Over the years, while mentoring writers, I developed a list of questions to help writers focus their ideas and shape them into writing that might then be published as a blog post, an article, or a book. I’ll share a sampling from that list. Some of the questions will bring more clarity to your idea while others will help you create stronger writing that connects well with your readers.

To try on the questions, consider a current writing idea that has come to mind. Then, as a coach who is familiar with the use of questions for processing, notice which of the following offer a foundation for your idea on which you can build and create. Pay attention to other ideas and questions that come up for you.

What is my idea?
What do I know or enjoy about this idea?
What do I hope others will “take away” or learn?
What about it is important to me that I want others to consider?

What form will this idea take?
Will it be a post, an article, or a book? Something else?
What are the different angles of approach (slants) I might take in writing about this idea?
Which ideas seem to excite me the most?

Who is this for?
How well do I know the needs or culture of my reader audience?
What do I need to do to learn more about my reader in order to know them better?
How might I put myself in their place so I can better capture their perspective, needs, or questions?

Why is this idea needed right now?
Is the topic timely and relevant to my reader audience?
If it has already been done, how might I create a unique angle to the topic or discussion?
How will this idea fill a void in what is currently offered?
What about this topic might make my reader say, “Wow!” or, “This is a new way to think about this.”

What are my qualifications to write this?
How is this topic an extension of the passions God has placed in me?
In what ways am I like the audience that I want to reach?
How am I uniquely positioned to bring a fresh angle to this topic?

What is the purpose of this post, article, or book?
What is the overarching, take-away message?
Is it powerful? How might I make it more powerful?
What are some of my subtopics, and how might they inform and strengthen the purpose for this article?
Written in one statement, what is my succinct purpose statement?

What else do I need?
What can I find out about this topic idea that I don’t currently know?
What do I need to do to strengthen the value for my reader?
What other research is needed?
What can I learn from conversing with my target audience?

Keep these questions on hand and add others that prove helpful for you. Use this as a base for creating a tool that you can personalize over time and use when a new idea stirs. You’ll likely begin to notice how the questions weed out weak ideas and strengthen those that are most relevant and powerful for you and your reader.

Play with your ideas, strengthen them, and then don’t stop there. Write!

Enjoy the process!

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com

Here is an example of a quick in-and-out use of dialogue and an overview of a person’s story. I wrote this one as I began a possible chapter for a current book I’m working on:

“I don’t stand still. That’s not how I roll.”

I was life coaching an energetic woman who was oozing with passion and goals to do something that mattered. She was not lacking in creativity or ideas. In fact, sometimes she felt she had more pouring through her imagination than she could ever carry out. She also had appropriate education under her belt and was willing to take on more training—whatever it took. And yet God had her in a place that felt very much like she was standing still.

Whether as a short portion or a more developed narrative, use of story has endless possibilities and can effectively engage our reader audience. Let’s explore a few key tips:

Ten Ways to Begin Using Story

1. Acquire signed permissions from those involved or interviewed. If you cannot get permissions, change or generalize some of the details so that confidentiality is maintained.
2. When interviewing, listen for unique or inspiring angles of the person’s story. This could include difficulties or obstacles as well as victories.
3. Look for the human story—the real, the authentic, and the fallible.
4. Have in mind a key focus question that your story will explore.
5. Decide how much of the story is appropriate for what you will be writing and for the reader audience that you will be addressing.
6. Consider which POV (point of view) would present the strongest story. First person POV uses I/me/we/us. Third person uses he/she/they.
7. If a lengthy story will be used, consider layering in dialogue and setting, and possibly development of the story arc (an advanced concept).
8. Watch chronology. Will you tell the end first and then go back and share the story as it happened leading up to that end? Or will you tell it in the order of the events?
9. Consider how quotes or dialogue can be a powerful inclusion even in shorter uses of story.
10. Plan your conclusion for the story to include a strong take-away for you reader.

