How To Feel Safe Writing Dangerous Things

I got the nicest compliment from a woman in my Body Writers circle last year. She told me I reminded her of Florence Welch of Florence and The Machine. That's not a band I'm into so I didn't know anything about Florence, but this woman explained that in interviews, Florence has a very delicate energy. That she comes across very soft spoken and gentle. But when she sings, she has a passionate, emotional, unapologetic presence. This woman said that as a writing coach, I reminded her of that.

Which I get from clients and students a lot. Always the blend of sensitive and fierce. Which I love. 😊

And here's the reason why: 

Writing our stories for healing calls for a particular kind of writing.

It calls for your honest voice. It asks you to reveal who you are and how you feel, and who you were and how you felt. It invites you to unpack words that are easy to say to create a voice that's closer to the bone. It invites you to admit your humanity on your page.

Is it normal for this kind of writing to feel dangerous? Of course.

Admit to your humanity? Open yourself up to your emotions? Vulnerable.

But we can't get away from the vulnerable feelings this kind of writing brings.

And the truth is, in service of our writing and healing? We don't really want to.

Check in with yourself right now and see if that rings true. 

Most likely you want both, right? You want to be able to go there, get vulnerable and write the thing as it lives in your body. You want to feel excited by the writing, but you also want to feel safe. And you can have both those things. But in order to, what you need is a trauma-informed writing guide who will help you write from your body and a safe space to write in.

Which is where I really shine. 

It's my Florence Welch-like energy. I am sensitive, soft spoken and always deeply attuned in my spaces.

I am also passionate, unapologetic and emotional about what I invite you to write and how. 💐

But let's talk about the elephant in the room...

How does writing from your body create a nervous-system friendly experience? 

People often think that writing from your body will be scary but the truth is, your body is your best guide for where you do and don't feel ready to go.

You know that feeling when you're just dying to write about something or get something out? That's your nervous system giving you a definitive green light; go. It may still feel vulnerable in the moment to write, but that is a different thing entirely than your heart or body not being ready. 

Alternatively, sometimes just thinking about writing something feels like a hard and fast no. 

As your writing guide, I help you listen to these cues first. To tune into what your body is wanting to write. That is where you safety lies. By taking this somatic approach and trusting your body, you can know that you'll never exceed your own emotional capacity. 

As for the safe space in which to write? 

Among my clients and students, I am famous for being a safe space and holding safe spaces.

"I feel so safe with you."

"That writing was a thunderclap."

"I'm so glad I don't have to do this alone."

"Everyone online says their circles are safe spaces, but this one actually feels like a safe container."

"I don't know how you write such difficult things so fucking beautifully."

"You've changed lives. You've changed my life."

These are all things that've been said to me inside my writing spaces. 

My upcoming Dangerous Writing Workshop, inspired by Tom Spanbauer, is your opportunity to unpack a moment with me that you feel called to write about for both craft and healing, in a nervous system friendly, trauma-informed safe space. 

Check out this video of Tom talking about what Dangerous Writing really means with his beautiful Florence energy – the same energy you can expect to get from me. 💗

My Dangerous Writing Workshop opens for enrollment on August 7th and I'm only taking 10 writers. Be sure you're subscribed to my newsletter so you're the first to hear when doors open.