The Secret Life of the Steady Green Writer
Wrapping up my DISC series with the empathetic, steady green-energy writers. Reflecting on what I’ve learned about adapting feedback, connection, and growth.
“I don’t really feel like sharing my work yet.” Those were the first words one of my green-energy writers said to me. Every week, she’d quietly head straight into the Flow Void—a distraction-free area in the Writers’ Workshop that the kids created themselves. No cameras, no talking, no flashy lights—just quiet focus, surrounded by others doing the same. It was the perfect haven for this green writer. And it still is!
For weeks, she immersed herself in her writing, offering small glimpses of her interests during reflections: encouragement for someone exploring mythology, praise for a fantasy world a peer was building. I stored those details, waiting for the right moment. One day, I introduced a mythology-themed writing prompt, and her eyes lit up.
“That reminds me of my story,” she said quietly. That was my in. I asked questions, eager to understand her world, and learned that she was an expert on mythology and fantasy creatures. From that moment, I made it my mission to celebrate her strength. I started calling her our “resident mythologist,” encouraging others to seek her insights. Slowly, she opened up—sharing her work with me first, then with the group. And now she is one of the most grounded and trusted members in the group.
Green-energy writers like her thrive on trust, encouragement, and meaningful connections. They might start off quietly in the background, but with the right environment, they become essential contributors, deeply enriching the writing community.
Green-energy writers stand out in their quiet strength, often misunderstood for what they’re not. They may seem less assertive than red-energy writers, who charge ahead with big ideas and bold decisions, but greens bring a steady, nurturing presence that builds harmony within the writing community. Unlike yellows, who thrive on the buzz of having many friends and endless conversations, greens focus on building a few deep, meaningful connections.
Where blue writers might struggle with perfectionism, caught up in getting every detail just right, greens often get stuck when asked to share their opinions or take a stand. Their hesitance doesn’t come from a lack of ideas—it’s rooted in their deep concern for others. They’re often worried that voicing their true feelings could offend or disrupt the peace, even when their perspective is invaluable.
Greens may not always take the spotlight, but their empathetic, collaborative nature makes them the heart of any writing community. Curious to see how they compare with other DISC profiles? Check out my posts on Red Writers, Blue Writers, and Yellow Writers to explore the differences.
How to Spot a Green Writer
Does your child lean toward green energy? Green-energy writers bring a steady, thoughtful approach to their craft. Here are some key traits to help you spot a green writer:
Steady and Reliable: They show up consistently, ready to work quietly and with purpose. You can count on them to stay committed to their projects, even over the long haul.
Empathetic and Supportive: They’re the first to cheer others on with kind words and encouragement. However, they often hold back on offering criticism—even when it’s constructive.
Collaboration in the Background: While they shy away from the spotlight, they love contributing behind the scenes, supporting others, and ensuring success from the wings.
Deep Thinkers: Green writers create emotionally rich, layered work designed to connect deeply with their audience. They often excel at character development and naturally grasp how to show emotions in their writing. Pairing their interests with social activism or other passions can spark their love for writing.
Loyal to Familiarity: Greens are drawn to routines and safe, stable environments where they feel at ease. Familiarity helps them focus and thrive.
Need for Thinking Time: They prefer to reflect before making decisions, needing time to process and approach tasks with clarity and intention.
Process-Oriented: Greens savor the journey of learning and growth, often tackling projects at a slower pace to fully immerse themselves. One of my green writers has been working on the same project for over a year, remaining 100% committed, while others might have moved on. However, they sometimes need an external deadline to help them cross the finish line.
By recognizing these traits, you can better understand how to support and nurture your green writer’s strengths and unique approach to storytelling.
Gentle Green Reminder: It’s important to remember that everyone is a blend of all the DISC styles, but we naturally lean toward certain preferences. For children, these preferences are even more fluid than they are for adults. Unlike adult profiles, a child’s style evolves more as they learn, grow, and experience new things. Your green-energy writer might shift, adapt, and incorporate traits from other styles over time, and that’s part of what makes this journey so exciting to witness and support!
