By Holland Webb @WebbHollandLyle

Have you heard of Anne Lamott, author of the writing classic Bird By Bird? She’s famous in writing circles for her unique and inimitable voice on the page. When talking about writing from deep places in our souls, Anne had an unusual take: When people shine a little light on their monster, we find out how similar most of our monsters are.

She’s not the only one to have a pet monster in the dark. The Book of Job in the Bible frequently mentions two monsters, Leviathan and Behemoth, which exemplify chaos. These animals — who oppose God — are described as coming “from the deep.”

When I talk about exploring the deep places of my soul, I tend to think of the treasures I assume are buried there, not the monsters who might make their home in my darkest spots. I want to share the good things I’ve mined in the dark with others and ignore the trolls.

Candidly, though, good things aren’t all that’s to be found in dark, deep, and vulnerable places. Monsters also live there, and despite the evil they do, they can help us write life-changing works for other people.

Let’s look at what it takes to write from deep, vulnerable places.

Why is it important to write about vulnerable places?

It’s challenging to write about those times we feel defeated. It can be hard to know what to say. It can be scary to share some of our deepest thoughts and feelings with a broader audience. But that’s when it matters most.

Telling our stories is one way we tell each other that we’re not alone and it helps us see that there are people who understand what we’ve been through and have made it out, too. The Bible is full of vulnerable stories. All its heroes, except Jesus, are flawed people, and the writers of the scriptures don’t gloss over those flaws.

Those flaws make the Biblical characters much more helpful. For instance… Isn’t Sarah more relatable because she doubted God than she would be if she had served only as a paragon of certainty?

How do you get started writing about your vulnerabilities?

Is writing about your vulnerabilities as easy as sitting down and typing them out? For me, the answer is a hard No!  I suspect I’m not alone, and for many other writers, it’s a lot more difficult than that.

The first step is to identify what you want to write about. It could be something specific like a difficult family situation or something broader such as how you deal with anxiety or depression.

Next, take some time to think about why this piece matters to you. What would happen if no one read it? Would it make any difference in your life if people didn’t react the way you expect? What do you hope someone will take away from reading this?

Finally, what are some fears you have about posting this piece online? Is there anything legitimately holding you back from sharing your vulnerability with others?

How do you protect yourself (or others) when sharing deeply?

Just because you have a story to share, doesn’t mean you should share it. Or should you share everything that’s happened to you? What if sharing your story hurts someone else?

I can’t answer those questions for you. I can only give you three maxims I use when sharing deeply.

The first is drawn from the world of addiction recovery. Step nine of the 12 steps of recovery says, “We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” Would my story injure me or others? If it would, then I don’t tell the story.

The second is another Anne Lamott saying, “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” You don’t have to protect people who harmed you. You can if you choose to do that, but you don’t have to. That said, before I wrote about a situation that might expose a living person, I’d spend some time talking with my counselor — and maybe a lawyer — before I did it.

The final point comes from Bryan, the CEO of a publisher I work with. He says, “We don’t publish hit jobs.” If your book, story, or devotional is a veiled hit job on someone you just don’t like, then it’s probably wise not to publish it. That’s not writing from the depths, even if try to convince yourself it is.

Where do you go from here?

Writing from your vulnerable places gives you a sense of freedom. You are able to say what you want without feeling judged or threatened. It’s a way to release all that pent-up stress in a healthy way.

Publishing what you write is a different thing. Exposing your monsters might be cathartic for you, but will it injure you or others if you share it? In general, sharing your vulnerability with others makes them feel like they’re not alone in their struggles and they know they have someone who understands them. If you feel like your piece might not be ready for readership — or you aren’t ready for others to read it — it’s okay.

Take care of yourself. Don’t use your platform to launch strikes against others. But don’t be afraid to shine a light on the monsters either. When the light shines in the darkness, treasures sometimes appear, too.

Holland Webb is a full-time freelance writer and editor whose clients have included High Bridge Books & Media, Sweet Fish Media, Compose.ly, and RedVentures, and his articles have appeared in Focus on the Family, Influencive, Devozine, and Keys for Kids. With his friend Carlton Hughes, Holland co-authored Adventures in Fatherhood: A Devotional. Almost 20 years ago, Holland adopted two boys, both now grown, and he recently married for the first time at age 45.