Creatives are more likely than most to suffer from Imposter Syndrome. Even when armed with plenty of evidence to the contrary, it can destroy your self-esteem and hold back your progress. Imposter syndrome can show up as feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and fear of exposure. It’s so common for authors to question their abilities, compare themselves negatively to more established writers, and worry that their work is not worthy of recognition, that it might not even be seen as imposter syndrome, but just the side effects of being a writer! So how do you get past it and build confidence in your writing?
Challenging Negative Thoughts
The first step is to challenge negative thoughts. Instead of dwelling on all of the bad things you think about yourself and your writing, focus on your strengths and accomplishments. A lot of writers I work with keep a file – physical or digital – of nice things people have said about their work. Mine goes back to a letter from my S1 English teacher! You could also try keeping track of your progress and celebrating milestones, no matter how small.
Focus on the Gain, Not the Gap
Setting unrealistic goals can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, but so can focusing on where you are in relation to your goals. Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy teach that there are 2 ways to measure progress in: The Gap and The Gain.
The Gap is when you focus on the distance between your current state and your ideal goal, and The Gain is when you focus on measuring progress from your starting point to your current achievements. The latter helps you acknowledge and celebrate your advancements, which is the route away from self-doubt and towards confidence.
Building a Strong Author Brand
If positive thinking isn’t getting you where you need to be, there are more practical steps you can take. Building a strong author brand can help you establish your credibility and, in turn, boost your confidence. By setting up a website and social media presence around your writing, and building relationships with other authors and industry professionals, you can start to see yourself the way the rest of the world sees you – as a ‘real’ writer.
Embracing Imperfection
No writer is perfect. It is important to embrace imperfection and understand that mistakes are a natural part of the creative process. Learn from your setbacks and use them as opportunities for growth.
Remember, you are a Writer
You don’t have to finish a marathon to consider yourself a runner, or work in a professional kitchen to call yourself a good cook. It’s the same with writing. You are a writer, whether you have published a dozen novels, or you just have some scribbles in a notebook. So practice calling yourself a writer, telling people that it’s what you do. Repeat until you believe it!