narrateabout

Narrateabout is a neologism used in discussions of narrative technique to denote a mode of narration in which a speaker or narrator foregrounds a subject by explicitly narrating about it within the text. The construction blends the verb narrate with the preposition about, and is typically treated as a single word in stylistic analyses. Because it is not a widely standardized term, its exact meaning can vary by author or discipline.

Origin and usage: The term has appeared in 21st-century writing guides, literary blogs, and classrooms as a descriptive label rather than a formal genre. It is often treated as a label for a particular narrative stance or practice rather than a fixed method. Some scholars relate narrateabout to concepts such as metanarration or expository commentary, while others use it as a practical descriptor in pedagogy to indicate passages where the narrator interprets, explains, or debates a topic within the story.

Practice and implications: In narratives described as narrateabout, the narrator may provide context, justify interpretations, or impose a particular viewpoint about the subject matter. This can aid reader understanding and thematic clarity but may also reduce dramatic immediacy or create a more overt, essayistic tone. As a coined term, its reception depends on the surrounding theoretical framework and pedagogical goals.

See also: narration, metanarrative, expository narration, narrative stance.