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From
Regent University -
regent.edu
Regent alum
releases book on how to break into the field of
writing
by Steve C. Halbrook
VIRGINIA
BEACH, Va.— Award-winning author Michael Ray
Smith, a 1999 graduate from Regent University’s
School of Communication & the Arts doctorate
program, offers direction on how to successfully
break into the field of writing in the newly
released handbook “FeatureWriting.Net.” Smith
packs all of his experience into the manual,
which guides the reader through the stages of
creating and selling feature articles for any
publication venue, from magazines to the
Internet...
more
ACCM News Letter
Journalists enjoy interactive text
ACCM News Letter/Fall/Winter 2005/Page 7
By Sheridan Barker
Carson-Newman College
Seldom will a journalist pull from his or her
professional bookshelf a more usable text.
FeatureWiritng.Net by Michael Ray Smith is
one of the most jam-packed books for journalists
in any medium.
Smith covers all the basics early in the book—from leads to
interviews that really work. He intersperses
topics like ethics and using the Internet early
enough in the book to help readers integrate
these important facts of journalism naturally
and almost without having to think about them.
Especially appealing are this articles and biographies by renowned
(and the not-so-renowned—but real wordsmiths,
nonetheless) writers. These fine examples drive
home the thesis of each chapter. At around 300
pages, the book is tightly composed and rich
with information without being overly
theoretical. There are just enough exercises
sprinkled throughout the book to be helpful—not
overpowering.
Of special note is the last chapter on feature ideas. It reads like
a fireworks display on the Fourth of July,
exploding and bringing a sense of enthusiasm for
trying each idea.
FeatureWriting.Net is a keeper, to be used again and again
as writers seek to master their skills and keep
their zest for writing alive. And for
journalists who share a Christian worldview,
this book is a treasure—giving free rein to the
integration of faith and professional.
This book gets two thumbs up for both the concept and the
execution. Michael Ray Smith has written a
jewel.
Facts
about
FeatureWriting.Net
-
328
pages
-
ISBN:
0974831921
-
Publisher: Epistelogic
Dr.
Sheridan Barker is a professor and award-winning
newspaper adviser at a college in Tennessee.
Google search results
See other
web pages on the internet that contain the term
FeatureWriting.Net. View search results
here.
From
Editor & Publisher -
editorandpublisher.com
Columnists Part of New Feature-Writing Book
By E&P
Staff
NEW YORK
Five of the 15 writers spotlighted in "FeatureWriting.Net"
are current or former columnists, including Jill
Darling, Eva Marie Everson, Terry Mattingly,
Bill Newcott, and James Watkins.
"FeatureWriting.Net"
is Michael Ray Smith's new how-to book on doing
articles for newspapers and magazines.
Smith (www.featurewriting.net)
chairs the mass communications department at
Campbell University in North Carolina. He has
written more than 3,000 articles for magazines
and newspapers -- including The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, The Sun of Baltimore, and
The Philadelphia Inquirer. "FeatureWriting.Net"
is his fourth book.
From James Watkins Commentary -
jameswalkins.com
Jim Watkins writes:
I was recently
interviewed by Michael R. Smith, professor at
Campbell University, for his latest book.
"New writers
desire to break into the feature writing market,
but many of them need practical ideas on
executing a plan. This book guides them from the
origin of the idea to suggestions for sources in
the Internet age to strategies on developing the
article."
From Amazon Customer Reviews -
amazon.com
A. Thomas
writes:
*The*
Feature Writing Tool!
This book
explores the how-tos of the art known as feature
writing by an adept author, professor and, as he
notes in the book, wordsmith. Not only does he
provide instructional information but also very
practical information from interviews compiled
from various noteworthy journalists like George
Archibald, professors of writing and many
others. Smith lays out a simple technique called
"SHOP," which provides the major structure any
good feature story should have. He further
breaks done that technique into a suggested
writing formula, but he doesn't demand that
readers stick to every detail. Instead, he does
encourage deviation and exploration of one's own
unique writing style so long as you stay within
the basic SHOP essentialist framework. It's a
great resource any aspiring feature writer
should read to glean value information and even
a lengthy collection of story ideas, contacts
and suggested approaches for you to apply your
skills. Each chapter also provides for exercises
that put into use the skills stressed
throughout. Check it out.
From Evangelical Press Association -
epassoc.org
New book
by Michael Ray Smith
Michael Ray
Smith, a past EPA workshop presenter and
faculty advisor of the EPA member student
newspaper The Campbell Times, has just
released a new book about feature writing --
something you could probably figure out
yourself from the title: Featurewriting.net
(and yes, there's also a
Web site by that name). This new guide
to the creation of the feature story. From
idea through development, this book takes
the reader step-by-step through the process
of creating a feature story editors will
publish. As a bonus, the book includes about
100 timeless feature story ideas, ready to
be borrowed. And the book includes insights
from established writers, including Terry
Mattingly, Jeff Sheler, Holly Miller, Dennis
Hensley, and others.
From Fayetteville Online -
fayettevillenc.com
By Meredith Jacobs
Staff writer
In his new book, a
Campbell University professor, author and
former journalist gives advice to hopeful
writers on how to get feature articles
published.
Dr. Michael Ray Smith's
book gives the lowdown on everything from
interviews to ethics. To keep it simple,
FeatureWriting.Net carries the same name
as his Web site,
www.featurewriting.net. The book will be
released this month by Epistelogic
publishing in Bloomington, Ill.
Smith says it's crucial
for a freelance writer to have a plan. He
teaches anyone with a dream to write how to
come up with ideas, do the research and
develop articles.
Sometimes a freelancer's
success is to find a new way to look at an
old subject. Smith's book offers suggestions
of timeless topics as a kick-start.
The book addresses how to
craft an article or, as Smith says, "how to
make the article sing." Readers are taught
to analyze and critique their own writing.
Smith chairs Campbell's
Department of Mass Communications. He worked
for a decade in newsrooms, winning awards as
a writer and a photojournalist. He has
written more than 3,000 articles for
publications such as The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, The Baltimore Sun and
The Philadelphia Inquirer. This is his
fourth book.
FeatureWriting.Net
can be ordered through
Amazon.com or purchased in Campbell's
bookstore.
Once a writer reads
Smith's book and is ready to sell, then the
next step is to look at the library's copy
of The Writer's Market, a reference
book for freelance writers. In it,
publications will say if they want the ideas
pitched to them first, if they only accept
submissions through agents, what they will
pay, and also describe the kinds of articles
they want or will reject. My friend
Georgetta Sharman of Sanford, Fla. (her
father lives in Fayetteville), primarily
writes travel articles. She gets 10 articles
from one journey by being alert to
information she can turn into articles to
sell for non-travel publications, such as
food and wildlife stories.
If the process sounds
complicated, sometimes it is. But Smith
wants to get anyone who wants to write -
students and adults - started on the dream.
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