Take the time to look around for a sense of where you are. See who might be involved in the story. The fire story was routine. No one died, no one was hurt, but the image of those kids watching their Christmas vanish as that charred tree dropped from the window couldn't help but leave a lasting impression with readers. Our goal is to take readers into the heart of the story.
Observation is an acquired skill.
Just like taking notes and interviewing. In note taking, we learn to improve our speed by developing a form of personal shorthand. In interviewing, we learn to ask better questions and to listen closely to answers. Observation is just as crucial as getting the quote right or gathering the important facts. It requires the reporter, I once read, to develop his eye.