3 Reasons Why Vulnerability Matters in Memoir
You might have read that title and thought, Um, of course vulnerability matters in memoir. I don’t need an editor to tell me that. But here’s the thing: It’s easier to talk about vulnerability than it is to actually write with it. Writing with vulnerability can feel scary and hard and insurmountable. But it’s not impossible. And when you can clearly articulate why vulnerability is so important, you might find it easier to write with that authenticity. (Let’s play a game and see how many times I can use the word vulnerability in one blog post. In just this one paragraph, I used it four times.)
You are the heart of your story.
Again, you may be thinking that this is obvious, but in the throes of writing, it may be hard to remember: You are the protagonist of your memoir, you are the heart. Without your heart, your memoir will be forgettable. Your reader picked up your memoir for you, not for the deflections. By unguarding your heart, you will also unlock your story in a tangible way that will attract your readers and allow them to genuinely connect with you.
Your vulnerability reflects back on your reader.
Vulnerability in memoir not only allows your reader to connect with you, but also to connect with themselves. When you bravely step into authenticity, you invite your reader to do the same in her own life, with her own story. Vulnerability empowers everyone, including (and maybe most especially) your reader. When you write with emotional authenticity, you open your story to more than just what happened. Your reader will see the universality of your experience and find connection there. Write authentically for yourself—and for your reader.
Vulnerability = Authority
You’re writing for a purpose, right? You want your readers to care about what your words, right? Vulnerability is the key to making your reader care. When you write with vulnerability, you empower your words and your message. Allowing the reader access to your heart allows them to believe you and trust you. And when your reader cares about you, they’ll care about your message.
I know that writing vulnerably requires so much from you as the writer. And know that your honesty and authenticity matters. Trust me. You’ve got this.
*I used vulnerability only eleven times. I’m pleasantly surprised.
