Writing Feature Articles, 4th Edition

17  The regular columnist

The only times I’ve regretted a column is when I haven’t written it – because I thought I’d regret it. It’s a highly self-critical, self-analysing process where you spend 90 per cent of the time deciding what to write, justifying writing it, and then the remaining 10 per cent doing it. And for that reason, perhaps, because I know what I’m doing, no, I’ve never been sued. If ever I were, it would be on purpose. (Keith Waterhouse, in a letter to the author)

The one problem I never have is choosing something to write about. I don’t think a general column can be done for long unless you are interested in a wide range of matters. (Bernard Levin, in a letter to the author)

The good reporter and the good feature writer do ...