Facts alone are seldom enough to move public opinion. We are narrative beings that grasp the world through stories. People respond to a story not because it is true, but because they find it meaningful.
Thinking narratively means building our campaign out of the core building blocks that make for a good story, things like:
Conflict
- What is the problem or conflict we are addressing? How is it framed, and what does that frame leave out?
Characters
- Who are “we”? Who are the other characters in the story?
Imagery
- What powerful images can help convey the story? Is there a metaphor or analogy that could describe the issue?
Foreshadowing
- What is our vision of resolution to the conflict?
Assumptions
- Every story is built on unstated assumptions. Sometimes the best way to challenge a competing story is to expose and challenge its unstated assumptions.
Learn more about challenging the dominant narrative around wireless technology and Constructing a New Story here.
