Write Now with Chad Mitchell
Today's Write Now interview features Chad Mitchell, author of CHANGE YOUR GAME: EMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS TO DITCH DOUBT, FIND THEIR VOICE, AND IMPACT THE WORLD.
Who are you?
I am Chad Mitchell. I am a husband, dad of six, “Papa” to five granddaughters, and our dog Barley. By day I help lead a law firm in Seattle. At other times, I coach, teach, and work with young people. Whether I am in the office or on the field, I am usually helping someone grow into their potential. I draw heavily on those everyday experiences in my writing, especially in my book Change Your Game: Empowering Young Leaders to Ditch Doubt, Find Their Voice, and Impact the World. Working closely with teens gives me a front-row seat to the power young people have.
What do you write?
As a lawyer, I write just about everything imaginable. Pleadings, outlines, articles, emails, and chapters of legal books, so writing quickly became a daily practice. The first book I wrote in elementary school won the Young Author’s award, and I was hooked. Decades later, that same spark shows up in my newest book, Change Your Game, which is written to help young people recognize the influence they have. My writing explores principles like hope, agency, and integrity. I avoid cynicism and anything that diminishes young people. Change Your Game brings these themes together to offer practical ways for youth to be leaders now.
Where do you write?
I write everywhere but the bathroom, and I am only half joking. At the office, on the couch, in the car, between sporting events, on vacation, and on planes. My writing place changes with whatever role I am in that day. Some of the best pages of Change Your Game came from jotting notes after practice or dictating ideas into my phone on a long drive. I write wherever life happens because that is where the stories are.
When do you write?
I write whenever life gives me space, which often means early mornings, weekends, or at night. I do not follow a set schedule. That is probably why it took me five years to write this book, on top of a couple other things I have going on. I do not set word count goals or rigid time limits. Instead, deadlines and real-life moments guide the pace.
Why do you write?
To inspire and empower our youth and the adults who work with them. I write because hope is powerful, and writing is one way to share hope. When a young person discovers they have a voice, when a parent sees their child as a leader, when someone feels seen because a story connects with them, that is fuel.
Writing helps me discover and stay honest. The themes I teach young people require me to strive to live them. Writing keeps me accountable. Of course, it does not make me perfect. Change Your Game grew directly out of this purpose. It teaches young people that they do not need permission, a title, or many-years-under-their-belt to lead.
How do you overcome writer's block?
I read. I go for a hike. I walk the dog. I read some more. I listen to something. I go to the gym. When I finally have something to write about, and time, I write. Often revisiting a experience from my coaching or parenting life gets me unstuck. Because Change Your Game is built on real experiences, returning to those moments reminds me why the work matters and usually sparks the next idea.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I enjoy being with my family and coaching high school lacrosse. I love exploring nature’s wonders. I enjoy being with and serving others. The ideas explored in Change Your Game come from these ordinary, wonderful moments, watching young people grow, noticing the quiet ways they lead, and seeing small acts of kindness ripple outward for good.
My thanks to Chad Mitchell for today's interview.
