Narrative methods and analysis can take many forms. There are major disagreements in the literature. Here a straightforward approach is provided. One which will help the reader conduct their own analysis and also read and interpret the analyses of others. Narratives are often derived from narrative interviews and the data that emerges can be messy, partly because stories can be messy. A number of indicators of quality in narrative analysis is provided, from trustworthiness and the co-construction of meaning to the multi-layered nature of stories and contextuality. A straightforward guide to narrative analysis is provided, along with a consideration of narrative coherence, reliability and validity.