Impostor Syndrome – What It Is And How To Get Over It

Ever felt like you’re not a ‘real writer’ after all? That you’re a fake? That’s called the ‘impostor syndrome.’ This post will tell you how to overcome it.

Impostor Syndrome – What It Is And How To Get Over It

The impostor and the inner critic are the evil twins lurking within every writer. They’re alter egos who constantly pick on us, nagging that we should do better. Here’s the bad news: you can’t really get rid of them for good. How could you? After all, they’re deeply ingrained within our personality as writers.

The good news is that you can become good at spotting them and putting them in their place. Today we’ll tackle the impostor (here’s a post dealing with the inner critic).

What’s The Impostor Syndrome?

Every writer is bound to get the ‘impostor syndrome’ at some point. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about this:

Those who suffer from impostor syndrome often doubt their skills, talents, or accomplishments. They may have a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as frauds. Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon do not believe they deserve their success or luck.

Mind you, this is not a psychological disorder! It’s an experience, a mental pattern of self-doubt. It can be intense, and it can have grave consequences.

Writers who are afflicted by this tend to have low self-esteem, and they can suffer from depression and anxiety. The scare is real. Beginner writers are particularly susceptible, but the impostor can make any writer stop writing for good. So, let’s demask this villain.

How To Spot It

Writers with impostor syndrome think like this:

My story/poem/play sucks.
I never have any good ideas.
Why should I even try to write? Everyone else is better than I am.
Who would want to read my stuff?
I don’t sell any books yet, and I never will. No agent or publisher will ever be interested.
How can I call myself a writer? It’s not my job yet. I don’t make any (or not enough) money.
Those who’ve bought one of my books will find out soon: I’m not a good writer.
People might think I’m a good writer, but they don’t know I’m just faking it. They will find out soon.
I’m just a fake. I don’t have any talent whatsoever, and soon everybody will find out.

Do any of these phrases sound familiar? And can you see the pattern? There’s self-doubt in each of these statements. There’s also fear and loneliness. Most of all, it’s all negative self-talk.

We all know what happens when your self-talk is negative: sooner or later, you’ll start to believe it. And we need to stop that!

Why Writers Get It

Make no mistake: all writers have pangs of impostor syndrome. Me, too! But it doesn’t just afflict writers. It is common with all artists, influencers, public speakers, and yes, even priests and teachers!

But why is that? What do these jobs have in common? First, they involve presenting something to others, and second, expecting a reaction. Let’s not forget that what we present comes from the deepest part of our minds and souls. We bare our innermost feelings and thoughts, knowing that everybody will react to them. That by itself requires an enormous amount of courage.

Every writer wants a positive and encouraging reaction. But will that always be the case? Our experience tells us no. Not everybody will understand our message, like our style, or know how to deliver bad feedback without hurting anyone’s feelings. That’s when our mind starts reeling with the impostor syndrome.

The fear of being found out as a fake is real because there’s no proven method for achieving literary greatness. In this sense, all writers are fakes! We need to teach ourselves most of creative writing theory, and we need to practice our craft for a long time. It takes a lot of motivation to finish a book or poem. In this process, because there’s no feedback, no validation, it is so easy to ask ourselves: Why do we do this to ourselves? Why does the world not see a spark of greatness in us? The impostor’s answer is because we’re not writers anyway.

Crisis Of Faith

We lose faith in ourselves as writers. Most people think that the crisis of faith is the result of the impostor syndrome. I believe it’s the starting point.

Because it’s a solitary experience, writing requires a lot of faith. We need to believe that we’re writers. That’s how we get started, that’s how we keep going. If the writing goes smoothly, all is good. Then we run into problems. Maybe our plot is not strong enough. Or we have weak characters. Or we run out of ideas. Then our faith wavers, and we start doubting our story, then our writing in general, and then our identity as writers. The impostor has won the battle.

The root of the problem lies in perfectionism and the reliance on others to prove our worth. Not a good headspace to be in, right?

How To Overcome Impostor Syndrome

One of the most important phrases a teacher once said to me is: “You’re a writer because you write, not because you publish.” This is so powerful! It made me refocus on the process, instead of the result. So, here’s my mantra for you:

I am a writer because I enjoy writing.

Because I enjoy it.

Once you shift your focus, many other things fall into place. Here’s what you might find helpful:

Focus on the process of writing. It’s what you enjoy most. It’s what defines part of your identity. You’re a writer because you write, not because you publish.
Beware of perfectionism. Mistakes are a crucial element of learning. There’ll always be critics pointing out your mistakes. Don’t be embarrassed when that happens. These mistakes are opportunities to learn! They mean that you get to do even more writing!
Find your tribe. There are writers’ groups all over the world. They can act as your support group. They will all know what you’re talking about.
Don’t rely on others to tell you that you’re a writer. It’s something that you get to decide. Don’t let others define your identity.
Ultimately, when the impostor appears, remind yourself that you have no time for this. Arguing with the impostor just takes away valuable time from writing. Don’t procrastinate!

The Last Word

The threat of the impostor syndrome is real. It does have the power to silence you as a writer – if you let it! Be gentle with yourself. You don’t need to get it right the first time. You don’t need to write a bestseller. Just write – because you enjoy writing!

By Susanne Bennett. Susanne is a German-American writer who is a journalist by trade and a writer by heart. After years of working at German public radio and an online news portal, she has decided to accept challenges by Deadlines for Writers. Currently she is writing her first novel with them. She is known for overweight purses and carrying a novel everywhere. Follow her on Facebook.

Impostor Syndrome – What It Is And How To Get Over It