Public writing is vulnerability on steroids

Because what if someone reads what you write in the wrong way?

Hi,

I received the most heartfelt response to my latest email about how feelings of brokenness is actually overwhelm and burn-out in disguise. I can’t link you the email because it was sent in private (hint* be sure to put your email address below if you aren’t already on my list…)

If you’ve been here for a bit you know that I am pro-private emails because they carry an entirely different energy and way of connecting with your audience than the public pieces do.

(That said… You can’t avoid public shares if you wish to get the private list in first place…)

I didn’t fully realise the difference until after I joined Substack a couple of years ago and suddenly found myself in the juggle between the private newsletter style that I had been used to in my near 10-year art career and the public articles (which energetically felt more like a blog and social media?).

Ps. I’ve written more about the distinction and usage of the two in this analysis here

Different energies… WTF Elin?

Yes, because when you write from a pov of one to many, your wording, your structure, YOUR ENERGY is different.

You will unconsciously be more harsh on yourself, set the bar higher (because even if we know logically that we can edit and archive a publicly posted piece of writing… the BODY doesn’t get it).

It will require more energy and time because the likelihood of you revisiting and re-reading your own essay is about 99.9% (haha I dare you to tell me otherwise 🤭), which ultimately leaves the editing-loop open for endless debate.

A privately sent email on the other hand, is a one-go-flow.

Once it’s sent, your body is forced to exhale, let to and move on because you literally cannot do anything about it no matter how badly you’d like to. It’s impossible to revisit the potential wound (read: misspelling, wrong link, or just generally messed up wording…).

Furthermore…

Public writing means visible external metrics, which at its core is the same as external noise ready to hijack your inner knowing.

When you write private emails on the other hand, the “metrics” are completely different. They’re not measured in likes or comments that others can see but rather in open rate, click rate and even intimate email responses.

I’ve had the most incredible encounters through my inbox, as many readers don’t necessarily feel comfortable to comment in public (hey, it’s the same public visibility muscle as being the author of the original piece… looking at it that way, it’s quite a big ask for readers to engage with comments don’t you think?).

You’re welcome to share it though… no comments needed 😘

To hit publish on something publicly is like vulnerability on stereoids.

And if you’re a creative person (which I assume you are if you’re drawn to my writing), your mind may start spinning scenarios of all the ways the piece of writing may be read “wrong”.

The thing is…

• You’re guaranteed to be misunderstood.

• You’re guaranteed to be misinterpreted.

• You’re guaranteed to be judged.

→ which are all key reasons to hit publish anyway.

To write publicly is like vulnerability on stereoids because you have NO CONTROL, which is absolutely terrifying for the writer’s soul who enjoys to shape each sentence with the uttermost care in the hopes of not being misunderstood… and yet…. 😮‍💨

Here’s the killer…

It’s when you’re able to get through the noise of what the receiver may or may not think that you can level up into the next phase of your creative career; Embodiment🔥.

How to embody creative leadership?

The answer is straight forward in writing and another deal in the nervous system. In short: it’s about showing up even when it’s hard. It’s about hitting publish even when it feels like you’re about to faint.

It’s about teaching our bodies that all difficult emotions are not negative if the context, intention and purpose are right.

So, if you feel nauseous when your finger is hovering over the send button, it’s probably not a sign that you’re doing it wrong: but a sign that you’re close to a threshold and doing something very courageous (and very right).

Ultimately (as stated at the beginning)… If you want to end up in a position of having the CHOICE to send private or public emails, you’ll need to show up publicly somewhere somehow. We can’t remain in hiding forever if we wish for our creative lives to change.

So, here I am… Getting back onto the stage after a couple months of recalibration. Fun things are coming.

Now…

Follow Your Gut, get creative, get writing and worry less about what other’s think of you 💕

• If you feel excited to share your experience with vulnerability and public writing, the stage is yours in the comments!
  

To end…

Here’s a fun video of me embodying the very sentiment of showing up in my colors (I’ll chat more about dancing on video in another article… It will be fun). Enjoy ✨

Elin, xx

If you’re new here and want to read some more before you hit subscribe.. I’ve got you!

• You don’t need another blueprint

• The fear of discovering yourself on the other side of something new

• Use social media as a playground not a prison

Or subscribe right away below (I appreciate you and I’m so excited to have you along for this next chapter… I feel in my gut that this will be a really good end of the year…):