I have been thinking again about Narrative Inquiry as methodological framework. People tell their experiences through ‘stories’. We share stories in everyday life, clients tell their stories during therapeutic sessions as ways of communicating and making meaning of the self and the world. In qualitative research,many stories are narrated on behalf of research participants to capture the experience of the phenomenon described…so many stories are woven within the human identity, though the interpersonal relations…life in general, is full of stories. Even the writing up of a research project is another ‘story’. I read an interesting quote today around this. Here it is:

“Vera said: Why do you feel you have to turn everything into a story?

So, I told her Why:

Because if i tell the story, I control the version

Because if I tell the story, I can make you laugh, and i would rather have you laugh at me than feel sorry for me

Because if i tell the story, it doesnt hurt so much

Because if I tell the story, I can get on with it”

Ephron (1983) Heartburn.New York: Knopf (p. 176-177)