From Fear to Empathy: The Impact of Vulnerability in Microfiction Writing

Writing Prompt 1/4 for May Course: Naked Characters

Vulnerability [cyberpunk cape malay girl] by Wong Kar-wai

Microfiction is a unique challenge for writers.

It demands a concise and impactful storytelling approach. One powerful way to add impact to your stories is to show vulnerability.

Because the real villain of every story is the author — if you do your job.

By exposing your character on the page, revealing their worst fears and baring their soul to the wind (of fast turning pages).

We all have fears

We think we’re unique in this, that our particular worries are our own, that the specific nature and mix of them would be appalling to any other person.

But we all fear, they often overlap, and they bring us closer.

Because as we became human, we huddled in the dark, listening to howling beasts, around a fire and told stories.

We love reading about other people’s fears and worries, and most importantly, how they overcome them.

So add a dash of vulnerability to your character, for added depth and relatability. Enable your readers to forge a deeper connection in just a few…