How to Stop Letting Imposter Syndrome Impact Your Writing Career

Do you believe you aren’t really a writer or author or don’t have the expertise or experience to write and publish your work? It’s time to change the beliefs that make you feel like an imposter. After all, you already realize that Imposter Syndrome negatively impacts your writing career.

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where someone feels like a fraud despite having achieved success, believes their accomplishments are undeserved, and fears people will eventually discover they are not as capable as they appear. Essentially, it’s a persistent feeling of self-doubt coupled with anxiety about being exposed as incompetent.

Imposter Syndrome is a mental construct or belief, so you can heal yourself of this malady in the same way you developed it. Change your thoughts about your ability to write and publish a book and the value you would bring to your readers.

Stop calling yourself a fake.

How You Get Infected with Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome stems from your belief that you are not enough—not worthy, skilled, expert, experienced, or good enough.

None of that is true.

In fact, these beliefs about yourself are based on your interpretations of and views about yourself. Yet, they are not necessarily true; they are more likely based on faulty stories you tell yourself and which you believe are true.

Your Imposter Syndrome also may stem from what others have told you about yourself. For example, possibly a teacher said you don’t write well. Or you told your father you wanted to be an author, and he replied, “Who are you to write a book?” Possibly, your best friend suggested you “put your energy into something you have experience with.” You chose to believe these people.

If you adopted such advice or perspectives as your own, it’s no wonder you feel challenged to get words on the page. After all, you believe you are a fraud. You aren’t a writer because you don’t write well, don’t have the experience to write, and don’t possess the expertise necessary to be a writer.

You feel like an imposter.

But you aren’t an imposter. You are perfectly equipped to write and publish your work. And you are a writer if you do what writers do—write.

5 Ways to Cure Your Imposter Syndrome

There are remedies for what ails you. If you genuinely want to be a writer and author, try these five ways to cure your imposter Syndrome.

1. Stop telling yourself you are an imposter.

That might sound like stupid advice, but it’s based on brain science. Every time you tell yourself you are an imposter, you deepen the neural pathway you created by continually telling yourself that lie. You create a new neural pathway when you stop saying those words to yourself and tell yourself you are legitimate and honest instead.

Repeat to yourself, “I am legitimate. I am skilled, have expertise, am honest and forthright,” and you will reinforce that pathway. After a while, you will believe this affirmation and stop feeling like an imposter.

2. Write and publish anyway.

Even if your brain keeps repeating that you are an imposter, write and publish anyway. New action leads to new results, usually positive ones, like completing a manuscript, starting a blog or Substack newsletter, or getting published. Those results become proof you are not an imposter.

Actions also result in new neural pathways.

3. Dismiss your brain.

Your brain doesn’t like you to do anything new. It sees anything different as scary. So, suppose writing is a new activity for you, or you have been writing for a while but have decided to publish your work. In that case, it will continually start a mental conversation about how you shouldn’t do that. Telling you that you are an imposter is one determent method.

When the mental chatter starts, dismiss your brain. Say, “I’ve got this! I know you want to keep me safe, but I’m fine. I won’t die if I write or publish my work, so thanks, but I don’t need you. You are dismissed from safety duty.”

Swipe your brain away, like you dismiss messages on your cell phone. Then, use your new affirmation.

4. Look for proof of your validity.

Take a stroll down memory lane. Look for proof that you are a good writer, possess expertise and experience, and have something worthwhile to say. If you can’t find such evidence in your past, ask your friends and family to provide supportive facts.

Evidence could be as simple as “People always ask me about this topic because they know I have researched and am passionate about it.” Or it could be an A+ on a college paper, or your friends constantly saying you should write a book about your life.

5. Be someone who knows your worth and value.

Changing your identity—how you see yourself or what you believe about yourself—offers a powerful prescription for Imposter Syndrome. Instead of seeing yourself as a fraud, see yourself as someone with worth, value, expertise, experience, and something important to share with readers. When you step into being that person, pursuing your writing and publishing career will feel easy. You will believe in yourself and have the confidence to move forward with your writing projects.

Stop Using Imposter Syndrome as an Excuse

In the end, claiming that you have Imposter Syndrome becomes an excuse not to write or publish. It’s a reason to hide and play small and a way to avoid taking the risk of putting your thoughts on paper and sharing them with others.

Saying you have writer’s block is the same type of excuse. Claiming to be sick with this malady is a way to avoid facing your fear and taking bold action toward your writing and publishing goals.

If you want to write and publish, do it. Stop telling yourself you are a fraud…an imposter. You aren’t. Stop using Imposter Syndrome as an excuse not to do what you claim you want to do and can do—write and publish.

Do you let Imposter Syndrome stop you from creating a writing career? Tell me why in a comment below. And, please share this post with a writer who might benefit from reading it.

Photo courtesy of Nice Ideas.