Do you want to write feature articles — and nudge your way to the front cover of the magazine? Here are 11 types of feature articles to write for magazines, from round-ups to profiles.

But first, a writing quip from Natalie Goldberg about writing discipline – because having the discipline to write is more important than learning about types of feature articles!

“I hear people say they’re going to write. I ask, when? They give me vague statements,” writes Goldberg in Thunder and Lightning: Cracking Open the Writer’s Craft. “Indefinite plans get dubious results.” 

Make a writing schedule, fellow scribes, and stick to it. Boring advice…but it works. For more writing motivation, click Thunder and Lightening. And, read on for eleven types of feature articles to write for magazines….

11 Types of Feature Articles to Write for Magazines 

1. The How-To, such as “How to Make Money Blogging for Writers” or “How Writers Earn a $100,000 Every Year!” Okay, I’m being a little facetious here – but how-to articles simply tell readers how to do something.

    How-to articles:

• Make a rousing promise of success
• Describe what you need in easy to follow instructions
• Give step-by-step directions (sometimes with subtitles)
• Include shortcomings or warnings
• Tell how to locate supplies
• Give proofs and promises
• Make referrals to other sources 

2. The Profile and the Interview, such as “The Real Natalie Goldberg” or “Anne Lamott Shares Her Secret Writing Tips and Tricks.” Profiles and interview are two different types of feature articles.

    Profile & interview articles:

• Have different definitions. In a profile, you use additional sources, such as friends, family, kids, neighbors, colleagues. In a profile, you interview the source him or herself.
• Can have a theme or focus.
• Can be presented as a “Q & A” or a written article.
• Require strong interviewing skills for the “best” information 

3. The Informative or Service Article, such as “How to Write Query Letters for Magazines” or “When to Find an Agent for Your Book” or “Writing Quips and Tips From Stephen King.”

    Informative or service articles:

• Focus on one unique aspect, or the “handle”
• Describe what-to, how-to, when-to, why-to, etc.
• Answer the journalist’s who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
• Can end with a “how-to” piece as a sidebar

4. The Exposé, such as “Stephen King’s Ghostwriter Reveals All” or “95% of Natalie Goldberg’s Writing is From a Ghostwriter!”

The exposé article:

• Shocks or surprises readers
• Includes statistics, quotes, anecdotes
• Can range from how extension cords can kill to new info on Watergate 

5. Human Interest, such as “Anne Lamott Share Her Experience as a Single Working Writer” or “Mark Twain’s Great-Grandaughter Finds Her Writing Niche.” This type of feature article interests the majority of readers of a particular magazine.

    Human interest articles:

• Usually start with an anecdote
• Are often chronologically organized 

6. Essay or Opinion, such as “What I Think of Natalie Goldberg’s Decision to Retire From Her Writing Career” or “Anne Lamott’s Writing Mistakes.”

    Essay or opinion articles:

• Usually revolve around an important or timely subject (if they’re to be published in a newspaper or “serious” magazine)
• Are harder to sell if you’re an unknown or unpublished writer
• Can be found on blogs all over the internet! 

7. Humor or Satire, such as “Ode to Stephen King’s Typewriter” or “What Natalie Goldberg Wears to Write.”

    Humor or satire articles:

• Usually have a specific audience, such as the readers of The Onion
• Are usually written on spec (that is, you submit the whole article before the editors or publishers will accept it) 

8. The Inspirational Article, such as “How You Can Change the World With Your Writing” or “13 Tips to Improve Your Writing Confidence.” This is probably my second most favorite type of feature article to write.

    Inspirational articles:

• Describe how to feel good or how to do good things
• Can describe how to feel good about yourself – this type of article can work for anyone from writers to plumbers to pilots
• Offer a moral message
• Focus on the inspirational point 

9. The Historical Article, such as “The Typewriter Mark Twain First Used” or “How Freelance Writers Once Submitted Articles.”

    Historical articles:

• Reveal events of interest to millions (which means at least one of my examples wouldn’t work as this type of article)
• Focus on a single aspect of the subject
• Are organized chronologically
• Tell readers something new
• Go beyond history to make a current connection

10. The Round-Up, such as “12 Fiction Writing Tips From Authors and Editors” or “1,001 Types of Articles to Write for Magazines.” This is my favorite type of feature article to write.

    Round-up articles:

• Gather a collection from many sources
• Focus on one theme
• Offer quotations, opinions, statistics, research studies, anecdotes, recipes, etc.

11. Research Shorts, such as “How Alliteration Affects Your Memory” or “What Anne Lamott’s Writing Does to Your Brain Waves.” Shorts aren’t really a type of feature article — they’re actually a great way to get your foot in the door at the big magazines.

    Research shorts:

• Describe current scientific information
• Are usually less than 250 words long
• Are often written on spec (at least by me)
• Are fast, effective ways to earn money as a freelance writer – if you can find the right markets 

What have I missed? If you have any thoughts or questions about these types of feature articles, please comment below…

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