Last night, we had a great stream that sparked a lengthy and heartfelt discussion about vulnerability in poetry. It was such a rich conversation that I thought it would be great to bring it to the forum for everyone to jump in.
Vulnerability is at the core of many powerful poems. Writing honestly about our deepest feelings and experiences can create a strong connection with readers. However, it also comes with its challenges. How do we balance being raw and honest in our work while protecting ourselves from potential emotional harm?
Let's talk about the different aspects of vulnerability as poets. Here are a few points to get us started:
Writing Honestly: Sharing your true feelings and experiences can make your poetry more authentic and relatable. What are some techniques you use to tap into your emotions and write from the heart?
Protecting Ourselves: While it's important to be open, we also need to safeguard our mental health. How do you handle writing about traumatic experiences? Do you have any strategies to prepare yourself before diving into such topics?
The Power of Vulnerability: There's something incredibly powerful about exposing your true self through poetry. How has being vulnerable in your writing impacted you and your readers?
Vulnerability in poetry can be both cathartic and daunting. Let's share our experiences, tips, and thoughts on navigating this delicate balance. How do you embrace vulnerability in your work, and what advice would you give to fellow poets who might be hesitant to open up?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
I find myself writing very raw and gritty poems expressing things that some might find uncomfortable, but coming from a mentally ill standpoint, I have no governor on myself. I try to be transparent and see-through. Otherwise, I find myself having to grapple with me in order just to remain balanced and focused! I’ll start with the worst, read it over and over and over, change it, read it over, change it some more, maybe put it away and come back to it. I cannot not be truthful because that’s not me. I think a good barometer for one’s consideration of what one writes is: can you put it out there and go to sleep at night knowing some will dislike and disagree with you? If so, then that might be a way of determining if what you’ve written might have value. You have to be comfortable with what you write, even the nasty stuff. However, another consideration is: who will read what you write? If it’s only adults and no children will get near it, that’s one thing. If, however, children might be exposed to it, do you wish to be responsible for penning something that might cause undue and unwarranted stress? I think there’s a fine line that each of us must assess with clarity, integrity, and a strong sense of ourselves and the effects we might have on others. It’s a tightwire. No easy solutions are had. I think one’s constitution as a person also comes into play. Vulnerability is one of those uncertain variables that affects one’s spirit, self-worth, judgment, and ability to stand up to brutal criticisms and unwavering attacks. Yes, it can be very cathartic and I can’t stress enough the importance of writing out your truth, no matter how ugly, deadly, and unpublishable!!!!!!!!!! It’s FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whether or not you decide to share it is a matter of personal conscience, fear, timidity, etc. No one’s perfect and has every right to write h/his truth! If it’s a matter of keeping it to yourself, by all means do so!!!!!!!!!!!! The world only has the right to view what you choose to share, as long as you do it in good faith and with the understanding that it is what it is and may not be received in a favorable light! You, alone, are responsible for what you share. Take ownership and stand behind your work because you’re your only advocate! This is an EXCELLENT THREAD and one in which EVERY WRITER can offer some thoughts because it’s an underlying gravity that goes along with the territory.