Writing Naked
January 28, 2010
image courtesy of photobucket.com
I took exactly one class in writing. It was about fifteen years ago at the community college and was taught by a real published author whose name I cannot recall. But she was published, and as far as I was concerned that was all the credentials she needed.
The first class turned out to be the most useful. That’s not to say the instruction given in the proceeding eleven weeks of the course wasn’t useful. It was. But that first night alone was worth the money.
The twenty or so people in the class formed a semi-circle around the professor, who stood in behind a wooden podium that was much more intimidating than she. We sat at attention, notebooks ready, eager to have our heads filled with the hidden secrets of literary success.
“Tell me,” she said, “what does one need to write?”
The more outgoing among the class were quick with suggestions:
“Time.”
“Perseverance.”
“Skill.”
“Connections.” (That one was met with a nervous chuckle from the rest of the class.)
“Practice.”
Each was met with an approving nod and so was written down by everyone, myself included. But that really wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“Those are good suggestions,” she said, “but you’re leaving the most important aspect out. Anyone?”
No one.
“Courage,” she said.
I didn’t really understand that and snickered under my breath. Courage? Soldiers needed courage. Cops needed courage. EMTs and stunt men and bullfighters. But writers? Sitting on your butt and typing on a keyboard did not take courage.
“There are some who might disagree with that,” she said—and to this day I swear she looked at me when she said it—“and I understand. You disagree because you’re writing with your clothes on. By the time you leave here, you’ll be writing naked.”
I’ll admit I almost walked out then. I’d heard about kooky writing classes given by kooky professors who did some pretty strange things in the name of “art.” I was afraid if I stuck around I’d end up dressed in a blue tracksuit with a cup of Kool-Aid in my hand because a comet was passing by to take me to heaven.
I stayed in my seat on the whim she was speaking metaphorically.
“There is no greater fear than to face a blank page,” she said. “It mocks and threatens. It challenges you. Give it power, and it will eat you alive. Face it clothed, and you will fail. The only way to beat the blank page is to attack it naked.”
Twelve of the twenty students raised their hands.
“Wait, wait,” she said, moving her hands in a downward motion. “No, I’m not speaking literally. But I’m not joking, either. Let me ask you something else. Why do people write?”
More hands in the air, which she chose to ignore.
“People write because they must. Because there is a story inside them that is meant to be shared with the world. But having that story inside you doesn’t make you a writer. How you tell that story does. And you tell it through honesty.”
She told us to put our pens down and just listen.
“Writers fail because they come to the page fully clothed. They adorn themselves with fanciful plots and layer themselves with complicated character development. They use flowery prose and words you have to look up in the dictionary. They do this not to impress their readers, but to keep their readers at arm’s length. They’re afraid. Afraid to bare their souls and inject themselves into their work. For that they are cowards.
“Don’t simply tell me that faith saves you, tell me how it almost failed you, too. Don’t tell me about love, speak of your passion. Don’t tell me you’re hurt, let me see your heart breaking. I don’t want to see your talent on the page, I want to see your blood. Dare to be naked before your readers. Because that is writing, and everything else is worthless crap.”
I’ll always remember that. In fact, written on an index card taped to my lamp are these two words—Be Naked. Because she was right, that’s what writing is all about. Fiction or non, poetry or devotional, funny or serious, it doesn’t matter. Our calling is still the same:
To bare ourselves so we may be the mirror the world holds to itself.
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53 Responses to “Writing Naked”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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Thank you for this …
I’ve been writing my entire professional career — almost 37 years. And even today, facing a blank Word document (instead of the old balnk page) is still initially an exercise in terror. And it never changes.
Brandy Carlile sings, “The Story”. It also speaks of this. This post is worthy of being framed. To remember. And never forget. Thx.
Wow. That’s powerful. And intimidating. It’s scary to bare everything.
Billy,
It’s been a bit since I’ve been by for a visit. I loved this post, especially about how writers write because they have to…. that’s been my experience… the words are pounding on my heart begging to get out.
Great post!
