Writing With Imposter Syndrome

When I published my first romance trilogy many years ago, I remember overall feeling pretty darn happy about it.

The books had received good reviews, they were selling, and I was building an audience. Things were great!

But…when I decided to switch things up and write a sci fi fantasy romance series, the doubts started to creep in. Would my current audience like it? Would I be able to write this series as craftily? Would it be a total floop? So many worries were careening through my mind. Overthinking began to take over.

I wrote the series anyway—even though I experienced quite a bit of author burnout throughout—and the outcome was better than I’d anticipated. Amazing, even! I sold more books, my current audience enjoyed it (both series have dragons) and I continued to grow as an author. There were a few scathing reviews, but that’s to be expected, and for the most part the books were well received.

All these thoughts that had been plaguing me about my abilities as a writer were not rooted in truth.

If you’ve ever felt this way, too—wondering if your writing is good enough—you’re not alone! Imposter syndrome is common amongst writers, even those that have written many books and received accolades.

The good news is that you can learn to write with imposter syndrome, creating as the beautiful writing goddess that you are, instead of simply waiting for it to go away before you start!

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that you’re not as talented or competent as other authors, and that, at some point, everyone will find out you’re not a “real” writer. You may feel that somehow you’ve gotten to this point undetected, perhaps wearing a mask that’s not truly you, and that it’s only a short matter of time before you’re discovered to be simply pretending. 

High-achieving authors experience imposter syndrome, too, sometimes even more so than writers who are beginning their career. Even if they have a beautiful list of accomplishments, such as a slew of published books, amazing reviews, and an engaged audience, the bar is now so much higher for them! They expect more out of themselves, creating more pressure and perfectionism, wondering if their success was born out of pure luck and not their actual talent.

After I’d published my first series, I wondered if I’d be able to recreate everything all over again, too. When I’d first started, my expectations of myself were much lower because I honestly had no idea what was going to happen—but once I’d achieved that sliver of success, then the pressure was on.

Why writers experience this:

Writing is deeply personal, and super intimate! (And I’m not meaning this in a romance book sort of way, but rather more that it is very subjective.) Our writing becomes so intertwined with all parts of our being because our creations come from our very souls. What we share is our pure magic! It’s so close and dear to our hearts, and when we share pieces of ourselves that are rooted so deeply within us, it means we’re left vulnerable to whatever others think or say.  

It might bring out all the fears in us. The fear of being seen, being judged, being exposed as the true writer that we are. Will others like my writing? Is my writing good enough? Will they approve of the person I actually am beneath it all…the true essence of me beneath the mask?

Sharing our writing means that we must truly drop into our authenticity…and that’s scary.

To heal it or simply live with it?

The best part about all of this is that imposter syndrome isn’t something that needs to stop you in your tracks. You don’t need to stop writing, or sharing your content about your books on social media, or chasing your publishing dreams until it goes away.

You can write with imposter syndrome, treating it like a pesky little companion, until one day…

You might discover it’s simply not there anymore. And that your inner muse is shining so brightly, radiating your energy out there for everyone to see!

The key to this is a perspective shift, realizing that you’re human—and amazing just the way you are. You’re already worthy. You’re already enough. There’s a gorgeous essence within you wanting to rise up and be seen by the world.

Confidence doesn’t come before expression—it comes because of it—and the more you keep showing up in your magnificent authenticity, persevering despite the doubt that might plague your mind, the more the imposter syndrome softens.

It will soften, if you give it the chance. And in the meanwhile, you can invite it to write alongside you. You can consider it less of a problem to eliminate, and more like a voice that gets quieter the less power you give it.

So don’t wait until it disappears to publish or post or build a platform. Because you already are a writer!

Below you’ll find seven ways in which you can write despite imposter syndrome.

1. Normalize it.

Embrace the fact that you are human (and part goddess, of course)! It’s okay to feel self-doubt and uncertainty with your creations. Be assured that you’re not the only one. Even authors that have written many books feel the same way.

2. Create healthy habits.

Developing healthy routines and rituals is a surefire way for you to reduce stress, regulate your nervous system, and promote calm in your life. Taking care of yourself and your energy is one of the best ways to nurture your writing. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and frazzled, your writing and your mindset will reflect that. (Stay tuned for another post in which I’ll go more into depth with some specific self-care methods!)

3. Tap into self-love.

The way that you talk to yourself has such an impact on your mindset! If you allow yourself to stay positive about your writing path, focusing on the light within you no matter what is going on in your outer world, you will get through any doubts you might be experiencing. Give yourself a hug every morning. Tell yourself that you’re absolutely wonderful. Use positive affirmations, even if they feel weird at first—because they are amazing tools for rewiring your brain.

Most importantly, be gentle with yourself and know that you will succeed in your writing dreams if you simply keep going. Slow and steady, no rush.

