In the final episode of Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister poses a thought-provoking question: “What unites people? Armies? Gold? Flags?” He then answers, “It’s stories. There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.” This sentiment aligns with Steve Jobs’ famous quote: “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.”
For technical writers, this underscores the importance of storytelling in their craft. To truly captivate their audience, technical writers must not only create compelling content but also present it as engaging narratives. To excel as storytellers, they should develop skills in oral communication, body language, visualization, and presentation.
Storytelling is an art
The natural traits of a technical writer are curiosity, listening, and writing. These foundational skills enable technical writers to deeply understand the problems, empathize with customers, attentively grasp solutions, and craft detailed content that benefits the end user. Experienced technical writers have mastered the art of asking powerful questions: how to frame a question, when to ask a question, and how to ask a follow-up question. This helps them to gather precise information that is required to create engaging and informative content.
Writing skills are further honed through practice, such as creating content based on interviews and knowledge-sharing sessions with organizational stakeholders. Experienced writers understand that every word matters. They simplify complex ideas into accessible language while ensuring each word aligns with core principles and enhances their organization's brand value.
However, storytelling requires a different set of traits that technical writers must develop. Unlike written content, storytelling relies heavily on oral communication, which can be outside of the comfort zone of many technical writers. Thus, they need to practice it before mastering it. There is a fundamental difference in articulating written words vs. how they are spoken. Technical writers need to be aware of the nuances in using words that can convey meaning and create engagement while telling the story embedded in their content.
Tips to improve storytelling
- Practice storytelling by participating in events such as tekom conferences, meetups, and other technical conferences. The more you present, the more you build your confidence.
- Focus on building a good story line that is engaging. This can involve setting the scene (context) and evolving the story to talk about your solution or approach to solving that problem. For the extra “wow” factor, you might want to end this story with “how much impact” your solution or approach creates.
- Develop new skills in data visualization and graphic design. This will allow you to create amazing visual presentations that are intuitive, easy to understand, interpretable, and engaging.
- Rehearse your presentation before you present. This helps you to establish a mental flow of information and nail the sequence of your story.
- Establish eye contact with everyone in the audience as it helps to engage and receive visual feedback on your presentation.
Closing remarks
In our digital world where content is abundant but attention is scarce, technical writers must evolve beyond their traditional role. By embracing storytelling, they transform complex technical information into compelling narratives that resonate with their audience. The journey from being a proficient technical writer to becoming an engaging storyteller requires dedication, practice, and continuous skill development. This transformational journey involves mastering oral communication, visual presentation, and audience engagement – skills that may initially feel challenging but are increasingly essential in our field. Technical writing isn't just about conveying information; it's about crafting stories that inform, engage, and inspire. By developing these storytelling capabilities, technical writers can create more impactful content that not only serves its practical purpose but also leaves a lasting impression on their audience.