Study and Practice, Practice, Practice

Just as fiction includes character, setting, conflict, dialogue, and storyteller point-of-view, so can the true narrative. Developing the technique and craft of each of these requires practice and study. How might you do that?

I mentioned in last month’s post that you can begin to note when the use of story grabs your attention. Study what made it work for you and note the elements that were used. Ask yourself what key question was answered and how the writer concluded the story or transitioned into another section.

You can also learn more about the craft through quality resources. While focused on screenwriting, Story—Structure, Substance, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee is a classic study on the craft of story. At 480 pages, it’s a bit hefty, but if it’s your goal to write story well, include it as a part of your training.

A shorter read (272 pages), recommended by Lynn Vincent at the recent Mount Hermon Writers Conference, is Feature Writing, by William Blundell. The description on the front of the book says, “From initial idea to final self-editing, a step-by-step guide to reporting and writing as a continuous, interrelated process—with an emphasis on storytelling techniques.” This is a new one for me. I’m looking forward to learning from it!

Another new-to-me resource that I downloaded on my Kindle within the last month is, StoryCraft–The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction, by Jack Hart. I like what I’ve read so far.

One last favorite recommendation that I have on my shelf is Writing for Story–Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction, by Jon Franklin, a Pulitzer Prize winner. He has a distinct style and technique that is worthy to consider.

What will you do or read next to develop your craft of writing story?

Wherever you are in incorporating writing into what you do as a coach, keep at it and enjoy the process!

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com

In a recent CCN teleconference, I addressed some of the current trends in nonfiction publishing—what publishers and readers want. One of those trends, that I believe will continue, is story. For the nonfiction writer, this could come in the form of a snappy anecdote or a journey into your own or someone else’s story.

Why Story?

Stories build trust and connection and open up conversation. That has been true from the beginning of time. But it goes even deeper than that for today’s reader. They are looking to story to make sense of what is going on within our current, often-confusing culture.

An editor from Penguin Publishing said this about today’s reader:

“I think people nowadays are assailed on all fronts. They’re busy, they’re overwhelmed by the pace of life, by information. They can’t make out the shape, or the path, or the arc of their own life. Everything is a blur . . . People are looking for some kind of narrative thread, some kind of plot that makes sense that doesn’t feel so formless.”
—Diane Turbide, editor, Penguin Publishing, December, 2011

Restated, our readers live in a busy, overwhelming culture. What they need is connection and grounding through the narrative thread–story that can build a framework to discover meaning for their life.

Story is one way that effectively creates space for discovery and connection. And how well positioned you are as coaches to bring that for them!

The Craft of Storytelling

Story as a craft is more often associated with fiction, and novelists naturally spend much focused time developing skills to tell a good story. But these skills are excellent pursuits for the nonfiction author as well.

In fact, it is very possible that a section of story excerpted from its larger context could be told so well that a hearer or reader would need to guess if it’s nonfiction or fiction. Is it a true account told by a storyteller who has skillfully woven the facts through a creative use of fiction techniques? Or is it fiction written with such factual, researched detail that it seems real? Either way, what we’re going for is compelling storytelling.

Lynn Vincent is a master at the craft of narrative nonfiction. One excellent example is her book Same Kind of Different as Me, written with Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Vincent has the ability to step into the voice of the characters of the true stories she tells. In this book, she alternates chapters in the voice of Denver and then Ron.

Here’s a short excerpt written in the voice of Denver:

Me and Thurman had a room in the back of the house. I didn’t have no proper bed, just a mattress set up on wood boards and cement blocks. I kinda liked it though, ‘cause I had a window right over my head. In the summertime, I could leave the shutters open and smell the warm earth and look up at the stars winkin at me.

Seemed like there was more stars in those days than there is now. Wadn’t no ‘lectric lights blottin out the sky. ‘Cept for the moon cutting a hole in the dark, the nights was just as black as molasses, and the stars glittered like broken glass in the sun. (p. 14)

And then in Ron’s voice:

As I mentioned, I did not start out rich. I was raised in a lower-middle-class section of Fortworth called Haltom City, a town so ugly that it was the only one in Texas with no picture postcard of itself for sale in the local pharmacy. No mystery there: Who would want to commemorate a visit to a place where a shabby-looking house trailer or cars stripped for parts squatted in every other yard, guarded by mongrel dogs on long chains? (p. 18)

What’s Next, Storyteller?