Julie
Enjoyed this, Tweeted this. Trying to live this in my own writing and life.
Thank you for it.
Awesome post.
ooh i love this post! got chills reading it, imagining being in that room, recalling it as you write later…reminded me of an english instructor i befriended when i used to teach psychology at a community college…he had been lecturing on the importance of “risk” in writing and for the final exam he asked his students to write an essay on this topic…the student who got the highest score and still inspires me to this day wrote “this is” on their paper and walked out…
i know this isn’t where you were going with your post but just reminded me of the idea of courage…
i truly value that in your writing and hopefully you will take it as a compliment that i think you are “naked” most of the time!
I read the title and about spit out my tea. Then I got all kinds of odd visual pictures in my head of my favorite authors clacking away on their computers in their birthday suits! I’m glad I came and read the post. The visuals are gone now. Phew.
I love her line: Dare to be naked before your readers. That is writing, and everything else is just worthless crap.
Touche! I must write that one down.
Love your posts, Billy. AND your honesty!
Woe! That’s really good!!! Really really good! Ditto to what Susan said, “Thank you for this…”
It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one terrified by the blank computer screen before me. Your otherwise-anonymous “published author” gave the class some good advice. Thanks for passing it on to us.
Great message……and like Terresa noted, so important to follow through in our daily lives as well.
Sometimes when I choose to keep it real with my blog, I wonder if my nakedness sends people running. (metaphorically of course, I have no doubts the literal would! *shudder*)
But I just can’t be phony (in real life or my blog)….what’s the point? I’d rather be disliked for what I am/believe in….than loved for something I am not.
Excellent post!
So, since I sometimes where a blindfold while writing, I’m guessing I’ll look pretty silly writing naked and wearing a blindfold–but I bet the story will be all kinds of awesome.
Sheesh. I get tired of saying the same thing each time I read one of your posts.
So, this time, I’ll just
*clap*
Billy-boy, You’ve done it again! This is excellent! What great thoughts! Thank you so much for sharing this. I know this image will be stuck in my noggin forever! Blessings to you!
Wow!! Fantastic. Great thoughts, Billy.
Your teacher put that very well. Thank you for passing it along, Billy.
Keep up the God work.
Lori
The best advice I’ve ever received came from a wonderful college professor. “Write about what you know.” That was his way of saying “Write naked.”
I’ll share this from David Richo, whose book “Being True to Life” I’m reading now. “Poetry writing can be understood as a form of spiritual practice: When we write poetry, we make the journey from our version of “how life should be” to a fidelity to “how it is”, trusting that it is unfolding in just such a way as to lead us to our destiny. In writing poetry we come to understand that any single experience or reality is simultaneously a manifestation of ourselves, of nature, and of the divine life. . . .” Richo is writing about poetry but that quote easily applies to any kind of writing.
This is true and encouraging. Thanks for being transparent and you have a way with words. Courage is something one needs in almost any arena (especially as an author). Courage is more than charisma and credentials and contacts because if you dont have the first the others are useless.
RIGHT ON and keeping writing. Blessings always
Another home-run… thanks, Billy!
Dude… this is an awesome post. Great advice… I love reading stuff like this that challenges my thinking and inspires me to do something different. For that… thank you!
Dan King
P.S. Please don’t ask what I was wearing when I wrote this comment.
Very poignant. It does show me where my writing fails. I clothe myself in flowered muumuus and velour. Even when I write…
I can only whisper “Wow…”
I needed to hear what you wrote today. Really needed it. Thank you, Billy. I’m glad I found your writing on my on writing journey, I’ve learned a lot. Thank you for all the bleeding from the heart you’ve done. Powerful, encouraging, thought-provoking, soul-ripping, heart-lifting words–thank you for sharing them in every post.
Can’t wait for Snow Day.
“Don’t simply tell me that faith saves you, tell me how it almost failed you, too.”
That’s where I’m finding my courage failing. Truly feel naked when I try to write about that, especially because faith is or has been failing me NOW… I’m not writing about the long past.
