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.�Imagine�that�you're�telling�the�reader�a�story�or�giving�the�reader�some Page�353BEST�SOURCES�FOR�SERVICE�ARTICLESThere�are�a�number�of�individuals�who�will�be�your�best�sources�for�service�articles.�Here�is�a�list�of�major�categories:How�To�ArticlesBuilders/contractorsCraftsmen�and�womenCarpenters/electriciansMechanicsGardeners/horticulturistsArtistsChefs�and�culinary�expertsTechniciansConsumer�advocatesAuthors�of�booksScientistsInventorsLists�and�ListingsStatisticiansHistoriansMuseum�curatorsReference�librariansCensus�dataGovernment�studiesArt�of�Living�ArticlesPhysiciansMinistersPsychologists/counselorsLawyersFinancial�advisorsPsychiatristsChronological�Case�HistoriesPhysiciansSocial�workersPsychiatristsPsychologistsPoliceTeachersHistoriansSociologistsnew�information.�This�is�especially�true�of�service�oriented�and/or�how�to�articles.�Here,�it's�essential�that�you�get�the�interest�of�the�reader�with�the�lead,�then�hold�his�interest�by�transmitting�information�in�an�easy,�accessible�style.�For�most�of�us,�that�means,�again,�writing�the�way�you�speak.Just�about�everyone�can�speak�to�another�person�and�transmit�a�thought.�That's�really�all�nonfiction,�feature�writing�is.�There's�nothing�mysterious,�nothing�magical�about�it.�It's�just�transmit� Page�354ting�a�thought.�Then�another.�And�another.�Until�finally,�you've�written�an�article�that�transmits�many�thoughts�in�a�logical�sequence."Talking"�to�another�person�on�paper�should�give�your�article�a�conversational�tone.�Unless�you're�writing�a�formal�paper�or�treatise,�you�want�that�conversational�tone�in�all�your�feature�writing.�That�means�speaking�(on�paper)�clearly,�using�common�language,�and�just�being�you.�For�instance,�most�of�us�speak�in�contractions.�We�say�"You're�going,"�not�''You�are�going."�So�write�that�way.�Your�sentences�will�flow�a�lot�better.Most�of�us�speak�in�the�vernacular.�It's�true�that�we�all�have�several�different�vocabularies,�and�that�our�writing�and�speaking�vocabularies�are�not�the�same.�Still,�good�writers�don't�differ�much�in�the�way�they�write�and�the�way�they�speak.�An�easy,�conversational�tone�is�always�the�end�result�and�with�it,�a�well�written�article.�It�always�amazes�me�when�someone�I�know�as�a�regular�guy�writes�something�in�a�pompous,�affected�style�that�is�totally�unlike�his�natural�manner�and�normal�speech�pattern.�Somehow,�when�some�people�sit�down�at�the�computer,�they�feel�that�they�have�to�become�more�formal�or�stodgy�or�achieve�a�so�called�higher�tone�than�they�usually�operate�in�as�a�person.Wrong.�Just�the�opposite�is�true.�Good�writers�are�who�they�are�all�the�time.�They�don't�take�on�a�different�personality�when�they�sit�down�to�write.�Instead,�they�extend�their�own�personality�right�into�the�words�and�sentences�and�paragraphs�they're�writing.�They�never�step�out�of�character.�Good�nonfiction�writers�also�write�to�one�person�at�a�time,�no�matter�what�the�circulation�of�their�publication.�Each�month,�Popular�Mechanics�staffers�write�for�over�9�million�readers one�at�a�time.�Especially�in�nonfiction,�service,�how�to�and�the�like,�you've�got�to�talk�to�that�one�person�out�there�reading�your�stuff.�When�you�reach�him,�you've�reached�them�all.�Use�the�word�"you"�a�lot.�Not�the�word�"I."�You�should�do�this.�You�shouldn't�do�that.�You�should�buy�this.�But�don't�buy�that.�Sometimes�the�"you"�is�implied.�But�it�should�always�be�there.�Be�yourself.�Be�natural.�Relax.�Write�the�way�you�speak.�Then�you'll�be�a�good�writer.�(Oldham,�1993,�personal�communication) Page�35513 �Personal�Experience�ArticlesInsightful�writing�is�one�goal�of�personal�experience�feature�writing.�A�personal�experience�article�allows�you�to�do�much�more�than�the�usual�feature�article�because�you,�as�a�writer,�can�become�highly�involved�in�the�storytelling.�Most�beginning�writers�have�been�encouraged�to�take�themselves�out�of�the�story to�de�personalize�the�article as�much�as�possible.�However,�personal�experience�feature�writing�offers�something�unique�in�journalism�the�chance�to�become�part�of�a�personalized�story.Readers�got�the�personal�view�when�GQ�magazine�food�and�wine�critic�Alan�Richman�(1998)�went�to�dinner�in�New�York�with�actress�Sharon�Stone.�He�not�only�wrote�about�the�internationally�known�actress,�but�also�wrote�about�his�impressions�of�watching�her�dine,�the�food�and�wine,�and�the�complete�experience�of�the�evening
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