✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: The Perks of Being Vulnerable on the Internet
Being emotionally honest is a powerful community builder.
Happy Sunday! In today’s newsletter, you’ll read about…
✍️ How being vulnerable helps you connect with your readers
☕️ My story of coming out as bisexual in the LA Times
😎 Why I believe in being your true, authentic self online
📖 3-Minute Story: The Perks of Being Vulnerable on the Internet
“I can’t tell you how much your piece in the LA Times meant to me,” a new friend told me as we sat side-by-side at a cozy bar.
It was late summer of 2019, and with a whiskey sour in hand, I listened as he told me how my personal essay about pole dancing and discovering my bisexuality had given him the courage to come out, too.
I was floored. When I had initially told my close friends I was coming out as bisexual in the LA Times, they were surprised but supportive. I wanted to write about the spaces beyond the male gaze that I found special in the city, and capturing that felt important.
But I hadn’t expected both friends and strangers to reach out to me in the coming weeks after the article was published to tell me that my story had given them permission to be more open about their sexuality, too.
I have always been emotionally vulnerable online. Just this past week I released an essay about how I’m in remission from my autoimmune condition, and everything that helped me heal — and I appreciate all the kind words and conversations that essay sparked.
Every time I share something personal on the Internet, I find connection with others. I meet new people, and I learn something from the new friends I make along the way.
If you’re a writer, being vulnerable with your readers does three key things:
It builds community. Being vulnerable helps your readers relate to you and get to know you on a deeper level, which builds a stronger community around you and your work. I know I’ve gotten more emotionally invested in the writers who aren’t afraid to be authentic online — it’s a level of bravery I am so inspired by.
It gives you peace of mind. Writing personal essays makes me feel connected to the world, and it also is an emotional catharsis. It’s a step beyond journaling: you’re not just writing your thoughts, you’re challenged to organize and curate them for others, which adds a layer of reflection during the editing process.
You’ll become a better writer. Writing from a place of emotion supercharges your work.
Writing authentically is magnetic. I hope you discover this superpower for yourself in your writing journey.
✨ 2 Quotes to Inspire You
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of empathy and deep connections.” – John Gottman
“Embracing vulnerability allows us to live wholeheartedly.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
✍️ 1 Journal Prompt for Reflection
Writing on your edge. What emotional truth or personal story feels just on the cusp of your comfort zone? If you had to write from the edge of your comfort zone, what stories would you tell? What’s stopping you from sharing something deeply real with your readers?
Feel free to share your reflections in the comments:
💻 New Blog Posts on AmySuto.com
📚 New Chapters of My Thriller Novel Let Me Be Your Ghost
🎥 Video of the Week: How Much I Spent as a Digital Nomad in 2023
Watch here on YouTube!
📸 Photo of the Week: #Throwback to Milan, Italy
Throwback to my trip to Milan, Italy in 2021. I love learning new things when I travel, so this pasta-making class was a great opportunity to get side eye from an Italian nonna while I butchered my ravioli!
Follow me on X/Twitter or Instagram for more!
⚡️ Upcoming Wednesday Edition: The Best Places to Work Remotely as a Writer in the World
This Wednesday, ✍️ From the Desk of Amy Suto paid subscribers will get an exclusive issue about…
✨ The top destinations to work remotely as a digital nomad and writer
🧪 How to find beautiful, affordable places to work remotely
📚 How traveling renews your creativity and supercharges your writing
Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,
-Amy
p.s. I create my newsletter voiceovers and my podcast episodes using the tool Wondercraft AI, a text-to-speech tool that speaks in YOUR voice. 🎙 Use my code SUTO50 or this link to get 50% off your Wondercraft AI subscription! (paid/affiliate link)
Great article Amy, I agree with you that emotional honesty helps us to connect with our readers, it's authentic, and makes for better and far more engaging writing overall.