Maybe the story needs to simmer awhile longer before I tell it.
I can’t stare at this blank comment form long b/c I have to get back to the blank page waiting, but seriously? I. Love. This.
Thank you (as always).
A year ago, I might not have fully understood this post. Today, it is so terrifyingly true that I am helpless before it. I have become more naked in my writing and it makes all the difference.
As a reader, it is exactly why I keep coming back here. Your blood is on the page and I feel every heartbeat.
Totally agree and I’ll refrain from making any jokes (though I really want to). I think it takes a lot of practice to do this in writing, in life, in speaking… It’s uncomfortable but very necessary. Thanks Billy.
Hey Billy, Your site is habit forming – excellent post! I find that the blank computer screen can be more daunting that a blank page for me. THese days I’ve taken to a fountain pen and journal. The ink seems to literally drag the words along with its flow on to the page. Sometimes I blog the journal entry in its entirety, sometimes, a portion and sometimes not at all. I write to come outside of myself, to see what I have to say to myself, and in the meantime, maybe to others as well! Thanks for sharing this “Writing Naked” post – such great wisdom that teacher shared with you and you with us!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by gyoung9751: Writing Naked, new post by @billycoffey. http://bit.ly/b6n01q…
somehow, billy, i think you’re always writing naked (perhaps not literally!…i think you might get cold in winter!)
… your writing always let us in to see a bit of who you really are, not just who you want us to see…
thanks for writing naked… i know i’m blessed!
[...] Writing naked (What I learned today – Billy Coffey – @billycoffey) [...]
the word “courage” reminds me of the cowardly lion, played by bert lahr, in the wizard of oz. movie. i can just see him saying it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTkgAL-bxVY&feature=related
What a thought provoking post. Definitely an encouragement for those of us that are un-schooled, but are trying to share are thoughts and our life with others.
Writing honestly takes courage. No doubt about it. Writing honestly while leaving open spaces for your reader to enter the story? That is a rare and enviable talent, and it’s what separates the very good from the great.
Thank you for this first lesson (for me) in “writing”. I guess I am still seeking the courage.
I like.
Naked writing is the only kind worth reading, especially for the essayist. Great post.
I love this. Very wise words.
I’m a bit late to this one, but that sounds like a great experience. I wonder if the rest of the class helped to build on this?
I am not a writer nor do I pretend to be one on TV, I feel that preaching is much the same. I’m heard sermons where the preacher delivers a well rehearsed homily that follows the rules to the t. Those are nice. I’ve also heard sermons that came from people who didn’t seem to know a single rule but who bared their souls and invited the congregation into the sermon. Those are amazing.
This took my breath away….
The best books are by naked authors. They are the ones we all remember.
Yep. That’s it all right.
I came to visit this post on recommendation from L.T. Elliot. I’m so glad I did. I will be bookmarking it to come back to often.
Thank you.
Thanks for your uncommon honesty!
Well said, Bill. Well said.
Thank you so much for sharing this story. It was the reminder I needed to be bold with my writing. My words have to flow unhindered by the thoughts and maybe reactions of the world.
I have actually written in the past about living a naked life in my day to day living, but I guess it is high time I applied it to my words as well.
[...] just read these words over at Billy Coffee’s website, “What I Learned Today.” My own writing has expressed the need for a walk that is naked – exposing my heart to the [...]
Yes. So true. Wow.
“I want to see your blood.” wow. Needed that!
As soon as I started writing more naked-ly, more people started reading. It’s bizarre, because the “naked” me isn’t very pretty. I guess that most people’s “nakedness” isn’t all that attractive, either.
It’s probably don’t need to be the 51st person to say this, but still I must: Wow. I felt the punch of that post right in my gut.
Excellent. I read tons of stuff that is fully clothed and it makes me ill. Gotta wear your heart on your page. Thanks, Billy.
Billy, I took for granted that it’d be okay with you if I referred to this on my blog today. I’m still taking that for granted, but thought I’d let you know.
I understand this post better today than I did when I first read it.