This is part 4 of a series of blogs on feature story ideas.

Remember SHOP stands for Selection, History, Observation and Perspective.

J

Jail

The jailhouse rocks. Old jails are being recycled and used in new ways. Spotlight jails that now function as museums and restaurants.

Jewelry

Are diamonds really a girl’s best friend? Find out from jewelry stores what the hottest trends are in buying jewelry. What gemstones are popular? What should consumers look for when choosing a diamond ring?

K

Kindergarten

Talk to parents and their children on the first day of Kindergarten. Interview Kindergarten teachers about what it’s like in a classroom of first time students. Provide tips for parents to prepare their children for Kindergarten. Find out about the history of Kindergarten and where and when the first Kindergarten took place in the US.

Kite

Vibrant kites are a summertime symbol. Contact kite flying organizations. Go to a rally or a kite flying contest and interview participants. Talk to kite manufacturers and kite store owners. Is kite flying a popular past time or has its popularity waned?

L

Llama

Dairy farms, beef cattle and sheep farms used to be the mainstay. Now llama farms are on the upswing. Why llamas? Find out what the draw is. Interview a llama farmer.

Locksmith

How many times do people lock themselves out of their car or house? What with panicked mothers trying to comfort crying babies locked in the car or salesmen late for that critical appointment with a new client, the locksmith surely has some tales to tell. What is life like for a locksmith who arrives on the scene to save the day? What are his tools of the trade? How does one become a locksmith?

M

Meeting notices

Sometimes the meeting notices that run in the paper can be turned into solid features. How about a Bible class that meets each Wednesday in a junkyard, and a group that helps parents deal with children who are at risk for drug abuse? In both cases, a writer can attend the meetings and stay in the background, letting the participants go on as they normally would

Mother’s Day

Canvas a number of mothers and obtain their favorite recipes for a round-up article about Sunday dinners and holiday meals.

N

Names

I have always been curious about other communities in the United States that have the same name. A check of Rand McNally revealed several names in common. Become an armchair traveler and explore towns with the same name. Sources to check include local Chamber of Commerce, newspapers, and government officials. Among the topics covered include what are their problems, how are they resolving them, what is great about their towns and what isn’t so great, what are the people like, what are the major industries, what is the school system like, and what is the history of the area.

Night life

Write about the nightlife. Roller skating? Stargazing? Skipping stones? What are the top three nighttime amusements in your area?

Not favorite

Who are the people you love to hate? Face it, there are a lot of folks out there who rub you the wrong way. A lot of them are just doing their jobs. But sometimes that doesn’t make it any easier. Take a lighthearted look at some of these people we love to hate. The list can include parking meter attendants, assistant high school principals who dish the discipline in public schools, workers at the department of motor vehicles and soooo many more. This kind of article can help readers understand the reason some of these people seem boorish.

O

Oscars

Tell us the Oscar picks now.

Opera

Go to the local opera house and showcase the current season’s operas. What goes into the production of an opera? Find out what kinds of programs are available that teach children and attract them to the world of opera?

This is an excerpt from Dr. Michael Ray Smith‘s book FeatureWriting.net. Used with permission.

Download the entire book for free from our MTI Online resource center.