What Motivates Green Writers?
Green writers thrive in environments that emphasize emotional security, meaningful connection, and gentle encouragement. Here’s what fuels their creativity:
Safety and Stability: They flourish when they feel emotionally secure and supported, which helps them focus on their work without distractions.
Collaboration Without Pressure: Greens love working with others but prefer roles that allow them to stay behind the scenes rather than taking center stage.
Meaningful Work: Projects that align with their values or tap into topics they deeply care about ignite their passion and drive.
Recognition of Their Strengths: Celebrate their unique abilities—like calling them the “mythology expert” or the “dialogue queen.” These affirmations boost their confidence and encourage them to share more of their work.
Community and Belonging: They thrive in environments where they feel like part of a supportive team, surrounded by like-minded peers.
Respectful Feedback: Greens need feedback that is kind, constructive, and delivered with care. Their sensitivity to criticism means they’ll respond best to guidance that emphasizes growth without diminishing their efforts.
By creating an environment filled with trust and encouragement, you’ll empower green writers to create deeply meaningful, emotionally rich work while building their confidence and sense of belonging.
Challenges to Watch For
It’s often said that our greatest strengths can also be our greatest weaknesses, and this is especially true for green-energy writers. Their empathy, thoughtfulness, and steady nature make them invaluable, but these same traits can sometimes create hurdles:
Reluctance to Take Risks: Green writers often play it safe to avoid failure. They can be hesitant to experiment or push boundaries, worrying that mistakes might reflect poorly on them. Help them reframe mistakes as valuable learning opportunities and part of the creative process.
Hesitance to Assert Themselves: Greens may struggle to advocate for their ideas or give constructive feedback to peers, preferring to avoid potential conflict.
Overextending Themselves: Their people-pleasing tendencies can lead to saying “yes” too often, which may result in burnout. Boundary setting and prioritizing their energy for projects and tasks that truly matter to them is a game changer.
Resistance to Change: Greens love stability and routines. Unexpected changes or unstructured tasks can leave them feeling anxious or adrift. Our greenies need reassurance and help to break transitions into manageable steps.
Struggles with Goal Setting: The pressure of setting goals can feel overwhelming for green writers. Rigid timelines might make them feel pushed or anxious, leading to avoidance.
By being mindful of these challenges, you can help green-energy writers feel supported and guide them in channeling their strengths into meaningful growth instead of catastrophizing failure. For example, recently, a green-energy writer who was deeply empathetic wrote a beautiful essay about a social issue important to her. Her work connected with readers on an emotional level, but she hesitated to include her personal opinions. When I asked her what was stopping her from sharing her opinion on the subject, she said, “I don’t want to upset anyone.” That hesitation struck a chord with me because, as a green-energy writer myself, I know how daunting it can feel to risk disagreement. Greens are motivated by harmony, but sometimes, they need gentle encouragement to share their voice, even if it risks disagreement. Helping them see that their opinions can create meaningful dialogue—and not just conflict—can be empowering.
How to Encourage and Support Them
How to Encourage and Support Them
Supporting green-energy writers is all about creating a safe, nurturing environment:
Celebrate Their Strengths: Find their unique talent—whether it’s their knack for dialogue, their deep knowledge of a subject, or their emotional storytelling—and make it known. Highlighting their skills builds their confidence and helps them feel valued.
Provide Stability: Greens thrive in structured, predictable environments. Let them know what to expect, and stick to consistent routines when possible. This helps them feel secure and supported.
Encourage Collaboration: Greens shine in behind-the-scenes roles. Invite them to share their expertise or contribute ideas without the pressure of leading the group. They’ll feel empowered knowing they’re an important part of the team.
Gently Challenge Them: Use “we” language to encourage growth. For example, “What if we added a touch of emotion here?” This approach helps them feel supported rather than criticized and makes growth feel collaborative.
Acknowledge Their Process: It can take time for greens to feel comfortable sharing their work. Be patient and focus on building trust. Once they feel secure, their contributions will shine.
