What Is a Feature Writer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A feature writer is a journalist at a magazine, newspaper, or online publication who is responsible for researching and writing feature stories, such as the cover story or a long-form article. As a feature writer, you produce pieces that are longer than a typical news story and rely on in-depth interviews and extensive research or investigative reporting. You typically work under a features editor, and you can work on either a freelance or salary basis. As a features writer, you may pitch stories to the editor, or you may be assigned topics.

To become a feature writer, you need to have significant journalistic experience, and you must be a strong creative writer with a unique style. A bachelor’s degree in a writing-intensive subject, such as English literature, history, journalism, or communication is helpful, although your specific course of study is not as important as your ability to write well. Many feature writers have extensive experience, either through a master’s degree in journalism or several years of work in a newsroom. Excellent communication and time management skills are essential qualifications.