Vulnerability in Our Writing: They're "open." Should we be?

I have a post out there right now recently that got a lot of hits. It's about a professional failure I *experienced about 32 years ago. When I first posted it, it got 600 views quickly.  I was surprised.  But I took it off in the first 24 hours anyway. I had a couple friends (old colleagues) who read it and thought it was either a little inappropriate or too vulnerable--a bit over the top with mea culpa. 

But, for some reason I decided to repost it, and it was getting about a view per minute again--faster than any other blog I have posted. (https://tracetheelateacher.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-less-than-stellar-entry-to-ap-reading.html)  I'm kind of wondering why that is. It's about failing as an AP reader in my twenties, and I wonder if people can relate for some reason. Otherwise, maybe people are just more intrigued by our failures (ha!). Vulnerability makes us curious, I think. 

Today at least, I feel like being vulnerable is ok. In a book on creative nonfiction, Tell It Slant (yes, named after Dickinson's poem!), it talks of not turning a personal essay into the "therapist's couch," not telling an emotional story too soon at the risk of being maudlin or vindictive, and the importance of understanding your motive and how the piece will affect a reader.

Well, my stupid story is certainly not too soon, maudlin, or vindictive. Hopefully, I'm  not using it as a therapist's couch. I do wonder about my motive a little. Why tell it? Why now?  And, I kind of wish I knew how those readers behind those views felt about it. But maybe that's part of the blogging game.  I get 99.5% more views than feedback. That's ok...I think. 

How vulnerable are you with your writing? How vulnerable should we be? Our students are certainly putting their trust in us with their essays. It's a scary thing to share your ideas with someone--let alone someone who will, by nature of the situation, absolutely judge you. 

I have read online and have colleagues who think it is important for teachers to share their writing with students. I do it verrrrrrrrry rarely. (I put an AP practice essay on a blind reading table once (no names) and got kind of schooled.) Students know I have a blog but I keep my last name off it on the site (not on facebook but that's not where my hs students interact with me)! I write fairy journals (fiction) that I have read aloud to them a few times. They are surprised and don't seem to know how to respond. Maybe that's my gig--writing things people are exposed to but don't really know what feedback to give. Below is one of my fairy's journal entires. She lives in my backyard. She's generally upbeat, but struggles some with depression. This is more vulnerable than I usual--fiction isn't my go-to. 

*created

___________________________________

FAIRY's WINTER JOURNAL 20XX