5 Unorthodox Writing Tips for Coaches

As a coach, you use your gifts to help other people. You do this by communicating with them.

A large part of that communication occurs when you talk with your clients in real life or over Zoom. However, an increasing amount occurs through the written word in the emails, chat messages, and web copy you write, or even through the information products that you offer.

This means your writing matters. A lot.

In this article, you will learn five ways to become a better and more consistent writer. This will help you improve your virtual communication with clients, grow your coaching practice, and maybe even write that book you've been postponing for years.

In case you want to dive deeper, I’ve also recommended some of the best books on writing for coaches at the end of this article.

Let's get started.

1. Write Without Trying to be Perfect

“Somebody once asked me what my theory of life was, and I said, “don’t try.” That fits in the writing, too. I don’t try. I just type.”

- Charles Bukowski

I have found it works best to just start typing, exactly as I'm doing now.

Make spelling mistakes. Don't think about what you want to write; just let your stream of consciousness flow where it will. The editing will come later.

So why does this technique work?

Letting perfectionism stop us from helping others through our writing is egotistical.

When we're focused on ourselves and what others may think of us, we're not focused on helping others.

If you want to help others and make an impact, it's best to shift the focus from yourself and your (perceived) shortcomings to those you're trying to help.

Instead of asking: “Did I write the perfect article?”

Ask: “Is this article useful to those I'm trying to help?”

2. Write As If You’re Speaking to Someone You Know

“One day, I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”

- Jack Kerouac

The best way to ensure you write clearly is to write how you speak.

It helps to address someone you know and are fond of when you write.

I usually address my kid brother by putting 'Dear Floris' at the top of the page, and then I write as if I were writing him an email.

This trick helps me keep things informal, maximally helpful, and straight to the point (I know his attention span isn't all that, sorry Floris ;-)).

Next time you want to write something, give it a try: Think of a friend or family member and put their name at the top of the document as if you were writing an email.

“Dear [name of person]…”

3. Write a Weekly Newsletter Email

“The best way to write a book is by not writing a book.”

Mark Manson didn't write The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck; he assembled it from the blog articles he had written over the years.

So the book itself wasn't hard work, but the reward of hard work.

If I’ve learned one thing from successful writers, it’s that they all write consistently.

But building a writing habit can be hard, right?

Here's the solution: Write a weekly newsletter.

This weekly newsletter will make you accountable for producing something of value each week.

Even if you only have one person on your mailing list, you'll have written 52 pieces by the end of the year.

You can repurpose these 52 pieces by putting the ones that make sense together in an ebook, a physical book, or even an information product.

Whatever kind of work you want to write, you'll have done yourself the favor of not having to write it. You can assemble it instead as Mark did.

4. Write for a Concrete Transformation

“The best writing causes readers’ breathing to change.”

- Mary Pipher

You want to communicate the benefit(s) readers will get from reading your words as clearly as possible, preferably in your title or headline.

Here's a great book title for you: How to Stay Alive in the Woods

Do you instantly know what the book is about?

Yes.

Do you know what to expect?

Yes.

Will you leave the book on the shelves if you're not interested in staying alive in the woods?

Yes.

Will you grab it and never let go of it if you are?

Yes.

That is what you want to achieve with your writing: you appeal to those it's for and let them know the (desirable) outcome they will get from reading it.

In this article, for instance, the desired outcome is that you will write more and better. I'm also specifically addressing coaches because that is the main audience we currently serve with our companies (PositivePsychology.com and Quenza).

Because of this title...

...coaches who want to get better at writing will read this.

So make sure your headline states a desirable outcome and who it's for.

A friend of mine who's a coach named his online masterclass:

The Virtual Path of The Apostle

Okay, I changed the title to protect his privacy, but it was similarly bad.

It's vague and does not communicate any benefits to the reader at all.

Do you want to read it?

No. No one does.

Therefore, think concrete. Think transformational, think benefits. Think How to Stay Alive in the Woods.

5. Write Naked in Public 

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”

- Mother Teresa

Treat your writing as an experiment, a hypothesis.

The hypothesis is that your piece of writing is engaging, valuable to your readers, and worthy of their time.

Of course, this won’t be true for all your writing, just like not every joke a comedian tells will land well with their audience. That’s why comedians typically go to some smaller nightclubs, try out their material, and see what resonates well with their audience.

You can approach your writing the same way by putting it out there on social media, on a blog, through a newsletter, or simply by emailing it to clients. This will give you a sense of what resonates with those you serve, and you will get better at writing.

If you get positive feedback, good! Now you know you have something of value that you can expand on. A tweet you can turn into an article, an article that you can turn into an ebook, or an ebook you can turn into a video course.

It's easy and safe to keep your writing to yourself. It may be free from criticism, but it can't help and inspire others nor will you have a clue whether it's useful to your readers at all.

I'll lead by example and publish this article now, imperfect as it is. :-)

5 Great Books That Will Help You Become A Better Writer

Here are five powerful books on writing you're going to love:

1. Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher (Goodreads)
2. Sit Write Share by Kathryn Britton (Goodreads)
3. Write Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick (Goodreads)
4. On Writing Well by William Zinsser (Goodreads)
5. Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg (Goodreads)

What keeps you from writing?

I'd love to hear from you and continue the conversation in the comments!