When Your Best Writing Feels Terrible: Understanding Shame, Vulnerability, and the Creative Process

Send us Fan MailToday, 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 Highlights2:32: Defining Vulnerability3:54: Uncertainty, Risk and Emotional Exposure in Storytelling5:24: When Your Work Isn’t Vulnerable Enough7:03: Crafting Compelling Scenes 8:15 When Your Writing Is Too Raw 10:56: What Do Your Readers Really Want15:00: The Most Important Question to Ask Yourself 18:11: The Secret Reason You Think Your Writing SucksResources for this Episode: The Fawning Trauma Response with Ingrid Clayton Building Better Memoir Scenes: https://janefriedman.com/building-better-memoir-scenes-with-lisa-cooper-ellison/Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Ditch Your Inner Critic: https://lisacooperellison.com/subscribe/Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedInProduced by Espresso Podcast Production