The scaffolding of nonfiction must be research, facts, and reality. That’s a given. But couch that with a well-told true narrative or anecdote and you’ve amped up the creativity and reader connection several notches. It’s also more likely that your reader will remember your key message when they put down the magazine or close the cover of your book.

Which story will you tell? Whether it’s yours or someone else’s, look for the significant life-changing moments: a triumph or a failure, a happy or sad moment, a poignant discovery or a monumental decision. Most great stories also have some point of conflict attached to them. Even if the story you tell will only take up a couple paragraphs, it should be compelling, It should serve the purpose of developing your topic and and connect well to your target reader.

Next month, I’ll delve more into a few techniques and tips for the narrative or anecdotal story. For now, I encourage you to look for examples in the books you love or showing up as anecdotal stories in articles you’re reading. Notice what grabs you and if you’d like, share what you’ve found here.

Until next time . . . enjoy writing!

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com

Let’s look at what it means to add coaching to your current skillset. Coaching has found its way into almost every industry. There are business coaches, wellness coaches, financial coaches, parenting coaches…and the list goes on. I even have a wonderful friend who is a writing coach.

If you are already an expert in a body of knowledge or have a wealth of experience in a particular industry, adding coaching to your line of services might be just what you need to expand your base.

If you are an employee, adding coaching to your skillset might be the professional development boost you need to convince management of your potential. Today’s managers are forced to make tough personnel choices. The broader your skillset the more likely the company can benefit from what you offer, even in a downsizing situation.

On the other end of the “becoming a coach” spectrum is to launch into your own coaching business. It’s part of the great American dream to be your own boss and set your own hours. Then there is the pull to ministry though coaching. The Lord may be directing you to coaching for His purposes.

I’ll be very transparent–starting a new coaching business is not for the faint at heart. While the logistics of starting a coaching business have low entry barriers, it takes more than filling out paperwork, a fancy phone, and a home office to run a sustainable coaching business. I’ve been in the coaching industry since 2008 and have found that most new coaches operate close to the red for the first three years.

The skillset needed to launch a business is markedly different than the skills needed to coach effectively. Some of the biggest challenges are; how to differentiate from other coaches. Most new coach solopreneurs find they must market themselves as an expert in a particular niche in order to attract a sufficient market. Other challenges include how to build a network, how to “sell” coaching services, and how find affordable technical help.

While times are a bit tough, individuals and companies are still spending discretionary income to give themselves the edge they need to move forward. Clearly, the demographics of coaching clients with discretionary income do not seem to be impacted by our current economic state. According to the 2012 International Coach Federation Global (ICF) Study, coaching commands a respectable hourly fee.

Coaches even report optimism about the further growth of the industry. As reported in the ICF Global Study, 77% of coaches in the U.S. expect their income to increase over the next 12 months.

It seems the coaching industry as a whole has not felt the impact of our slow economic times. So maybe it is time to start your coach education, or at least investigate your options. For more information on the coaching industry, check out these videos and links on the CCN website.

Marcie Thomas is a life and leadership coach and is the director at the Christian Coaches Network.

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What ends up remaining? Something quite different than what you or anyone else might write. And that’s a very good thing. What would it be like if all writing landed in exactly the same place?

Boring. Bland. Automated and flat. Wouldn’t you agree?

Your Distinctive Voice

Thankfully God’s unique creation of each of us extends to the expression of who we are, even to the words we put to page. In writing terms, this might be called “voice.” Your writing voice comes out of who you are and the individual way you express your thoughts and personality through the symbols of written language.

