The importance of telling a compelling story in your manuscript
What’s something that most high-impact manuscripts have in common?
They tell a compelling story that brings the underlying data to life in a way that is easy to follow and has clear implications to the reader. In this article we offer some tips for how you can better ensure that your manuscript goes beyond being a loosely woven collection of facts and findings to a clearly communicated work of science.
Tips for storytelling in health research
Create an outline – as described in our previous blog post, your manuscript writing journey should start with an outline that clearly identifies your publication’s main messages and how all of the paragraphs fit together to tell a coherent story.
Identify the, “so what” -- the best part of any story is the climax. Or in the science world, the “so what” that reveals why the reader should care about this particular research. Clearly identify what your manuscript contributes to the existing literature and the implications of your findings across various spheres of influence. Structure your manuscript around these points.
Focus -- there are many opportunities to go off on tangents throughout your manuscript. Ensure that every paragraph clearly and naturally flows from the prior ones. Your tables and figures likely present more data than you have room to write about. View the body of the manuscript as an opportunity to write about the key findings that you want the reader to pay attention to. No one likes surprises in the discussion. You should not be presenting any new findings in this section. Instead, discuss the main findings you presented in the results section in a way that highlights how your work contributes to the statement of the problem identified in your introduction.
Capitalize on your figures – wherever possible, create figures that succinctly summarize your main messages and findings. These help support the reader in taking in information in easily digestible chunks. As you work on your figures, be sure to check whether your target journal has any stipulations around dimensions, contents, and presentation.
Think beyond a manuscript -- another great way to fine tune your storytelling is to create alternate knowledge mobilization material as you develop your manuscript. For example, creating a three-minute elevator pitch is a great way to distill your main messages. Infographics offer a great approach to identifying your key findings and what they mean to your audience.
The art of storytelling is integral to impactful scientific writing.
In this article, we offer tips to help get you started on the path towards clear and compelling manuscript writing. If you’d like more support, be sure to check out our coaching and wide array of manuscript services – its our job to help you optimize your scientific writing!