Do you dream of writing the great American novel? Do screenplays, short stories, or magically crystalline verse tickle your fancy? Do you ache to cast off the restrictions of your job in technical communications and unleash the savage beast of creativity within you?

Did you know that Robert M. Pirsig, author of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” once labored as a technical writer? Did you know that Sharon Short, author of four mystery novels and a humor columnist for the Dayton Daily News, was formerly a technical writer for Lexis-Nexis? Maybe you dream of following their example. Maybe there is an intermediate step that doesn’t require you to cast off the safety net of a regular paycheck.

STC-SWO is launching the Creative Writing Special Interest Group (SIG). That title is used for convenience of reference only, not to define the scope of activity of the group. It is especially not meant to imply that creativity is not employed in technical writing or any of the other tasks we toss into the technical communications basket.

This SIG is meant to provide mutual support and stimulation to those members sharing an interest in “Writing Outside the Box of Technical Communication.” Under that title, our January 2003 chapter meeting featured Jeffrey Marks, Senior Technical Editor at Intrieve, Inc. and a member of STC-SWO. Jeff described the processes of writing and publishing his novels and non-fiction books.

The intense audience interest suggested that there are a number of chapter members who are interested in a Creative Writing SIG.

I volunteered to organize the SIG, so I ask all of you who are interested to contact me at hfox@juno.com or 937-275-1622. Please suggest meeting times, dates, and locations. Indicate dates you will not be able to attend meetings. I will determine the best meeting time, date, and place from that information and announce the organizing meeting.

Harold Fox