In many ways you can’t help but pour who you are into what you write. It flows out of your personality and passions into the words you choose and the way you put those words together. Those words create imagery as well as a cadence and tone that is unique to you—a writing fingerprint of sorts.

Where to Look

It takes a while to identify and develop your writing voice. It’s a process that requires years and watchful patience. You write and write and once a while, delightfully, you notice something special emerging.

But one place you can see glimpses of that voice is in where your coaching and your writing seem to intersect. What similar topics or passions can you identify? And what about the coaching presence you bring to your clients that spills over into how you write to your reader audience?

Notice who you are, what voice you bring to coaching, and then how that voice can shape the way you write. Two more ways to identify your writing voice:

• Review several recent samples of your writing. While you write differently depending on the purpose of the piece or your reader audience, you likely have some fairly consistent markers—in word choice, in tone, in the way you reach out to your readers. What do you notice?
• Listen to what others say about what they sense when they read what you write. If needed, ask a few who would offer an honest perspective. You might be pleasantly surprised when someone identifies what you naturally bring to many situations, including coaching.

How Voice Matters

When you know what you uniquely bring to a writing piece, you won’t settle for stringing words together just to get the job done. You’ll offer your readers an exciting and compelling reason to read past the first paragraph and you’ll keep them engaged. Mostly because you showed up! Your reader meets a real person and there they sense your authenticity.

So keep writing and watch for the voice that is emerging. Be open to how God is leading and honor the voice that he has given you.

If you’d like to strengthen your writing skills to boost the reach of your coaching, watch the CNN newsletters or the CNN website events page for the workshops and mentoring groups that will be offered for 2013, or contact Jan for more information

More posts in this series:

Begin to Dream About Writing
Be a Writer: Next Steps
Be a Writer: Your Unique Offering

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com

What about you?  What is your response to broken resolutions?

While some resolutions are of a one-time nature (“I will have my friends over for a meal this month”),  a lot of resolutions hinge on changing habits.  Do I hear a groan?

I remember when I was baptized.  I had just turned 8 years old (yes, children DO know what it means to follow Jesus!).  Although I really did know that my actions wouldn’t change overnight, I came up out of the baptismal water with the firm resolution to never sin again.  I don’t have to tell you how THAT resolution turned out!  God changes our direction, saves us, washes away our sins, but He does not often change our habits overnight.

God saves us without any work on our part at all except our choice – that’s grace.  But He also is in the process of saving us from sin, from ourselves and the things that hurt us.  That takes BOTH our choice AND our cooperation of working out our salvation.  Here too, we find grace.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure,  Philippians 2:12-13.

We don’t even have the desire to change without God’s grace!  He creates that desire in us, then works in us “to do” it.  Grace again!

Many secular habit-changing ideas exist in the world, and most are very good.  Having determination, looking at the reward, knowing what triggers your objectionable behavior, and substituting an alternative behavior, all are great methods.

But the best place to use those methods is with God’s grace at work in our lives.  How do you do this?  Here are 7 steps:

1.    First, ask God to identify which habit(s)/behavior(s) He wants you to change now.  You may already know this.  If not, He’ll impress you.  One thing about God – He doesn’t usually ask us to change everything at once.  That would be overwhelming.  But He works by multiplication – He and you will change one thing, and then you’ll find that others have been changed, too – that’s grace!

2.    Ask Him for the desire and determination to change this habit.

3.    Talk with Him every single day about this habit.  Morning is best.  Keep letting Him provide the desire to change.

4.    Focus on His Word.  Ask Him for Scripture that you can take with you throughout each day.  Meditate on this Scripture.  Put it into your life.

5.    When you are tempted with your old behavior, run to the security of God.  Repeat your Scripture, talk to God, put your mental focus on Him until the temptation subsides.  This step is where the battle gets strongest.

6.    Keep repeating this sequence and the old desire and habit will die a natural death.

7.    And one more thing:  If you “blow it,” go back to God and begin again!  NEVER give up!

So if you find that some of your resolutions have already been broken at the start of this new year, don’t lose hope!  God wants abundant life for you even more than you want for yourself, and His grace will keep you on track until you reach the finish line.  Go with God!

