avatarKiKi Walter

Summary

The article discusses the merits and drawbacks of writing about personal problems, questioning whether it is a form of self-indulgent complaining or a valuable act of expression and connection with readers.

Abstract

The author reflects on the prevalence of personal essays that delve into the writers' struggles with mental health, life issues, and existential challenges. While acknowledging their own tendency to write from a place of raw emotion without much thought, the author questions the fairness of exposing such vulnerabilities to an audience. The piece weighs the potential therapeutic benefits of such writing against the risk of being perceived as self-serving or phony, especially when the content lacks reflection and sophistication. The author also considers the possibility that such raw sharing might be inspiring or relatable to readers, despite their own reservations about the practice. The article invites other writers to engage in a dialogue about the appropriateness of publishing emotionally charged personal content.

Opinions

  • The author admits to writing about personal issues as a means of coping with their own mental health challenges, without intending to inspire or uplift others.
  • There is a sense of discomfort with the positive reception of their emotionally raw essays, feeling that the accolades may not be deserved due to the lack of deliberate thought behind the writing.
  • The author suggests that writers should perhaps be more selective and measured in what they choose to publish, considering the impact on the audience.
  • There is a critique of writers who frequently share their personal struggles, with a recommendation to keep such raw emotions in draft form or to present a more polished front to the world.
  • Despite these concerns, the author acknowledges that showing humanity through writing might be beneficial and that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question at hand.
  • The article concludes with an open invitation for other writers to share their thoughts on the matter, emphasizing the value of diverse perspectives in the writing community.

WRITING

Writing About Your Problems

Is it a good thing or are you just complaining to the world?

Photo by sebastiaan stam on Unsplash

I do it. He does it. She does it. They do it.

I mean, you see it all the time. Essays whinging about personal problems — depression, anxiety, retirement, marriage, writing itself, other people, life in general.

Is complaining a bad thing to do when you’re a writer? Could it be a mistake to put these written words and thoughts out to the masses? Hell, half the essays I’ve put out lately have been about the mental health issues I’ve been experiencing. Is it healthy to get that out there? Is it better to journal it out just for my eyes only and not bore others with the sordid details of my bat shit craziness?

I have to wonder, who cares? I’m not writing that stuff thinking I’m going to inspire or uplift anyone. I’m writing that stuff because I’m a fucking mess and those are the words my fingers are typing without much thought going into it. And still, the comments are warm and giving — appreciative even. And it makes me feel a little phony, a lot phony, because I know I was coming from a place of sheer emptiness. There was no thought process involved at all. Just raw emotion. Yet the accolades appeared.

Is it fair to throw our raw emotions out into the abyss as writers? Or should we be more sophisticated and measured with what we publish? Speaking for myself, I may look back one day — no. I know I will look back one day — and cringe at my self-serving depression posts. Yes, it’s where I’m at at this moment and it’s what I can give best as a writer, but again — is it fair to the people who read my pieces?

I’m not sure that I love it when others do the same.

I’m speaking like a coach who could never make it big playing basketball, but is great at coaching. I slip and do it all the time, like a big ass fuck up. But when I see other writers do it, I want to pull them aside and tell them to rein it in and focus. Don’t put those raw emotions out to the world. Think about what you’re doing. It is okay to write it out, but leave it in your drafts. (Unlike me.) Remain refined. Remain polished. Don’t let them see you sweat. Don’t bore them with the small details of your life. Be true to yourself as a writer, however that may be. Now, if you regularly write about how shitty your life is, and you have an audience for that, this advice isn’t for you. You’re all good.

In terms of the others…I could be wrong. Maybe it’s good to show that you’re human.

I’m not sure what the correct answer is.

Writers…what do you think? I would love some dialogue on this and your opinions….

Please comment away.

xo — Ki

Writing
Self
Nonfiction
Inspiration
Mental Health
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