Writing Toward Vulnerability
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Writing Toward Vulnerability
The words of Anne Lamott: sacred writ and practical wisdom.
Two notes before we begin:
I wrote this post about five years ago, but given that my daughter’s wedding was yesterday, I decided to extend myself some grace by accessing the archives and doing some recycling. And yes, wedding pictures coming soon!!
And if you’re keeping track, only 16 days left before my book is published! Eeeeeeee! Learn more and order your copy. Thank you!
OK. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the center of your work. Write straight into the emotional center of things. Write toward vulnerability. Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act—truth is always subversive. ~ Anne Lamott
She’s right, you know. I mean . . . it is Anne Lamott!
If we had found these sentences in some sacred text we would have taken them to be prescriptive advice for exactly what we should do, exactly how we should behave, exactly what is required. No questions asked. So let’s do exactly that. Let’s assume Anne Lamott’s voice to be sacred writ (and practical wisdom) and then follow her advice, her mandate, her template for writing and for life.
Risk placing real emotion at the center of your work (and life).
Write (and live) toward vulnerability.
Risk being unliked.
Tell the truth as you understand it.
When I do these things, or at least attempt them, I’m not always comfortable. Rarely, actually. And for this, I am profoundly grateful. My discomfort tells me I’m onto something. Maybe probably something revolutionary and subversive. When I see the mess and the frustration and the imperfection (in my writing and most-definitely in my life), I recognize that now, finally, I am telling the truth.
Lamott says If you’re a writer you have a moral obligation to do this. As humans we have a moral obligation to do this: to tell our truth. Emotional. Vulnerable. Sometimes even unlikable. Rarely comfortable. And hopefully both revolutionary and subversive!
May it be so.
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A postscript (or prompt): When I first saw the words “write toward vulnerability,” I interpreted them literally, as in writing to vulnerability—a letter, an email, a sonnet, an epistle. ‘Might be worth trying, even if messy, frustrating, imperfect, and unlikable. And revolutionary. And subversive. Mmmmmmmm. Just a thought . . .
Writing Toward Vulnerability
This was right on time for me. Again you have inspired me Ronna!
Oh gosh, I love this. It's definitely and exactly how I've been feeling of late and the themes of my last post and the one that I've had in my head but not been able to write yet. Thank you for your authenticity, vulnerability and truth telling as uncomfortable and triggering as it may be.