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Who doesn’t like a good story, especially when someone narrates it for you?
One of the earliest methods of communication, storytelling has been instrumental in sharing information. Over time, it became one of the foundational skills necessary in business communication. Employers value professionals who exhibit strong interpersonal and communication skills. Storytelling is one of the best ways to connect with others and get your message across. It can even help boost business in several ways—creating strong strategies, improving customer loyalty and bringing in more profits.
While we think of storytelling as a strictly verbal tradition, narrative writing uses storytelling techniques to get your message across. Wondering what it is? Let’s dig in!
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Writing Your Story: What Is Narrative Writing?
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The Importance Of Narrative Style Of Writing
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Why Bother About Strategic Narratives?
Writing Your Story: What Is Narrative Writing?
One of the most effective ways of storytelling in written communication is through narrative writing. To simplify the term, the narrative is a classical rhetorical method of presenting the information. Writers use a narrator style to present their point of view in a chronological manner. There are flashbacks and multiple timelines. Some of the popular examples of narrative writing include essays, fairy tales, autobiographies and news stories.
There are five core elements of narrative writing that define the narrative. Narrators have the power to reveal the elements in subtle or direct ways. Let’s look at them in greater detail.
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Plot:
It’s a thread of events that lead you to the main point of the story
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Setting:
It adds volume to your story and talks about the events in the context of a particular place and time
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Characters:
They’re the characters or bystanders in your story who drive the plot and character development is one of the best aspects of the narrative style of writing
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Conflict:
This is what brings in the tension in your story; conflict of any form talks about the problem that you’re trying to solve
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Theme:
Every narrative writing piece has a central theme that talks about the purpose of your story
The bottom line is that these five elements help writers assemble their stories in a comprehensive manner.
The Importance Of Narrative Style Of Writing
Studies show that organizations that know how to clearly communicate their business strategies are likely to outperform their competitors. Similarly, business leaders who prioritize communication are successful in driving business strategies. Narrative writing helps develop key business communication skills and is necessary across several domains of professional life. Here are a few examples of narrative writing that are crucial for career development:
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Powerful resumes and cover letters make a significant difference in a candidate’s application. Narrative writing helps you present past experiences and qualifications in a captivating way.
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Storytelling is an effective tool to develop a strong connection with customers and clients. Marketing and advertising channels often rely on narrative pieces to develop brand loyalty.
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Sales representatives need to have strong communication skills to make a successful sales pitch. While verbal communication is common, a powerful sales message is crucial to sales success as well.
Why Bother About Strategic Narratives?
A strategic narrative is a form of a written or spoken story of an imagined future. A powerful strategic narrative helps paint a picture of the past, present and future of an organization and how these elements fit together. It helps business leaders articulate their vision and identify ways to shape the future of an organization. It also helps engage stakeholders who’ll play an active role in driving the overall mission. Here’s a step-by-step process that’ll help you craft an effective strategic narrative:
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Invite Stakeholders’ Perspectives
Inside knowledge can help you make your strategy more relatable and refined. Get your team together and invite multiple perspectives that’ll help you gauge what others feel about the organization.
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Create The First Draft
Collaborate with your team to outline the first draft of your strategy. It accounts for everyone’s needs and expectations as you seek input from everyone. The draft should make sense of the current state and future possibilities.
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Refine The Message
Once you’ve crafted the initial message, take time to analyze your audience, their mindset and readiness. It’ll not only help you tailor your draft but also identify the most appropriate way of delivering your message.
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Measure Your Success
To track the effectiveness of a strategy, always have checks and balances in place. Measure and monitor progress after delivering your narrative.
Harappa Education’s Writing Proficiently course will make your business communication so effective that everyone sits up and takes notice. With tried-and-tested methods and framework, you’ll discover how to tell a story with every communication you draft. The GRT (Goal-Recipient-Tone) framework will help you structure messages effectively. Write your story confidently and get your message across smartly!
Explore topics such as the Significance of Writing Skills, Different Types of Writing Styles, Descriptive Writing, Persuasive Writing & Expository Writing from Harappa Diaries and polish your writing skills.