Set “Soft” Goals: Greens can struggle with setting concrete goals, as they often feel pressured by rigid timelines. Use softer language to make goal-setting less intimidating. For instance, instead of asking, “When will you finish this chapter?” try, “When would you ideally like to finish this chapter by?” This phrasing takes the pressure off while still helping them work toward completion.
I’ll be honest: giving feedback to green writers tugs on my own little green writer heartstrings. Green writers connect so deeply with their work that they often see it as an extension of themselves. Feedback can feel personal—like an attack on them, rather than their writing.
Here’s how I approached it with one of my green writers: I started by asking, “What are you most proud of in this piece?” That’s my no-criticism zone. I’ll never touch the part they feel most connected to. Instead, I’ll say, “In order to make that part stand out even more, maybe we could add some emotion to make the dialogue pop.”
Framing feedback as a way to elevate what they already love helps green writers feel less defensive and more open to growth. It’s about showing them you’re on their side and that your goal is to make their work shine.
Common Misconceptions About Green Writers
I’ve conducted enough DISC feedback sessions now to see the same misconceptions about green writers pop up again and again:
"Greens aren’t ambitious"—This couldn’t be further from the truth. Greens are incredibly driven when they’re working on something meaningful to them. Their focus and commitment might be quieter than a red or yellow’s energy, but it’s no less powerful.
"They avoid leadership"—While greens might shy away from the spotlight, they are exceptional behind-the-scenes leaders. They create harmony, foster collaboration, and nurture environments where everyone feels they belong.
"Greens are too quiet"—Their calm and thoughtful presence often hides deep wells of creativity and insight. When greens feel safe and supported, they can take on traits that look more yellow—they’ll share more, collaborate more openly, and even take the lead socially. Many parents initially assume their child is yellow because they’re chatty and social in familiar, supportive environments. But upon closer reflection, they realize those behaviors stem from a green child feeling safe enough to express themselves fully.
When I first learned that I was a green-energy writer, I doubted myself. I had bought into these misconceptions, too, especially the idea that greens can’t lead effectively. I remember reading Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson (highly recommend by the way) and thinking, I’m not bold or assertive like a red. I hate risks, I avoid conflict, and I like to keep things safe—how could I ever be a thought leader, a writer, or a coach?
I was falling into a green vortex spiral, and I needed out! But creating the Writers’ Workshop showed me how wrong that was. Greens lead differently. We’re not about charging ahead or taking over a room, but we are about building spaces where others feel empowered. The culture of trust, safety, and collaboration at Writers’ Workshop? That’s green leadership in action. If you’ve ever felt like you “just belong” in a group, chances are there’s a green working quietly behind the scenes to make it happen.
Writing can be an excellent place for greens to practice leading, communicating, and connecting deeply. Greens might not be loud, bold, or flashy, but their strengths run deep. Their ability to create safe spaces, foster meaningful connections, and lead with empathy is invaluable—in writing, in the community, and life.
Green-energy writers embody a quiet strength, bringing empathy, thoughtfulness, and a deep sense of connection to everything they create. They might not be the loudest voices in the room, but their impact resonates in ways that are deeply felt and lasting.
As I wrap up this DISC series, I want to be clear—by no means do I consider myself an expert. This journey started as a personal reflection, a way for me to process and document what I’ve been learning about DISC and how it applies to the incredible kids I work with. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring hundreds of young writers, and you start to notice patterns in how they communicate, create, and connect.
The truth is, I try not to put anyone—kids, adults, or families—into a box. DISC isn’t about labels; it’s about understanding. When I notice a writer, client, or student’s communication preferences, I adjust my own approach to better suit their style. It’s a small shift, but it can make a world of difference in feedback, collaboration, and building trust.
This series has been as much about me learning and reflecting as it has been about sharing my insights. My hope is that it sparks reflection for you, too—whether it’s about your child, your students, or even yourself. Thank you for joining me on this journey of discovery, connection, and growth.
For more insights into DISC, I recommend the following books.
Taking Flight Master the DISC Styles to Transform Your Career,
Your Relationships...Your Life by Merrick Rosenberg & Daniel Silvert
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman