As a writer, do you ever feel like an impostor? Like you’re pretending to be someone you’re not? Here’s how to banish those nasty thoughts

by Shirley Holder Platt

Have you ever heard of impostor syndrome? It’s what a person experiences psychologically when she thinks her accomplishments aren’t that great. That someone will find out she’s not who she claims to be, but rather a fraud.

If you’re a writer, and you haven’t had similar thoughts, congratulations. I’d venture to say you’re one of the few and lucky ones, because most of us think this way at some point in our writing careers.

So if you’re experiencing some degree of the syndrome, right off the bat I’ll say, welcome to the club. You’re not alone. That probably won’t take the feelings away, but misery does love company. Seriously, though, take a deep breath, because I’m going to ask you to do something brave here.

Let go of those feelings of inadequacy. Simply blow them out with your breath. Sing the chorus of “Let It Go” from Frozen if it helps.

Okay, you can let that breath out. While you’re at it, let go of those feelings of inadequacy. Simply blow them out with your breath. Sing the chorus of “Let It Go” from Frozen if it helps. Envision the negative notion flowing past your lips and dissipating before your eyes.

It’s that easy. And it’s that hard not to breathe it back in. Here’s one way to banish those nasty thoughts: Think of how many billions of people are living on this blue planet. Now consider how many of them would like to write a self-help or how-to book, a memoir, a magazine article, a short story, a poem, the great American novel. Now think about how many of them will actually do it.

You’re one of the few who followed your dream, put action to the wish. And if you’ve shared your writing on a site like ChapterBuzz, you’re even more rare. You’ve put yourself out there for public scrutiny. That, my friend, is brave. No impostor stuff going on with you.

You have dared to let the world hear your voice, and hopefully you realize there is no other voice out there quite like yours. No one compares. So take another cleansing breath, pat yourself on the back, and stand a little taller. You are an author. Own it!

Shirley Holder Platt is the author of twelve romance, one chick lit, and one romantic mystery novel. She has one crime/comedy novel, Mama Needs New Shoes, that won the October 2018 Most Buzz Award. Several of her now-published novels appeared first on ChapterBuzz.