Any written communication that does not contain storytelling elements can be considered non-narrative, but the term is often used to refer to the concise, structured writing preferred for academic essays and business documents. Examples of non-narrative writing also include online and advertising copy; speeches; research papers; and any number of other business, academic or legal documents.
The professional writer's most important tool is a mastery of her language's rules of grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage. This is especially true for non-narrative writers, who must organize and present detailed information in a clear, meaningful way without technical or factual error. Non-narrative writing is typically divided logically into chapters, sections and paragraphs, which, when taken in sequence, deliver the intended message without ambiguity.
Unless otherwise specified, non-narrative writers should use a third-person point of view, the present tense and active sentence structure. Most formal writing conventions discourage, if not prohibit, the use of first-person ("I," "me," "we," "us") and second-person ("you") pronouns, as well as an excessively personalized or poetic or humorous voice.
When appropriate, non-narrative writers must cite the research that went into their work, whether in footnotes or end notes or as a more comprehensive bibliography or reference list. This practice credits others who have inspired or informed the writer's presentation and gives his work more credibility. These notes or lists also refer the reader to further sources of information.