Writing coaching: what it is and what it isn't

Below is a transcript of the video.

Hi, and welcome to the channel. I’m Dr Clare Lynch of the Doris & Bertie Writing School and I’m on a mission to help you become a better, more confident, more persuasive writer.  

In this video I want to talk about one aspect of the work I do, which is writing coaching - working one-to-one with a client on their writing. And typically when I’m working with a coachee I give them lots of individual, personalised feedback on how to improve their writing - and ultimately how they can have a greater impact at work.

It's amazing to see how a little bit of one-to-one writing coaching can transform a person’s way with words - not to mention their confidence at work.

But if there's one thing being a writing coach has taught me, it's that, when it comes to writing at work, the writing is never just about the writing. 

Here’s three reasons why.

1. CORPORATE CULTURE = WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Organisations are breeding grounds for bad writing. And when someone comes to me for some writing coaching, I often discover their bad writing habits have been nurtured by their work environment.

It can be hard not to adopt bad writing habits when many of your peers are addicted to overlong, overwordy documents. Or if they think it’s impressive to use a load of corporate jargon like 'leveraging synergies' and 'delivering platforms for excellence'. 

Taking time out with a business writing coach can give you a fresh perspective on your firm’s writing culture and what you can do to perform well in that culture.

In fact, often, my writing coaching is less about giving feedback on someone’s work and more about giving my coachee strategies for defending good writing within their own organisations.

It’s hard, but with the confidence to push back, you can get your ideas across. 

 

2. WRITING COACHING = THERAPY

It takes guts to get a first draft of writing down - whether it's an HR strategy document or a childhood memoir,  a report for the board or the great novel you’ve always wanted to write. 

So a session with a business writing coach can sometimes feel a little like therapy. Because becoming a better (and quicker) business writer, is as much about mastering the emotions we bring to a piece of writing as it is about mastering technique. 

The biggest thing I do for my coaching clients is give them confidence to take a risk by producing a horrible first draft, safe in the knowledge that they can - and should - go back and edit it.

3. GOOD THINKING = GOOD WRITING

Finally, as most of us know, good business writing is clear and to the point. And clear, to-the-point writing requires clear, to-the-point thinking. So most of the hard work of writing is done before you even put words on paper. 

At least it should be. 

Knowing what you want to say, to whom and why, is way more important than mastering every last rule of grammar.

Working with a business writing coach can help you break free of the frustrating and debilitating cycle of fretting about your grammar or worrying about your vocab.

Instead, I usually spend most of my time get my coaching clients to focus on the important stuff.

• Who is their reader?

• What do they want to achieve with this piece of writing?

• Why they need to say what they want to say in this piece?

• Or even whether they need to say it at all.

So that’s three reasons writing coaching - in a business context at least - is never just about the writing.

First, it’s about the writing culture.

Second, it’s about the emotions you bring to your writing

And thirdly, it’s about clear writing starting with clear thinking.

Let me know in the comments, what you thought about this video.

What’s the writing culture like at your workplace?

Do you struggle to write clearly and confidently, in the face of all the pressures of corporate life?

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this video, be sure to give me a thumbs up click that notification bell so you never miss a video and share this video with your friends.  

For more writing advice, enrol in my online course, Writing With Confidence, available at the Doris and Bertie Writing School.

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