6 classes | 3 hours per class
Quality feature writing combines journalism best practice with creative writing. This course is a step-by-step guide to researching, interviewing and writing techniques, which will assist students in structuring and presenting factual information within a compelling, creative writing format. Students will learn how to develop story leads, introduce description and personality to their work, how to identify clear themes from multiple information sources and how to structure, edit and polish their finished product. The course presenter will act as the students' editor, to produce publishable work throughout the course.
Students will also study feature writing in a range of areas including travel, the arts, news features, profiles, corporate case studies, infotainment and lifestyle. Students will consider audiences and writing styles and identify opportunities for publication in print and on the web, including direct to consumer digital media models.
This course is for people who want to develop feature writing skills for magazines, newspapers, specialist publications and digital media platforms.
Upon completion of this course participants will receive a certificate.
Presenter
Louise Williams is an award winning Australian journalist with considerable experience as a feature writer, columnist, lecturer and editor. Throughout her writing career, Louise's work has appeared primarily in Fairfax publications, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Louise has also written for The Independent (London), The Observer (London), Rolling Stone magazine, the Montreal Gazette and Readers Digest Magazine. Louise has written and contributed to a number of books and was the recipient of an Australia Council Asia Pacific Writers Fellowship. She has won a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism and a Citibank Pan Asia Journalism Award (in conjunction with Columbia University) for her work as a foreign correspondent in Asia, and was a finalist in the Walkley Awards for feature writing for her coverage of Arnhem Land. Louise teaches Feature Writing.
Enrolment
Dates
- Enrol now: 16 May - 20 June, Thursdays 6pm - 9pm
- Enrol now: 10 October - 14 November, Thursdays 6pm - 9pm
Fees: $920 full fee | $830 ACIJ members | $690 concession | $620 UTS staff and students
Places available: 14
Location: UTS Bon Marche, Building 3, Level 2, Room 210 (map)
To discuss this course or for more information please contact acij@uts.edu.au or call +61 2 9514 2488.
We will cover...
- What is a feature story; how does it differ from a news story; what are the elements of a magazine story; how to satisfy the needs of an editor.
- Choosing the right subject and planning a feature; identifying sources for ideas; considering the target market; and establishing appropriate tone.
- How to gather resource material; where to do research and how; compiling a personal reference library.
- Working on a feature; writing clearly, stylishly, succinctly; avoiding pitfalls such as tautology, mixed metaphors, clichés, jargon, unnecessary words; planning structure.
- Finding the right intro and ending; intro and ending styles; planning the theme and pace; transitions; length; deadlines; briefs from the editor.
- The interview; interviewing techniques; avoiding the pitfalls; guidelines for interviews; checklist of details.
- Analysis of different types of magazine writing - the arts, the review, the news features, travel stories, service articles, columns, profiles, infotainment, lifestyle.
Testimonials
"All aspects of this course were enjoyable and relevant to my field of feature writing. Louise is passionate and experienced, which really made this course worthwhile. The package of readings will also be a useful group of reference material in the future. Louise went out of her way to help students and take a keen interest in their projects." Justin Gilligan, July 2011
"I thought the course was very informative and that Louise was a fantastic tutor/lecturer. She covered a great deal of valuable material with the right balance between providing information & facilitating class discussion. It has motivated me - I am in the middle of researching a story." Lucinda Creswick, June 2011
"Really interesting. Wonderful lecturer. Nice size of class - not too big - not too small." Lily Katakouzinos, June 2011
"As a 'non-writer', I enjoyed being amongst professional writers learning from a highly experienced teacher. The sessions were informative, fun and supportive." Stuart Horstman, Business Manager, Freeline Indonesian Surf Adventures
"I really enjoyed hearing the different experiences of the members in the class and being able to relate them in writing. It has been a great forum for discussion of ideas." Sophie Langley, Freelance writer
"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Louise has been an amazing teacher, highly insightful and very colourful! The readings have been great and I would recommend this course to friends." Michelle Perkins, Communications Consultant
"This course has really motivated me to improve my writing and reporting skills. It's been a wonderful experience." Sharon Springell, Student Masters of International Relations
