Every writer with a lofty goal of making it big must face challenges and obstacles along the way. One of those hurdles that make or breaks your would-be career is the impostor’s syndrome.
Even writers who are at the pinnacle of their success can have prolonged periods where they feel like they aren’t nearly good enough to be where they are.
Have you felt like your writing abilities aren’t enough?
Maybe you’ve had some degree of success, but you’re feeling guilty about it – thinking that you don’t even deserve it.
The impostor’s syndrome is more common in writers than you think.
The term was coined by a pair of clinical psychologists in the 70s, describing a feeling of self-doubt and fraud in people who’ve achieved something remarkable.
What is Impostor’s Syndrome?
This psychological disposition is highlighted by someone’s gut feeling that he isn’t knowledgeable and skilled enough in his field. Hence, the taste of success is undeserved, and he’s somehow fooled, everyone. In other words, people who suffer from the impostor’s syndrome think that they’re nothing more than a fraud.
Impostor’s syndrome affects everyone irrespective of profession, industry, and rank. But we’re focusing on its link to writers.
Here’s the premise: impostor’s syndrome affects writers, but keep on keeping on is fatefully the most sensible way of battling it.
Some writers are more prone to develop the syndrome; more than half of cases are with young ones who’ve tasted success faster than what was expected.
Doubting your ability to write a commercially successful book may only be a showcase of modesty, but it could also be a legitimate sign of impostor’s syndrome. You’ll see the difference when you don’t feel proud of the work you’ve done, or there’s no conviction in it.
It Isn’t Always About Unforeseen Success
Originally described as a condition that affects highly achieving people, the truth is that you don’t have to be successful as a writer to suffer from impostor’s syndrome. The moment you commit to a career in writing, that’s the time that you become vulnerable to self-doubt.
Self-publishing authors, including those who haven’t published anything yet, are the most susceptible to impostor’s syndrome.
The absence of a renowned publishing house on your side makes you feel like you’re not good enough. You get the perception that all those authors backed up by a publishing team is better than you.
Aside from feeling inadequate as a writer, impostor’s syndrome can also affect how you write moving forward. You second-guess your work, criticize yourself more often than you usually do, and eventually quit writing.
Is There a Way to Fight It?
You’re NOT a fraud!!
I know, I know… I wish it was that easy to fix.
You’re terrified of the impostor’s syndrome, but you can fix it. To do that, you first must acknowledge that you’re suffering from it.
The reason why some writers succumb to it is because of denial. There’s a time when you just lack confidence, but continuous denial of this condition will ruin your career.
There’s a fine line between having issues with writing and suffering from impostor’s syndrome. Once you’ve crossed that line, that’s when you start figuring out a way to overcome it.
Check your gut for outside validation. You’re an excellent author even if you haven’t published anything yet. A few recognizable people in your industry already possessed remarkable writing skills even before their work became household names such as:
- Ernest Hemingway
- Jane Austen
- Leo Tolstoy.
Getting your work published is quite the achievement, but it’s also overrated. It’s not a race – you’ll get there in your own time. Seeking validation is natural. Just don’t let it rule you or your actions.
You’re not an ‘aspiring’ writer. Though you’re a “newbie” in this industry, it doesn’t mean you aspire to be a writer since you already are. If you’ve written anything, then you’re a full-pledged writer who has what it takes to be on the same level as everyone else.
Keep track of your progress. Reviewing your progress makes sense if you want to get rid of impostor’s syndrome as it helps you figure out how far you’ve come.
Start by going back to your previous work, if you wince or laugh at them, it means you’ve made progress along the way. Improvement in the way you write (and output) is proof that you’re no fraud. You’re not a poser; you are a legit writer honing your talent.
You have the right to suck. There’s nothing wrong with a writing output that sucks. Permit yourself to criticize your work in a way that you get motivated to do better. But don’t use it as an excuse to stop writing. That’s the very thing you wish to avoid. You win some, and you lose some. Some days you aren’t as efficient, but that’s the point. You go back to the drawing board and redeem yourself the next day.
Impostor’s Syndrome Is Everywhere
Remember, you have to realize that you’re not the only writer who suffers from impostor’s syndrome.
If you feel like a fraud, remember that most authors that you look up to have felt the same way at some point in their careers. So, don’t think that you were meant to be an illegitimate talent. You’ll go through some rough patches in your writing career, but you’ll eventually get rid of self-doubt – most people have.
Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com
