[...] often having a personal slant and written in an individual style.

Most of us don’t give a lot of thought to the technical definition of what we’re reading when we open a newspaper or other print publication or access one online. In fact, not all news stories are created equal. If you’re considering a career in journalism, your success can hinge on knowing the difference between a straight news piece and a feature.

A feature story is not hard news and is distinguished by the quality of the writing. Stories should be memorable for their reporting, crafting, creativity and economy of expression.

Ask most people what a feature story is, and they'll say something soft and puffy, written for the arts or fashion section of a newspaper or website.

But in fact, features can be about any subject, from the fluffiest lifestyle piece to the toughest investigative report.

And features aren't just found in the back pages of the paper, the ones that focus on things like home decor and music reviews. In fact, features are found in every section of the paper, from news to business to sports.