Imposter syndrome really, really sucks.
I struggle with this in all areas of my life, but especially when it comes to creative projects like writing, blogging, and other hobbies.
I love starting new projects, but once I hit the six month mark, or the end of a rough draft, I have a moment of panic, like, “What am I doing? I’m not good enough to do this!”
Imposter syndrome affects everyone, even the pros.
So how do we deal with the feelings of inadequacy?
I’m no expert, but here are a couple of steps I take to overcome the imposter syndrome, long enough to keep writing.
Identify the Root Problem
Sometimes when imposter syndrome creeps up on you, it’s a symptom of a bigger problem.
When I feel like I’m not good enough to tackle a creative project, I try to pause and focus inward for a minute. Is there a root problem here? Why do I feel unmotivated all of a sudden?
One cause of imposter syndrome is fear, and usually, this fear comes from an external source. We’re already worried if our readers will like this story, or if we’ll be able to get it published.
Another reason could be that we care a lot about the work we create.
I get very emotionally invested in my stories, and when I struggle with the actual writing, I get discouraged. It feels like there’s a lot of the story that gets lost between my brain and the page.
This leads to me feeling like I’ll never be a good writer, when in fact, I’m right where I should be for my age and skill level.
Once you’ve determined if there is a root problem, you need to take a moment and reframe your mindset.
Find Your Joy
Imposter syndrome isn’t always fear. It might be frustration, or boredom, or jealousy.
No matter where it comes from, the best way to move past it is to find your own joy again.
What aspects of writing do you enjoy? What brings you joy in your current project? Is there anything that you can do to bring yourself more joy while you write?
- I wrote a guest post recently on the One Year Adventure Novel blog, where I talked about how to rediscover your love for writing. You can check it out right here: https://clearwaterpress.com/5-ways-to-stop-hating-your-story/
(If you have a moment, go read my post and show it some love! I owe a lot to this writing curriculum, and it was a huge honor when they asked me to write a guest post for them.)
If you’re struggling to reignite your love for writing, it might be time to take a break.
Take a Break and Validate Yourself
Sometimes, imposter syndrome just means that I need to take a break for a minute and let myself rest.
Even just three days, with no writing, editing, or thinking about your story, can really help.
When you come back from your break, reread what you’ve written so far and compliment yourself.
The last time I did this, I left comments all throughout my Google Doc with encouragement for myself. I marked all my favorite scenes and all the places with good action or dialogue. Now, when I have a rough time with my story, I’ll find one of those comments from my past self and it makes me smile.
It’s important to remember that validation from other people won’t get rid of your imposter syndrome. When you feel like a poser or a fraud, it doesn’t matter if you have two fans, or 2 million fans. The only way to get over imposter syndrome is by validating yourself.
By being kind to yourself and your writing, you’re recognizing that you write because you enjoy it. You don’t need to write a New York Times bestseller to be happy.
What If The Imposter Syndrome Comes Back?
It will.
You’ll never get rid of imposter syndrome. But you can push it away long enough to finish your project, and push it away again when you start querying, and push it away again when you get published, and push it away again…
And that’s really all you need. As long as you can push through and keep writing, you’ll get back to a point where it becomes fun again.
Imposter syndrome and inspiration come in waves, so you’ll have times where it gets worse, and then a while later, it gets better. Don’t let it stop you from pursuing your passions. Just push through it and keep moving forward.
That’s all for today, folks. If you liked this post, please leave a comment and let me know if these tips are helpful to you!
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Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time with a new post!
