The Original StorytellerSample

NARRATIVE

BIG IDEA: Narratives connect the elements of storytelling together into a recognizable pattern.

According to legend, Ernest Hemingway once made a wager with some friends. They bet $10 that the author couldn’t write a complete story in only six words. Hemingway’s work is renowned for its plain and sparing use of language.

But being limited to six words would be a real challenge. The Nobel laureate thought for a moment, wrote the following on a napkin and won the bet:

For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

It’s unsubstantiated if Hemingway’s bet actually happened. But it does prove one thing—a complete story can be written in only six words. Despite its length, this very short story still has a basic narrative structure.

Hemingway’s six-word story has a beginning (For sale), a middle (baby shoes) and an ending (never worn). These six words are able to generate both the conflict and emotion needed to drive any good story. There is no word minimum for a story—the only requirement is narrative.

Narrative is often used as a synonym for story. But a narrative also gives a story structure. It’s the connection between characters and events that gives a story definition. Anything has the potential to be a story, but a narrative is what allows the story to take an identifiable shape.

Narrative and narrator both come from the Latin word narrativus, which means “to tell a story.” In this way, we know that a narrative and narrator both supply the storytelling form. Both help us to see what the story contains and why it has meaning.

Although it’s much longer than six words, the Bible also has a clear narrative structure. It contains a multitude of events that are all connected through the common theme of God.

It’s an epic story that involves hundreds of characters and covers a wide period of human history. However, its narrative structure creates a cohesive story.

Stories have a beginning, middle and an end. These points are defined, even within the Bible. It starts with the creation of the Earth, deals with the fall and redemption of mankind and will end with the return of Jesus.

Even the stories within the Bible follow a similar structure. These stories interact and overlap with one another. But each has their own defined characters, setting and occurrences. Narratives are the skeletal structure that keeps the text from collapsing in on itself.

As a storyteller, always focus on that all important element of connectivity. Without some consistent theme or message, any story will unravel. Understand what your story is trying to tell. Then focus everything else around that central point.

Stories take on a multitude of forms. But narrative is what distinguishes a story from random nonsense. Narrative gives stories clarity and purpose. Without a compelling narrative, the story will languish and die—much like anyone listening to it.

PRAYER

God, thank You for telling the story of the world. Thank You for giving this story a consistent narrative that includes You at the center. We’ve read about the beginning, live in the middle and know that You will be waiting for us at the end.

You are the great Narrator who shows us the true definition and meaning for every story. Thank you for making the narrative about Your love for us and Christ’s death for our redemption. Amen.

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