Features Masterclass: Write with Flair and Focus

From strong idea to brilliant read – how to structure, source and refine a compelling feature

This one-day feature writer training course will help you distil your ideas, plan your research, and write more engaging features that need less editing.

What You’ll Learn: Generating ideas, feature writing and key interview skills

What makes a great feature? How do you come up with ideas and successfully pitch them to editors? We’ll discuss how the best in the business conjure concepts that keep you reading to the end, equip you to think critically while assessing the current features landscape, and help you build a toolkit for developing winning ideas. You’ll take part in brainstorming and pitching sessions that will leave you feeling inspired.

Working as a group, you’ll examine what makes a great feature before we take you through the key principles of feature writing, from how to write engaging introductions to the art of weaving in quotes. You’ll learn how using case studies can bring complex topics to life and how snippets of colour can elevate your work.

We’ll also focus on how to get the most from interviews – whether a 10-minute phone call, or an hour-long sit down. You’ll learn about the fundamental of interview preparation – from finding interviewees and picking locations, to writing open-ended questions and preparing for tricky topics and questions – and we’ll look at how active listening can transform your conversations.

How you’ll learn

This three-module course will be led by an experienced editor and trainer who will share their practical expertise through presentations, discussion and practical exercises – ensuring you have opportunity to reinforce your learning and test your understanding. As working on features can often be a relatively solitary exercise, we lean into the opportunity to bring people together to discuss their experiences.

Who the course is for

This feature writer training course is for you if you want to build a features toolkit of skills and knowledge that will elevate your ideas and your writing. You should have professional writing experience. If you’re a budding news writer, you might like our News Writing Fundamentals: Write Stories with Impact course.

We currently offer this course as bespoke training for teams and can deliver it remotely, or in your offices. Get in touch using the button below to discuss times and dates, as well as how we can tailor it to your needs. 

If you’re booking for yourself, find all of our scheduled courses here

cOURSE MODULES 

Generating Brilliant Ideas

  1. Exploring feature formats
  2. Generating features ideas
  3. Developing your idea
  4. Regular and returning features
  5. Build your own ideas – practical workshop

Feature Writing Fundamentals

  1. Structuring your story
  2. The intro: from scene-setting to drop intro
  3. Establishing tone of voice
  4. Sourcing and using quotes
  5. ‘Colour’ and what it constitutes

Interviewing Skills for Journalists

  1. Interview preparation
  2. Approaches / techniques
  3. Listening as a skill
  4. Why and how to use case studies
  5. How to tackle celebrity interviews
Feature writer training - woman writes at a laptop

Features Masterclass: Write with Flair and Focus

From strong idea to brilliant read – how to structure, source and refine a compelling feature

Get in touch

What our students say

View all testimonials

I was able to count on excellent teachers and professionals who helped me push my limits and achieve my goals. I was impressed by the quality of the course and the motivation teachers put into it. It was a great experience and I would definitely do it again!

Laure Poncet
, Research Officer
, ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes

My time at PA Training was a whirlwind of fun and excitement. The full-time NCTJ course in London is fast-paced and hard work but perfectly sets you up for what to expect in a reporter role.

Camilla Foster
, Reporter
, Newsquest

The small class sizes nurture a comfortable environment where everyone supports and learns from each other. The staff helped me hone in on my writing skills and develop the confidence to feel comfortable on camera.

Camilla Foster
, Reporter
, Newsquest

Not only did I develop the necessary toolkit to become a journalist, but I also did so in an environment that fosters a real sense of community and personal career support.

Erin Waks
, Trainee Sub-Editor
, Daily Mail

I really could not recommend Press Association enough to anyone who is looking to jump into the fascinating world of journalism. The course equips you with all the necessary skills you need to enter the industry and the wide range of topics covered leaves it hard for you to ever feel bored.

Holly Bishop
, Digital Reporter
, GB News

The training scenarios are as real to life as you could possibly get. They took considerable time to research our current plans and issues and used these to design a series of true to life radio and TV interviews. The team is outstanding, and their expertise and knowledge has been invaluable. Book them – you’ll be glad you did.

NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group
, Communications Manager

Contact us

For more information , simply fill out the form and a member of our team will be in touch.