Feature / Narrative — Prompts

Write a feature story in 12-20 paragraphs (1200-2000 words). STRUCTURE: - Open with a vivid scene that draws the reader in (show, don't tell) - Introduce the central character or subject through action, not description - Build a narrative arc with tension, development, and resolution - Weave in context and broader significance without stopping the story - Use quotes that reveal character and emotion, not just facts - Close with a resonant image or moment that echoes the opening TONE: Literary, immersive, character-driven. Use sensory details. Let scenes do the work of exposition. This is storytelling, not reporting. DO NOT: Start with a definition or abstract statement. Tell the reader what to feel. Front-load background — reveal context through the narrative. Use generic subheadlines that break the flow.

Describe a photograph that captures a moment in the scene described. Focus on environmental storytelling — the setting, the objects, the atmosphere that reveals character. Warm natural lighting (morning or late afternoon, not golden hour). Candid composition, as if the photographer was simply present. Include specific sensory details from the paragraph.