My Style
The Four C’s of Coaching
Compassionate
After 25 years in education, I know that writing does not come easily for many people. I’ve found that the best approach I can take with someone who may struggle with self-expression and getting ideas down on a page is to be compassionate – to meet the person where they are and assure them that I am on their side and am there to help. What does Compassion look like in a meeting about writing? Getting to know you and developing a relationship, asking questions, listening carefully, responding thoughtfully, and providing reassurance that your ideas are great and that your words matter.
Conversational
My former colleagues, students, and their parents will tell you that I love to talk to people and learn what makes them the unique individuals they are. When we first start working together, I will take the time to get to know you through conversation, and in doing so, you will get to know me as a person, as a mentor, and as a writer. The better we know each other, the easier it will be for us to develop a rapport and a working relationship that will allow for constructive brainstorming, idea-sharing, paragraph generating, and ultimately, completing the “assignment” before you.
Collaborative
Many people see writing as a lonely endeavor – just you, a blank piece of paper (or screen) and a pen (or keyboard), and your ideas. That loneliness can create doubt in your abilities to express yourself and the words you choose to do so. When writing is collaborative – meaning you have someone on your side to bounce ideas off of, when you have someone who can help you create a structure given your purpose and audience – writing can actually be fun, energizing, and rewarding. Collaborating can also build your confidence in your skills, and most importantly, your voice, because my goal is to assure you that your words matter.
Creative
I look at most writing assignments as an opportunity to express creativity, whether it is through structure, word choice, or the depth of ideas. Both sides of our brains have the capacity to work together to create a brilliant piece of writing. On the surface, many school and job-related writing assignments are based on analysis, idea sharing, or fact-finding, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be creative in the presentation of that information. Creativity allows your brain to look at your subject in a different way. Creativity allows you to think out of the box. Creativity allows you to reach your reader in ways you may have never thought possible.