern Stories that make them thinkn Stories that hold others accountablen Stories that touch themn Stories about people they known Stories about celebrities

WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT TO READ ABOUT?

(especially my dog!!!)

ACTUALLY, ARE ALL AROUND*If you look closely, you'll find them ... n Behind stories in the newsn In something you observen Delivered for free by a publicistn Just simply inspired

IDEAS**Bet there are even some in airports!

Enjoy the search.The end.

Feature Writing: In search of ideas. Holly Shreve Gilbert, Oakland University. CC license. Free to use or share for non-commercial purposes.