Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

Daniel Pink Teaches Sales and Persuasion

David Axelrod and Karl Rove Teach Campaign Strategy and Messaging

David Baldacci Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

David Carson Teaches Graphic Design

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

George Stephanopoulos Teaches Purposeful Communication

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography

Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Nas Teaches Hip-Hop Storytelling

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

President George W. Bush Teaches Authentic Leadership

Robin Roberts Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Roxane Gay Teaches Writing for Social Change

Salman Rushdie Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking

A Documentary by Academy Award Nominee Andrea Nevins

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Principles of Narrative: Concept, Research, and Pitch

Principles of Narrative: The Shoot and the Edit

Finding the Story

How to Approach In-Depth Reporting

Building Trust With Sources

Lessons From Editors

Publishing Secrets

The State of Journalism

Research Methods and Sources, Part 2

Be in the Moment

Ask the Right Questions

Mastering Body Language

Research, Part 1

Research, Part 2

Life As A Writer

Communicating for Television

Prioritize People in Reporting

Hunting Down the Documents

Introduction

What It Takes

Structuring a Documentary Narrative

Sourcing Archival Materials

Shaping Nonfiction Characters

Selecting Interview Subjects

Jump The Chasm

Storytelling for Documentaries

Documentary: Truth in Nonfiction

Making Your Way and Leading With Passion

Shape Compelling Documentary Arcs

Finding Sources

Developing Sources

Learning From Mistakes

Research

Sharpen Truth-Seeking Journalism

The Cowboy and the Queen

Purpose of Drama (Cont'd)

The Audience

Life of a Dramatist

Designing Your Future: Assignment 3

Story and Plot

Structuring Your Novel: Layered Narratives and Other Variations

Finding the Idea

Follow the Words

Visual Storytelling: Cinematic Techniques

Beyond the Pilot: Writing a Series

Conclusion

Case Study: Reading to Children

Case Study: Reading to Adults 

Successful Collaborations With Directors

Character Case Study: "The Pitchman"

Humor and Melancholy

Connect Through Empathy

Meet Your Instructor

Determine How to Tell Your Story

Drawing From Storytelling Traditions

Creating Memorable Characters - Part 1

Closing

Universal Character Tools

The Secret of Secrets

Telling Your Life Story Through Music 

Character

Writer’s Workshop: Common Ground

Tell Stories That Stir the Soul

Battling Your Nerves

Researching Your Opponent

Uncover Truths With Ethical Tenacity

Exercise: Creating a Discussion Map

Scene Case Study: The West Wing

Do Your Preparation 

The Four Cs of Communication 

The Art of Personal Diplomacy 

A Pathway to Politics 

Starting a Campaign

The Campaign Plan

Understanding the Electorate and Targeting Voters

Polling and Focus Groups

Campaign Messaging Case Study

Direct Mail

Supporting Your Candidate

Mobilizing Volunteers

Identifying Influencers

The End of the Race

The Current State of Politics

Parting Words

Use Storytelling on the Campaign Trail

Writing

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

Teaches Poetic Thinking

Joy Harjo

Joy Harjo Teaches Poetic Thinking

Teaches Investigative Journalism

Bob Woodward

Teaches Creative Writing

Margaret Atwood

Lessons from Influential Black Voices

Black History, Black Freedom, and Black Love

Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

David Baldacci

Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Ken Burns

Teaches Fiction and Storytelling

Walter Mosley

Walter Mosley Teaches Fiction and Storytelling

Teaches Writing for Television

Shonda Rhimes

Teaches Writing

James Patterson

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Scripting Your Own Success

Mindy Kaling

Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Billy Collins

Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Teaches the Power of Storytelling

LeVar Burton

Teaches the Power of Storytelling 

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Teaches Screenwriting

Aaron Sorkin

Icons and Their Influences

Talking Shop

Malcolm Gladwell

Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Teaches Game Design and Theory

Will Wright

Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory

Teaches Purposeful Communication

George Stephanopoulos

Teach Developing an Original TV Series

The Duffer Brothers

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Teaches Storytelling and Writing

Salman Rushdie

Judy Blume

Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Amy Tan

Amy Tan Teaches Fiction, Memory, and Imagination

Teaches Writing Thrillers

Dan Brown

Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Issa Rae

Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Michael Lewis

Tell a Great Story

Teaches Writing for Social Change

Roxane Gay

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Guided by Leading Experts

Achieve More With GenAI

Reframe Your Thinking

Ava DuVernay

Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Robin Roberts

As the Editor in Chief of *Vogue* magazine, Anna Wintour presides over the Met Gala and is a fixture in the front row of New York Fashion Week. She is also the artistic director for the Condé Nast media empire, the most powerful woman in the fashion industry, and a role model for business leaders worldwide. Anna’s consistent ability to make important decisions that will shape the media and fashion industries speak to her unique success, one that’s built on vision, creativity, and commitment.
The creative [decision-making](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles) process involves problem-solving and [brainstorming](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/techniques-for-productive-brainstorming) for possible solutions collaboratively and dynamically. As a creative process, the scale of this work may be larger (coming up with new product concepts to please [stakeholders](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/stakeholder-explained)) or smaller (making the final decision on which photograph will accompany an article in a magazine). Either way, the creative decision-making model relies on incubation periods to let ideas simmer and convergent thinking to deduce the best decision possible. Creative decision-making is becoming a standard part of organizational behavior at companies.
Creative decision-making is essential to creative industries like fashion and architecture, but these skills are necessary for all sectors to increase the feasibility of a project’s success. This approach to decision-making can lead to “Eureka!” moments that solidify decisions. Creative people have certain personality traits that promote creative behavior, like strong motivation, curiosity, the ability to collaborate, and openness to new ideas. To build creative decision-making skills, engage in brainstorming sessions and practice making intuitive decisions. 
At *Vogue*, Anna Wintour is the brand’s head decision maker, constantly coming up with and sourcing creative ideas, often under time pressure. See how you can make better decisions for your company with Anna Wintour’s tips for creative thinking skills:

1. __Boldness leads the way__. Brands have to appease audiences and also push their boundaries and expectations simultaneously. “There is always a time when you know you have to break the rule, that times are changing, cultures are changing,” Anna says. “That *Vogue* has to lead the way. One's audience [or] one’s readers may not always instantly be in tune. They might be shocked. They might be upset. They might complain. They might cancel their subscriptions, whatever it may be. But you are leading, you are not following, and that's a very important lesson to always keep in your mind.”
2. __Data is essential, but it’s not the whole story__. Research and analytics can offer insights and tell you what readers or subscribers want to read. “They can help you. They can inform you. They can make you focus on something,” Anna says. “And they can tell you something you probably already guessed or thought. But in the end, the vision, the heart, and the soul, comes from the creative talent that's putting it out there every single day. And your audiences and readers, whoever they may be, will find you because of that passion.”
3. __Own up to imperfect decisions__. Mistakes are part of the creative process, and per Anna, “It's super important to own those mistakes.” For her part, Anna has had to make creative decisions about the cover of *Vogue*, and some have been unsuccessful. “Sometimes it isn't until they're out in the great wide world that you understand what they mean and what they symbolize, whether it's good or it's bad,” she says. “Sometimes. . . you have to run something that you're not so proud of, or maybe you just wanna try something. [It’s the] same with any creative process—you have to make those mistakes.” 
4. __Understand the broader context of your decisions__. A decision is seldom made with only one factor in mind. Creative decisions have to take in cultural contexts and understand their specificities. As Anna says, “It's very important to understand how your work fits into a much larger cultural narrative. What is it that you are trying to say? What are you standing for? Your choices need to balance how you stay true to values and when it's important to break away and confound expectations.”
5. __Work with great people__. People who have knowledge or passions that you don’t can help you in [building a diverse team](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-strong-team). “You are nothing without a good team,” Anna says, which is why it’s essential to build an intelligent and diligent group of people who will push the brand to bring it to new heights. 
Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) for exclusive access to video lessons taught by business luminaries, including Daniel Pink, Anna Wintour, Chris Voss, Robin Roberts, Sara Blakely, Daniel Pink, Bob Iger, Howard Schultz, and more.
The legendary <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"Editor in Chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Editor in Chief</a> of *Vogue* offers creative solutions for sifting through a number of ideas from team members to find the good decisions that’ll put a brand on the right course of action. Learn more about creative decision-making from [Anna Wintour](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/anna-wintour-teaches-creativity-and-leadership).

The legendary <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"Editor in Chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Editor in Chief</a> of *Vogue* offers creative solutions for sifting through a number of ideas from team members to find the good decisions that’ll put a brand on the right course of action. Learn more about creative decision-making from [Anna Wintour](https://www.masterclass.com/classes/anna-wintour-teaches-creativity-and-leadership).

Anna Wintour on Creative Decision-Making: 5 Tips

As the Editor in Chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour presides over the Met Gala and is a fixture in the front row of New York Fashion Week. She is also the artistic director for the Condé Nast media empire, the most powerful woman in the fashion industry, and a role model for business leaders worldwide. Anna’s consistent ability to make important decisions that will shape the media and fashion industries speak to her unique success, one that’s built on vision, creativity, and commitment.

Who Is Anna Wintour?

The legendary <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"Editor in Chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Editor in Chief</a> of Vogue offers creative solutions for sifting through a number of ideas from team members to find the good decisions that’ll put a brand on the right course of action. Learn more about creative decision-making from <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/classes/anna-wintour-teaches-creativity-and-leadership' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/classes/anna-wintour-teaches-creativity-and-leadership","linkCopy":"Anna Wintour","category":null}'>Anna Wintour</a>.

The legendary <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"Editor in Chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>Editor in Chief</a> of Vogue offers creative solutions for sifting through a number of ideas from team members to find the good decisions that’ll put a brand on the right course of action. Learn more about creative decision-making from Anna Wintour (https://www.masterclass.com/classes/anna-wintour-teaches-creativity-and-leadership).

Study Journalism & Reporting