The Power of Vulnerability in Writing

To write our stories in a real way, means we need to become vulnerable.

Sometimes we’ve looked at vulnerability and seen it as a weakness in ourselves and in others. Showing our true selves in our writing – and in real life – requires courage.

It’s only when you are brave enough to explore those hidden places that you will discover the power of your own light in your writing.

The truth is each of us experience many different emotions each day of the week. If someone were to write your story, what would they put on the page?

Think about your lowest point and your best moment. I know it’s scary to go that deep, but if you want your stories to have power, you have to choose to be vulnerable. You have to be willing to bring those emotions and experiences onto the blank page.

Being willing to bring raw and real emotions in your story is what will carry your story to the end and leave your readers with a lasting impression. If you can make someone cry, laugh or ache, you will have done the important work of a novelist. You will have made your readers feel.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

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Be Brave in Your Writing

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” Ernest Hemingway

I think as writers, we’re sometimes afraid to let people know that we feel as deeply as we do. I know many times I’m tempted to write half-truths for fear of being judged.

But, this is where you get to choose what kind of writer you’re going to be.

If you really want to write your story that is unforgettable, you have to be willing to go deep.

Think of your favourite novels or other stories, and ask yourself why did you love them? Was it because those stories revealed real, deep, and raw emotion?

For myself – as a reader – I love it when stories make me laugh or cry. Or when I can hear all the angst, hope, passion, love, despair, shame and anxiety in the story. It draws me in.

As writers we need be willing to go toward the subjects that scare us most.

I’ve been learning as I’ve been writing this next book that if a scene or specific part of the story doesn’t make me feel, then I know I need to explore more and go deeper to pull out those nuggets or parts of the story that do.

I’ve discovered that when your writing scares you a little, it’s a sign you’re bringing the real you – warts and all – onto the page.

When you begin to worry what other people will think – because what you’ve written is so real – most often that’s the writing that will affect people the most. The only way to accomplish that is by going to your most vulnerable places.

As a writer you put in long hours – early mornings and late nights – as you work to finish your story. Months can go by, and many people start to question why you’re doing this. You might even have moments where you ask yourself if all your hard work will be worth it.

This is also a place of vulnerability.

At some point, as you keep writing, your story becomes a part of you. You start to dream it and the raw emotions of the characters come alive. 

You begin to believe that just maybe someday your story will make a difference to a reader somewhere.

When you finally type ‘the end’ you are excited and scared all at the same time. In your heart, you believe you’ve written your story with vulnerability and you know the tears and laughter your words have brought you, and you hope it will do the same for others.

Next, is the scariest part of all. Publishing your work.

It requires a massive amount of courage to put your book – the words that are a part of you – out into the world.

You know that there will be people who won’t like your book and some who will leave a nasty review. But, there will also be some readers who will love it.

Writing your book with vulnerability and putting it out into the world, asks that you do it with courage.

But as someone who creates art – as a writer – this is what you do. You are brave. By writing your story you are being vulnerable. Telling your raw story, is no small feat. 

If you’re unsure about whether you should write about a specific part of your story, or if you’re on the fence about writing something, activate your courage and vulnerability.

It’s not easy to write from that very real and honest place that asks you to dig deep into some of those parts of yourself that you’d rather keep hidden. But it’s the only way you can truly have a powerful story that impacts many readers.

Be brave. You can do this. The world is waiting for your words.

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