Storytelling isn’t a term that most people automatically connect with nonfiction. Some forms of nonfiction, such as memoir, are by design built around a clear narrative and tell a story based on a slice of the author’s life.

 

For writers who are writing “big idea” books or sharing their expertise in books based on extensive research, the need to craft a proper narrative may not feel as evident. Building a structure around facts and figures is often the author’s first concern.  

 

Yet research shows that audiences grasp information much better if it is relayed in a through stories. This applies especially if the concepts covered in the book are complex and involve intricate data. In her book Wired for Story, author Lisa Cron explains, using neurological studies, how human beings respond to narratives. Even in nonfiction, readers expect a narrative arc with a beginning, a middle, and a satisfying end.

 

To tell a story effectively, it’s worth taking the time to identify your target audience, understand their needs and what they expect from your book at an early stage in the writing process – preferably before you even outline your book.

 

Getting the reader invested

 

Here are some techniques you can use to craft a compulsive read that readers can’t put down. These methods don’t apply to all types of nonfiction books but they should be part of the toolkit you can deploy to share your wisdom and experiences in a relatable way.

 

The vast majority of nonfiction books that become bestsellers or can be described as compulsive reads use some of these techniques:

 

• Bring in human voices: In some cases, it is possible to build an entire book around a main character. Think, for example, of , by Rebecca Skloot, which delivers scientific information through the tragic story of a young woman who died decades ago.
  
  But even if this approach does not suit your book, you can include human voices in your story. Conduct interviews to gain different perspectives and quotes that you can inject in your narrative. Adding new voices to boost your message will enhance your credibility as an author.
  
  You can also go a step further and turn interviewees into protagonists in your story: provide background about them, describe the way they talk or the passion they display for their topic. Make the readers feel they were present during your conversation with the expert or eyewitness you interviewed.

 

• Use descriptive language: Conveying dry facts, no matter how fascinating, may not be enough to sustain readers’ interest. To fully immerse themselves in a book, readers need to enter the world you’ve created for them. Use sensory details – smells, sounds, colors and shapes – to bring the setting to life. By triggering sensory reactions, you can engage the audience at a deeper level and boost the impact of your message.
   

• Include anecdotes or case studies, and use them to illustrate facts. Readers are more likely to retain information when it’s delivered through real-life examples as part of the narrative. By triggering emotional reactions, you can greatly enhance the power of your message. To truly grasp the facts or figures conveyed, readers need to see their impact on people’s daily lives and relate to them. In Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, for example, Brian Klaas deploys countless fascinating anecdotes to illustrate how random and unpredictable our world is. 
   

• Build suspense to keep the readers hooked. You don’t have to be writing a thriller to inject some tension in your book to engage the audience. You can do that by hinting at new developments to come later in the book or ending chapters with an intriguing cliffhanger that entices the reader to move on to the next chapter.
   

• Reach a conclusion: Some nonfiction books may not have a natural ending – science and politics keep evolving, for instance – but you need to bring your narrative arc to a satisfying close. A well-crafted nonfiction book takes the reader on a journey. You, as the author, can decide on the destination but you have to provide a sense that a meaningful conclusion has been reached..

 

Some writers  may struggle with the need to craft a narrative and include vivid descriptions to deliver information, especially if they are accustomed to transmitting dry facts and figures in their professional lives.

 

But cast your mind back to nonfiction books that have captivated you. Chances are their authors turned to storytelling techniques to deliver their message, which is why it stayed with you.

 

Factual accuracy and storytelling are not mutually exclusive, by the way. On the contrary, they are complementary. When facts are skillfully woven into a narrative, the two ingredients combine  to create a page-turner.

 

Keep in mind that your audience is investing their time and possibly money in your book. By offering them a compelling story as well as a powerful message, you can ensure they get a return on their investment, both in emotional and factual terms.