If you find you need someone to help you walk this path, I can provide personal spiritual coaching.  Email me at:  pastorsherry@reachforthesummit.org.

If scripture teaches humility, then humility must be an important standard of behavior in heaven. If that is so, then God would exemplify the very definition of humility and Jesus would hold to the same standard.

Briefly, using the nativity story as an example, we find proof of God’s humility in His choice of His Son’s birthplace (small and insignificant), his earthly parents (no reputation, wealth or education), the manger delivery room (only the poorest would find themselves thus relegated), and the shepherds (the lowliest occupation).

God further exemplifies humility by entrusting the redemption plan to the helplessness of a baby and the whims of earthly parents. Imagine a champion in swaddling clothes. Would we have done that? Not hardly. We can barely trust our coworkers and close family members with our vitally important stuff. They can’t” do it” or “handle it”  just like we want it.

Jesus also displayed humility by choosing to leave his royal position in order to redeem us. He submitted himself to the lower office of John the Baptist. Being equal with God, He daily submitted to the direction of his Father, not leaning to his own wisdom. He also displayed humility during a Passover meal by washing the feet of his disciples.

But why is humility so important?

Humility is the standard for greatness in the kingdom of heaven. Phil 2:6-11 speaks specifically that Jesus, the son of God, humbled himself to the role and nature of a servant. Because the Greatest humbled Himself to the Least, God would exalt Him to the highest office.

So God has used the criteria of humbleness in order to select those for the greatest assignments. Think of Moses, God choose the meekest to “see” Him. Think of Mary, God choose her because of her humble submission to becoming a societal outcast. Even the Apostle Paul who went from claiming to be the least of the apostles to becoming the foremost of sinners. A great reduction in status as he learned what God was truly requiring of him.

On earth the standard for greatness can be any one of these things: intelligence, salary, title, bank balance, reputation, education, etc. Our standards for greatness have everything to do with achievement or accomplishment.

Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 16:15 He said to them, “…What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

In short, humility is the litmus test for credibility with God. We may find ourselves on the short end of advancement according to earthly measures, or perhaps we may find some level of success on earth, but only if we have walked the path of humility, will we be worthy to stand in the company of heaven’s greatest.

I hope these thoughts spark some deeper investigation into the concept of humility. My prayer for 2013 is that we will all embrace the power of humility and thus glorify God.

Have a Happy New Year!

Let’s look at some of the foundations that can help you create a strong offering. First, a review of a true story.

Recently I interviewed CCN coach, Sandy Marshall. You might have caught the article about her in a recent CCN newsletter under Coaches Making a Difference. I also referred to her in the first of this series of posts on writing. Sandy personally experienced a transition point in her career that began to define new directions for her coaching. This also translated into a viable written resource she could offer her clients. A few things I notice from her experience:

• She took time to take a good hard look her life interests, experiences, and passions.
• She developed a workable coaching model that well represents who she is and what she offers as a coach.
• She then developed a written resource that was a natural and strong fit with her core passions and coaching philosophy.

What you might offer as a written resource—whether in a tri-fold leaflet, an article, or a book—should be a natural extension of who you are as a person and as a coach. The resource will feel right, congruent, and strengthen the existing foundation of your coaching ministry or career. How might you begin to identify your unique offering?

Look at who you are as a person and as a coach

You might already have a good sense of your niche and identity in coaching or you may be just beginning to explore. Take time in this stage. Prayerfully consider who God has created you to be and where he is taking you with your coaching. What are your interests and your unique experiences that are a part of who you bring to a coaching conversation? What passions bring energy to your pursuit of developing yourself as a coach? Consider these and list or journal about what comes to mind.

Develop a coaching philosophy and models unique to your practice

You’ve probably noticed that coaches who are making a difference in organizations and with clients and are well known through their writing have developed unique concepts and models. Three that come immediately to mind are Patrick Lencioni, Tony Stolzfus, and Chad Hall.

