Do classes in creative writing improve our skills in technical fields? The presenter says yes! Even for writing reference material, story craft as taught in creative writing provides a set of skills that some highly technical of audiences can recognize as uniquely valuable. Learn what is taught in master classes on story and how the skills we can learn when we take these types of classes can improve what we offer our users as technical writers.
Time and again, the same kind of story arc emerges, in differing cultures and at different times. Recognized and described by Joseph Campbell and also by countless writers who write about writing, it is often called "The Hero's Journey." Some writers think that the human brain is hard-wired to respond to the story arc. A good understanding of story craft can help us organize complex and voluminous information in ways that increase usability and accessibility.
Story craft involves building character, creating drama, and creating an arc that draws an audience along a journey, usually with a protagonist. Though not always obvious, all of the elements of story exist in technical communication. The presenter will involve the audience in discovering how an understanding of story craft and techniques taught in creative writing master classes can improve our technical writing.