Looking for leads to use in writing features? Some writing software incorporate enough brainstorming and lead generation that they could help. For fresher, more original leads, though, here a few ideas to draw from.
- Emergency services aren’t just good sources for breaking news, they offer excellent leads for features too. Stories of daring rescues, unusual arrests and unexpected events can easily be tied to many features of more lasting appeal.
- People-watching. Hit a local area with plenty of people activity. Watch what people are doing, inquire about events that are happening and be naturally curious. Watching life in action often turns out many leads for possible features.
- Press releases. If you’re really bored, sift through press releases in your email. Even old ones you never opened. There might be something truly compelling in one of them that you can expand using your present background.
- Call your connections. Got a friend in a talent agency? Ask them about potentially juicy stories in their field (there’s usually a few). Know someone in production? They could have the skinny on some entertainment-related stores. What about people in academe? There could be a new breakthrough that’s bound to catch people’s attention. Exhaust your resources – you never know what you might turn up.
