The prose forms these stories can take are exposition, description and narration. Not one form is used exclusively in a story. Your stories might contain all three forms.

Exposition

• informs, defines, clarifies, explains and makes a point
• moves at a rapid pace and can present much material in brief passages
• Straightforward - communicates maximum ideas in minimum words
• Good for complex ideas
• One disadvantages -- it distances the reader from the subject of the story because the writer stands between the reader and the material.

Example of Exposition:
He ran wire from where the men were camped to the spot he was going to place the mine. Vickroy squatted and ran his hand along the wire to feel any kinds or knots. He set the mine down and adjusted it. Kneeling on his right knee, he attached the blasting cap to the end of the wire. A blasting cap, a silver tube with two wire sticking out, explodes the mine.

The mine was set and he unscrewed the ear to disengage it. He took one last look back.

Vickroy's 6-foot, 180-peanut body was hurled 15 feet into the night air. His glasses flew off and his eyes opened. All he could see were swirls of red, black and white.

Description

• captures the person or event by presenting sensory details
• paints a picture for your readers
• By reading your story, the reader can easily place himself/herself into the situation described.
• Beware of too much description because it slows down the pace of a story
• Remember, descriptive writing does not mean flowery.

Example of Description:
Vickroy regained consciousness. He figured he was in the base hospital at Cam Ranh Bay. He could see nothing through the bandages over his eyes, but he could hear the squeaks of rubber soles in the hallway and hushed conversations between doctors as they hurried from bed to bed. It sounded like a busy place.

Narration

• relates a story with verbs that detail a sequence of actions or events
• It gives your reader a "you are there" feeling.
• The sequence of events is clear; your story has a beginning, middle and end.
• Too much narration can deaden a story by slowing the pace.

Leads are still important, even more so because they invite the reader into your story. They are longer and more creative than the news burst lead which presents the gist of your story in simple direct statements.

In-depth leads tend to serve these three functions:

1. Introduce an idea, issue or person
2. Set a tone or establish a theme
3. Pique audience interest

We've looked at the three functions of a lead. Let's give them a label now by discussing specific types of leads.

Types of Leads:

Scene-setting lead

This type of lead gives the reader the flavor of the story by concentrating on one concrete scene. So choose a scene that captures a vital element in your story--one that offers concrete details that make the scene come alive in your reader's mind.

Anecdotal lead

This type is like a scene-setting lead in that it includes description but it tells a small story instead of setting a scene. It sets a tone and establishes a theme for your story. It must also have a point--a vital point and the reader must learn something from this type of lead.

Teaser leads

Present a mystery--piques the interest of your reader so that they want to read on to find the outcome of that mystery. The teaser offers some information about the story but withholds other important information. The story must deliver what the lead promises--the mystery solved; the questions answered.

Contrast or comparison lead.

For example, one student has chosen to write on fraternities--then and now. A contrast lead would be ideal in this situation.

Build on a quote lead.

Using a good strong quote in your lead works well for personality profile stories.

Elements of a feature story
Introduction of feature story

The lead.

Again, your lead is probably the most important element of your feature. You need to grab the reader's attention.

You need a nut graph

This is a transition paragraph between the lead and the body that sketches and outlines the story to come: the nutgraph is your thesis statement, the peg. It provides background, context and direction of your story. A good establishing section tells the reader what is to come in your story.

1. Use the Chronological Format, Hourglass Format, Mapped Format or Numerical Format (see CH 4)
2. An identification of the problem and history of topic.
3. You may also need to give the scope
4. Provide reasons why something is happening.
5. You may also need to provide the impact-who is affected and why
6. You may also need to explain any future actions/results.
7. Explain any moves or countermoves. This is especially important in personality profiles. You need to explain why someone made these moves and what benefits they gained.
8. Use description and anecdotes. Describe scenes for your readers.
9. Use many direct and indirect quotes.
10. Don't forget to use transitions.

• quote that sums everything all up or solidifies the content of the entire piece.
• the future (what happens next).
• factual sentence that conveys emotional impact.