Imposter Syndrome

Nearly 7 in 10 people will struggle with feeling like an imposter at some time. Among authors and creators it is likely to be more like 9 in 10.

AI Generated image of a woman sitting at a computer looking overwhelmed

I am one of them. There is always a voice, whispering in my ear, “Your writing is not good enough,” “You will never be as good as [insert favourite author here]. Whenever I read a brilliant novel, I wonder why I bother writing at all.

How Imposter thoughts effect me:

• Overanalyse my work - sometimes until the initial spark is gone

• Calling nothing finished - there is always something that could be better

• Procrastinating - because if I don’t write then no one will know I am not good enough

• Downplaying successes - “it was only a tiny win”

• Measuring myself against other authors - and coming up short

Left unchecked that mindset can have negative impacts such as missed opportunities, underpricing my work, holding back my ideas.

“I have written 11 books but each time I think ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now.” - Maya Angelou

Even the best authors experience it, which seems to me to indicate that it isn’t a sign of imcompetence, but a result of wanting to aim high.

Do you have a similar inner critic? Do you have any practical tips to overcome it? Let me know in the comments.

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