4. Embrace the beginner mindset.

Allow yourself to be a learner. And have fun with it! A lot of imposter syndrome comes from the belief that you should already be “great at writing”, and if you replace this gently with “I’m developing my craft, and I’m enjoying learning”, it takes so much of the pressure off.

It lets you breathe. Be in the present moment. And let go of expectations. It gives you the opportunity to view the world from a child’s eyes, where everything is magical and explorable. When you detach from performance and focus on your expression, it makes imperfection a part of the process, with no judgement or guilt or comparison. It’s okay to be your messy, perfectly imperfect self!

5. Get out of comparison mode.

I know…this one is hard. It’s challenging to not pay attention to what other authors are doing. You may see others succeeding, and feel small or hopeless because you’re not there yet, and you don’t know how to achieve the same success.

An important thing to remember is when you see other author’s finished books, publishing success, and raving fans…

What you’re not seeing is what it took for them to get there. They also had to start somewhere! They had messy drafts, doubts, and challenges, too. But if you keep writing, and learning, and keep trusting in yourself no matter what, you will absolutely achieve your dreams.

6. Focus on the WHY.

Focusing on WHY you’re writing is one of the most powerful ways to get out of comparison mode with other authors and to soften imposter syndrome. If you’re like me, you started writing when you were young. When I was a kid, stories would just come to me. I’d spend hours writing scenes with my quirky characters and their adventures—not because I envisioned myself as an author when I grew up, but because I loved it.

Writing stories is still my why.  They come to me, and it brings me joy to birth them into creation, no matter who reads them!

When you go within, and truly connect to the reason you are writing in the first place, it won’t matter as much what others think about your work. So instead of asking yourself, “Did I write this well?”, you could instead ask, “Am I sharing my message? Did I enjoy myself?”  

It allows you to lead with your heart, and not with your mind. The only opinion about yourself that matters is yours.

7. Share your work with others.

This statement might immediately give you a cringey feeling. And I understand you! Sharing my writing with others before it’s polished has been the most challenging thing for me as an author.

Thankfully, I found a small group of girlfriends through my RWA group many years ago. The four of us formed a critique group together, and it was such a safe space. They read my manuscripts and provided such amazing feedback and support…I honestly don’t know how I could have navigated those first few years of publishing without them.

I highly encourage you to find a group of trusted friends with which you can share, too! If you don’t know any writers where you live, there are a lot of groups to join online. You can also connect with other writers on social media and share bits of your writing there. Sharing your writing gradually with others will prevent the “cold plunge” feeling of having someone read your entire manuscript for the first time. And developing friendships with other writers is truly so much fun.

You are a writer.

Because you write, you are a writer. Plain and simple! You are allowed to call yourself a writer now even if you doubt yourself, or are afraid of people reading your work, or have already published books and you’re waiting for others to tell you that you’re a “fake” writer.

You’re not playing pretend. You’re an amazing goddess writer, one whose soul is reaching out through you to share these creations!

You don’t need permission to share your voice—the stories and the message you’re here on this planet to share can only be done so through you. It’s part of your purpose…part of the reason you’re here now.

The universe doesn’t make mistakes. This deep rooted desire within you is destiny! You’re meant to keep writing, and creating, and expressing the true you.

For now, the imposter syndrome may still be with you, writing by your side. Acknowledge it, but don’t give it your power. The more you write anyway, loving yourself and your words in the process, the more it will simply fade away.

You are good enough, goddess, just as you are now. Hold that in your heart as you keep writing. I believe in you!

Journal Prompts:

Grab your journal and reflect with these prompts:

1. Why do you write? What is the calling deep within you that inspires you to create?

2. List five things you’ve accomplished in your writing that you are proud of—even the small ones.

3. Imagine what your writing would be like without having self-doubt. What does it feel like, look like, and sound like?

Affirmations:

Sharing my imperfect writing is part of the process.

Every writer starts somewhere, and I am allowed to grow.

I am allowed to take up space with my words.

My stories deserve to be expressed and explored.

I am talented and worthy just the way I am.

Essential oils to help you write with imposter syndrome:

An energizing and uplifting essential oil blend can truly work magic when you’re feeling doubts and other negative emotions regarding your writing. Anything bright and light and citrusy is fantastic! One of my favorites (that I use every day) is the Cheer essential oil blend from Doterra. It has the happy essences of citrus and ginger, along with the delicious scents of vanilla and ylang ylang. I use the roll on version, but you can also enjoy it in a diffuser.

Goddess Connection:

Kuan Yin is the Chinese goddess of mercy, compassion, and unconditional love. She is a bodhisattva, or an “enlightened one”, as well as a great healer and protector of women. Her energy is beautiful to work with when you’re dealing with self-doubt and stuck in comparison mode with your writing—call upon her when you’re in need of learning how to love and accept yourself more.

Happy writing, beautiful creative soul!

xoxo, Ana