The Skill of Telling a Story Without a Narrator

As a documentary fan, I love non-narrative storytelling. You may not know the label, but you know the style: when the story is completely told by the characters themselves.

As a journalist, encouraging someone to tell their own story was the goal - it makes the audience feel as though they are a part of the story, rather being told what happened.

For this reason, I love it when sound is used effectively in a video story. In video or film, a non-narrative story can be told through short vignettes to explore a theme. I also feel like it's a chance for the scene and the characters to speak for themselves.

One example I've loved for years: Strive, a video put out by Strava when the app first launched as a social network for athletes (mostly cyclists and runners, though now it seems to include all sports - I use it as I row along the Ottawa River).

In Strive, there is no narration, it is simply a story of effort. We hear characters grunting and groaning up hills, complaining about wind, pushing through waves, even doing push ups together.

Take a look:

In 98 seconds, we feel the effort of these athletes, and the community they have as they work together to reach a goal.

These aren't Olympians. They're you and me, struggling together - there's the theme, community of athletes - and the ambient sounds of the wind, the water, the wheels on pavement is intentionally turned up - so we experience their stories fully.

Though we're watching vignettes, there is definitely a narrative arc. Characters are introduced (but what ever happens to the woman with the dog?), developed as they interact with others, and we see their quest.

There is background music, it takes a backseat to the characters' voices themselves and builds to the eventual climax: finishing the race, having a beer with friends, taking a selfie at the summit.

The glorious landscapes and movement serve to bring us into the story further.

You're going to laugh, but I always get a little emotional when I watch this. I get it. I understand what it's like to wipe out on your bike, hose yourself off and go out again. The tagline at the end is for people like me, mere mortals, working to best ourselves with each outing. I'm not sure I would ever have called myself an 'athlete' until I saw this. Strava has nailed it here - Strive to be an athlete, and you are one.

How better to introduce a community platform for athletes who aren't necessarily top of the podium, but in sport for other reasons? By tapping into the sounds of the struggle, Strava is telling this story like a champion.

I believe great stories (of any age) should be celebrated. And while a partridge in a pear tree sounds lovely, I'd much rather gift 12 Days of Content into the this December. So here we are.

Here are the 12 Days of Content:

• Day 1: How The Guardian turned a fairy tale on its head to connect with audiences
• Day 2: How 84 Lumber packed a political punch about a wall - and earned brand awareness
• Day 3: How Save the Children told the Story of Need
• Day 4: When a Brand's Manifesto Taps into a National Identity
• Day 5: Telling a Story Without a Narrator
• Day 6: Brands and The Nostalgia Effect on Consumers
• Day 7: Using Music to Move Your Audience
• Day 8: A Genius and Innovative Storytelling
• Day 9: When the Audience Adds Meaning to the Story
• Day 10: Telling a Compelling Story from a Product POV
• Day 11: Words Matter, Even in a Social Video Era
• Day 12: Cheers! To an Epically Beautiful Brand Narrative