Narrative strategies for case reports

This paper explores what for many qualitative researchers is their most difficult task: writing a qualitative research report or case study. It explores the time and space conditions of two writing genres: narration and description. It argues that the new journalism, along with the nonfiction novel and ethnography, are useful narrative models for case reports. Several techniques managed well by new journalists and other narrative writers are discussed: (a) scene‐by‐scene construction; (b) characterization through ample use of dialogue; (c) point of view; (d) full rendering of details; (e) interior monologue; and (f) composite characterization. Two sample narratives illustrate the possible application of narrative techniques in a case report.