Who comes to your mind? Take a look at the coaching resources on your shelf and note what the authors offer. Then alongside the list you developed in the step above, identify and fine-tune what defines your coaching. Consider the biblical and philosophical basis along with who God has created you to be as a person and coach. What consistent needs or questions are coming your way that makes you a unique partner for your clients? What models can you design or strengthen?

Write that resource that is a natural expression of you and your coaching

You’ve done the work to be a coach who is making a unique difference in the clients that God sends your way. Beyond those great coaching conversations, you can now also reach your clients through great written resources. What could you write that would be a natural outflow of who you are what you are already doing in coaching? Consider all the ways you might use writing to augment this resource offering: on your website, as a small brochure, in an article or blog post, as a booklet or even as a book.

In the upcoming monthly posts, I’ll continue to address some of the specifics to consider in the resources you might offer as well as the writing skills you can hone to create the best possible end product.

And if you’d like, join me for the monthly teleconference, Write Your Way to Coaching Success, that will give opportunity to explore the possibilities for your coaching business as well as provide time to look at your specific projects and ideas. The first of these is scheduled for January 24th, 2013. Check your inbox for the announcement or contact me privately.

Keep writing!

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com

New, upcoming coaches frequently find themselves wrestling with how to integrate their faith into their practice. One research study suggests that our faith, regardless of our client’s world view, continues to deeply influence our coaching practice.

Paul Duncan conducted a qualitative survey of a group of Christian coaches some of whom are coaching almost exclusively in the general market. He asked the question: “Do practitioners’ religious beliefs influence their coaching practice?” For coaches in the general market you might not think so, since being a Christian is not necessarily welcomed information.

However, in reviewing Duncan’s research we’ve discovered an interesting dynamic. While pressures in the workplace prevent overt disclosure of one’s personal faith, there was an overwhelming consensus that one’s faith had a significant impact on their coaching practice and in the lives of their clients. Here are some of the ways in which faith influences practice.

Faith in God positively affects the coach’s perception of self-worth. One survey respondent referred to himself as “an agent of restoration…in the sense that I help them to become what they fully can be.” Instead of considering oneself as a professional coach, a Christian is more likely to think in terms of acting on God’s behalf or in obedience to God, which implies having a sense of a higher calling and a greater sense of fulfillment.

Faith in God can positively influence our perception of our clients.  Clients are not simply business relationships, but rather significant individuals created in God’s image. We have opportunities as disciples of Christ–even in a professional setting–to love and to respect and model Christ’s actions toward them. One respondent wrote: “…I have a responsibility to love my clients, not just to…practice coaching techniques on them… .”

Because Christians believe that God has a plan and purpose for everyone, there is a clear expectation that God is working through our coaching in the lives of our clients. One respondent wrote: “…that God has planted in them, a life vision they are meant to discover and fulfill.” II Cor 15:16 of the New International Version states: So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

While not praying directly with clients unless asked by the client, prayer was a part of the preparation for a coaching session. Further there was a sense of God’s presence in the coaching session. One respondent wrote: “…as I’m praying I get some ideas that will be quite helpful.” Another wrote: “…we are there to help people and see things progress and God’s interested in that agenda as well.”

God is the true “change agent.” Traditional coaching teaches us the client is whole, resourceful and creative. The answers lie within the client. Yet the Christian credits God’s enabling role in the change process. One respondent writes: “…I have tremendous faith in people’s ability to change…I see it as a divine enabling.”

The Holy Bible was used as a resource for the coach. They considered Jesus as the ultimate coach and desired to model their approach to humanity as Christ did to his disciples and followers. The study of scriptures imparts wisdom that could be shared with others, whether or not we quote chapter and verse.

Our faith influences the types of questions we ask our clients. As our minds are renewed, we present the mind of Christ in our conversations. Value-laden questions like: “How can you maintain integrity in this trying circumstance? What do you think the higher purpose is?” could “open” new ways of thinking and being for the client.

