Stories are a type of narrative writing that uses language art to reflect life and express thoughts and feelings. Stories should either have profound meanings, typical characters, or touching plots, or see the big picture from the small. In short, they should leave a deep impression on the audience, and should not be bland and unreadable. Stories generally include five elements: background, theme, details, results, and comments. How to vividly describe and portray these through words is the key to writing brand culture stories.
(I) Background
The background of the story refers to explaining to the reader the relevant circumstances of the story, including what happened, when it happened, who are the main characters, and what caused the story, that is, the time, place, characters, and causes of the story.
(II) Theme
The theme refers to the main body and core of the story content, which is the author’s understanding of real life, the pursuit of a certain ideal, or the viewpoint of a certain phenomenon. In layman’s terms, it is the content that the author wants to express or show. The expression of the theme often determines the value of the work. It is not as clear as in a paper or copywriting, nor is it that the author sticks his own views and ideas on it. Instead, it is integrated into the character image, plot layout, environmental description and superb language skills, which requires readers to grasp, analyze and dig out as a whole.
The theme can be expressed in the following five ways.
1. Characters
The characters are important carriers of the theme of the story. The shaping of the characters can well reflect the theme of the story and reveal a certain idea or proposition.
2. Plot
The plot plays a role in threading the story. It can connect the beginning, development and end of the story to form a complete and vivid story. The development of the plot can promote the development of the story and make the story deeply attract readers.
3. Environment
The description of the social environment or living environment can reveal or imply a certain idea, and at the same time, combined with the background description of the character’s thoughts and personality, it can well describe the theme of the story.
4. Background
The description of the background can help readers better analyze the characters and grasp the theme of the story.
5. Lyrical sentences
Stories generally do not express the theme directly, and sometimes they express the theme of the story through some lyrical sentences.
(III) Details
Detailed description is to capture the subtle and specific typical plots in life and describe them vividly and meticulously, which can make the story more vivid, vivid and real. Details are generally carefully set and arranged by the author and are parts that cannot be replaced at will. Appropriate detailed description can play a role in setting off the atmosphere, portraying the characters and revealing the theme.
Common methods of detail description include language description, action description, psychological description and portrait description. No matter which method is used, the author needs to observe carefully in advance and choose representative and general things that can deeply reflect the theme for description, so as to highlight the center of the story and leave a deep impression on the readers.
(IV) Result
A story has a cause and a result. Telling readers the result of the story can deepen their understanding and appreciation of the story, which is conducive to the story leaving an impression in their minds.
(V) Comment
Cross-border e-commerce copywriters can express certain opinions and analyses on the content and themes of the story to further reveal the meaning and value of the story. Of course, cross-border e-commerce copywriters should try their best to discuss the story and express their feelings based on the content of the story, so as to arouse readers’ resonance and thinking.