Professional Feature Writing (Bruce Garrison)

Bruce Garrison, Professional Feature Writing. New York: Routledge, 2010.

23 x 18.5 cm, card wraps, 430 pages.

Very good condition.

Overview
Professional Feature Writing is a practical textbook and professional guide focused on the craft of writing feature stories for newspapers, magazines, and online media. Unlike straight news reporting, which emphasizes immediacy and brevity, Garrison presents feature writing as a form that prioritizes depth, storytelling, human interest, and style, while still adhering to journalistic standards of accuracy and ethics.
The book is widely used in journalism courses and is also aimed at working reporters, freelancers, and editors who want to strengthen their narrative and analytical writing skills.
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Purpose and Approach
Garrisons central aim is to teach readers how to:
    find strong feature story ideas,
    research and report them thoroughly,
    and write them in an engaging, clear, and professional manner.
The book takes a hands-on, example-driven approach, combining theory with real-world newsroom practices. Emphasis is placed on writing that serves readers by being informative, relevant, and compelling.
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Key Topics and Content
The book covers the entire feature-writing process, including:
1. What Feature Writing Is
Garrison defines feature writing and distinguishes it from hard news, explaining how features:
    emphasize context, background, and meaning;
    often use narrative techniques;
    aim to connect emotionally with readers.
2. Types of Feature Stories
The book explores a wide range of feature forms, such as:
    profiles and personality pieces,
    human-interest stories,
    trend and lifestyle features,
    explanatory and background features,
    news features that expand on breaking stories.
3. Story Ideas and Reporting
A strong focus is placed on:
    generating original story ideas;
    conducting in-depth interviews;
    observing people and settings;
    using documents, statistics, and secondary sources responsibly.
4. Writing Techniques
Garrison devotes considerable attention to craft, including:
    writing strong leads and endings;
    organizing feature stories effectively;
    using descriptive detail and anecdote;
    maintaining clarity, focus, and pacing.
While encouraging creativity, the book consistently stresses discipline and structure in professional writing.
5. Style, Voice, and Tone
The author discusses how writers can develop a distinctive yet appropriate voice, while remaining accurate, fair, and readable. Style is treated as a tool to enhance meaning, not to overshadow content.
6. Ethics and Accuracy
The book emphasizes:
    factual accuracy and verification;
    ethical interviewing and sourcing;
    avoiding fabrication, exaggeration, or misleading storytelling.
This reinforces that feature writing, despite its narrative freedom, is still journalism, not fiction.
7. Editing and Revision
Garrison highlights the importance of:
    rewriting and self-editing;
    working with editors;
    tightening language and sharpening focus.
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Style and Pedagogical Features
    Written in clear, accessible prose
    Includes numerous real examples from professional publications
    Offers practical advice and checklists
    Structured for classroom use, but readable for independent learners
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Significance and Value
The 5th edition reflects the changing media landscape up to 2010, including references to online journalism, while remaining grounded in traditional reporting values. The book is valued for its balance between:
    creativity and discipline,
    storytelling and factual rigor,
    classroom instruction and newsroom reality.
Overall, Professional Feature Writing is regarded as a foundational guide to feature journalism and a reliable reference for anyone serious about writing compelling, ethical, and professional feature stories.