Notes on Narrative

Notes on Narrative is a work-in-progress document by David Tamés with contributions from Liza Case and Peter Zakrzewski.

The goal of creating this resource is to give the reader an understanding of narrative across multiple media forms. Stories can be expressed in many different forms (oral storytelling, short films, screenplays, feature films, immersive media works, short stories, comics, mobile media, and other emerging media forms, etc.) and be shared in many different contexts (entertainment, interpersonal persuasion, business communication, marketing, advertising, journalism, politics, activism, community building, education, etc.), what these all of these forms and contexts have in common is narrative, a fundamental mode of thought that everyone who wants to communicate, persuade, inform, or entertain others needs to understand in the realm of both traditional and emerging forms.

We would appreciate your feedback. If you would like an invitation to comment on the documents, please contact me using this contact form. — David Tamés

Table of Contents

1. Notes on Narrative introduces the concept of narrative and covers the fundamental ingredients that constitute a narrative.
2. Plot and structure explains the fundamental concepts of plot, conflict, and structure.
3. Narrative templates provides a survey of the many ways fundamental narrative structure can be expressed.
4. Character explains the role of characters in narrative works.
5. Storyworld explains the role of the fictional or social-historical world depicted in a narrative.
6. Agency and immersion explains how narrative is transformed by interaction and immersion.
7. Two modes of thought examines Jerome Bruner’s assertion that narrative is one of two modes of thought.
8. Long-form narratives explains the role of structure in long-form narrative works.
9. Glossary provides definitions of the terms we use in this document and clarifies why we use particular terms the way we do, even though they might not always match how other authors use them.
10. References an evolving list of resources we have drawn upon to write Notes on Narrative.