Duncan’s findings suggests that our religious beliefs can strongly influence our coaching practice even if we are not afforded the opportunity to openly integrate matters of faith into the professional relationship.

Now, that’s not to say that coaches will never experience tension.  There are instances when the coach’s value system could more openly conflict with the client’s. For instance, the client attributes an event to coincidence, while the coach feels God was the master scheduler. The client decides upon an immoral action, while the coach inwardly cringes at the thought.  These situations will arise from time to time, but I would venture they are the exception, and not the rule.

Romans 11:36 of the New Living Translation states: “For everything (our coaching practice, our clients, our future) comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

For upcoming coaches who are struggling with whether or not to coach exclusively in faith or in general markets, this article may help resolve some of the dissonance. You can exemplify your faith in every single coaching conversation; whether it’s through prayer before the session, referencing the wisdom in God’s word, the questions we ask our clients, how you treat your client or how your present yourself.  For experienced coaches who practice in the general market, these findings confirm that we can indeed be “salt and light” and bring our faith into our profession.

All of the quotes in this article can be found in “Examining how the Beliefs of Christian Coaches Impact their Coaching Practice” as found at http://business.brookes.ac.uk/commercial/work/iccld/ijebcm/documents/special6-paper-03.pdf. Paul Duncan’s full dissertation is available by contacting him directly at phrkduncan@blueyonder.co.uk. Marcie Thomas has obtained permission to use quotes from his dissertation.

Marcie Thomas is a Christian life and leadership coach. She is also the director of the Christian Coaches Network, a professional organization of Christian coaches and training institutions dedicated to excellence and promoting the highest of standards in the Christian coaching industry. She is also the pastor of a quaint, rural church in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. You can connect with Marcie at www.christiancoaches.com or marcie@christiancoaches.com.

What if you could make that happen?

What might it look like to step toward that dream?

What would you do first?

What would it look like for you if the dreams and possibilities included being a writer?

In November’s post, I encouraged you as a coach to begin to dream about writing as a part of what you offer within your coaching business or ministry. I told the story of one coach who almost dismissed the possibility. Instead she shifted her perspective and her next steps took her into an adventure with writing that is proving to be rewarding for her and her clients.

When we catch a view of a direction God wants to take us, we have a choice to take intentional steps in that direction. If you’re wondering if God is inviting you into writing as a part of what you do as a coach, take a moment to pray and ask God to show you what it might look like for you. Then consider where you would begin.

Here are a  few ideas to get you started.

Tips for next steps:

Commit to writing regularly.
Set time goals appropriate to where you are with your writing and what you want to accomplish. I suggest writing every day at least for a few minutes and then gradually increasing that time. If needed, start with three times a week, but the key is to schedule your writing time. Get it on your calendar and value and honor the opportunity.

Immerse yourself in excellent writing.
Read books that are similar to what you want to write, blog posts that you enjoy, or magazine articles that inspire you. Note what seems to work for the piece and what you want to begin to try for your own writing.

Explore, learn, and grow as a writer.
In relationship to your writing goals, what do you need to learn? Where are your strengths and your weaknesses? What resources do you need in order to tackle the areas that need growth? A book, a workshop, a mentor, a writer’s group?

In the book category, here are a few recommendations:

An Introduction to Christian Writing, by Ethel Herr
The Productive Writer, by Sage Cohen
Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing, by Mignon Fogarty
Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein (fiction and nonfiction)
On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, by William Zinsser

One more tip (have fun with this one):

When you have a few resources on hand, you can of course read them cover to cover, but to keep the information fresh and applicable to the writing you are doing every day, try this: As a part of what you do to settle into a writing session, pick a writing book off your shelf and turn to a section. Random is okay! Read a few paragraphs and apply what you’ve reviewed to your writing that day.

Enjoy writing!

Jan Kern
Author, Writing Mentor
Life and Leadership Coach, ACC
CCN Professional Member
www.jankern.com
www.courageousmoves.com