Blog #3 - Feature Writers

I'm not embarrassed to admit it; I read a ton of magazines. I don't really favor any in particular; whatever I can find I end up reading. My favorite magazines, however, are Time and National Geographic. I also enjoy reading the features from the New York Times.

Some recent feature stories I've read that I find really cool are "East-West Fusion Under the Golden Gate" This article is incredibly cool, because it's so personal. It's narrated from the first person, so not only is the reader interested in the subject, they hear about it from someone who is "talking" to them as if they're really there. I personally felt like I was being told about the medi-spas in San Fransisco by a friend of mine, and not by a National Geographic writer. Although the author leads with a quote, it draws you in and spikes your curiosity. The personal, nonchalant style makes this story unique, and way more interesting that if it had been written as a news story, which might make the topic dry and boring.

Another great story is "Hiking Through History With Your Daughters" by Jack Hitt. First of all, I adore Jack Hitt as a writer in general, so I'm a little biased in that sense. This story reads like a novel or a book. It is humorous. That humor is something I'd like to figure out how to get into my stories. The way Hitt uses humor, however, it almost seems like he wasn't even trying to be funny, which just makes it that much better. It is also full of details, but all of the details he gives adds to the story. Given, he was writing about what most people would consider an interesting topic to begin with, as opposed to the previous feature ("East West Fusion"), but it still reads off as a charming, down-to-earth story.

The final feature I recently read that I'd like to discuss is "Being Black in China" I follow the author, Heather Greenwood Davis', blog, and I greatly enjoy her writing innovation. I have a tendency to appreciate "real" writers, who say what they mean without using idioms and metaphors and fancy styles, and Davis' writing is certainly "real". Her voice is strong and unique, and once you're familiar with her writing style and voice, you can absolutely tell what she writes. I strive to someday have such a strong voice in my writing. Her topics that she writes on are always interesting spins on things, even if they are things I've read about a million times. She has a knack for finding a great angle on her stories. I also think her story structures rock. She often uses lists, which keep my attention. Top that with the fact that her stories use the perfect mix of humor and suspense, and you can see why I'd love to emulate her.