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Today, we’re diving into a topic that trips up so many writers—vulnerability. How much should you share? When does honest writing become oversharing? And why does your most powerful work sometimes feel like it completely sucks? If you’ve ever been told your story isn’t raw enough—or that it’s too raw—you’re not alone. In this episode, I’ll break down the two extremes writers fall into, share a framework for finding the right kind of vulnerability, and show you how to use uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure to create stories that feel true, resonant, and safe for both you and your readers.

Episode Highlights

• 2:32: Defining Vulnerability
• 3:54: Uncertainty, Risk and Emotional Exposure in Storytelling
• 5:24: When Your Work Isn’t Vulnerable Enough
• 7:03: Crafting Compelling Scenes 
• 8:15 When Your Writing Is Too Raw 
• 10:56: What Do Your Readers Really Want
• 15:00: The Most Important Question to Ask Yourself 
• 18:11: The Secret Reason You Think Your Writing Sucks

Resources for this Episode: 

• The Fawning Trauma Response with Ingrid Clayton 

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Produced by Espresso Podcast Production