Do you often feel unsure of yourself as a writer or scared of being referred to as one? Do you usually think your story isn’t good enough and that other writers write better than you? If you feel this way, it’s quite obvious that you’re experiencing `Impostor Syndrome’. Rest assured that you are not alone in this because a huge number of writers experience the same.
In this article, we’ll discuss the symptoms and some measures to help you cope with impostor syndrome.
What is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome is a psychological state of intellectual and professional deception. It is a feeling of incompetence and doubt of one’s abilities and achievements irrespective of positive proof.
Symptoms of Impostor Syndrome
If you wish to know whether you have impostor syndrome, here are some of the symptoms;
Self-doubt
At some point or another, you may feel uncertain about your writing ability. You tend to believe that your works are not good enough and may not be appreciated by readers. Whatever makes you feel incapable of taking up certain major writing projects and underserving of accolades is a sign that you are experiencing impostor syndrome.
Fear
Impostor syndrome triggers fear of being noticed. Due to the uncertainty you feel concerning your skill, you tend to become scared of being discovered as a false writer.
Excessive Editing
A writer who suffers impostor syndrome is likely to over-edit his/her works. The feeling of imperfection will make you go over your story a countless number of times to achieve perfection. You see your work as unappealing and inadequate, hence, you tend to edit it over and over again.
Procrastination
Impostor syndrome will make you postpone or delay a writing project. The fear of not having the right information or the feeling of inadequacy can result in unnecessary procrastination of tasks.
How to Deal with Impostor Syndrome
Impostor syndrome is not a medical condition but a temporal psychological feeling. But, the good news is that there are strategies to help you deal with it.
Be Confident in Yourself
Self-confidence is the most effective way to deal with impostor syndrome. Assurance in yourself and your writing skills will drive away all manner of fear and doubt. You begin to acknowledge your efforts while you view your work as being perfect. So, learn to believe in yourself and your ability.
Quit Comparison
Consistently comparing your works with those of other writers will naturally kill your self-esteem. It triggers the feeling of incompleteness and nothingness. You begin to doubt your skills and limit your abilities. Therefore, you must quit comparing your writing style, voice, and achievements with others and focus on your strengths and progress to overcome impostor syndrome.
Review Your Previous Works
The more you write, the better you become in your craft. Hence, reviewing your previous writing projects helps you monitor your progress to see how much you’ve improved. This creates a feeling of happiness within you and will make you trust your ability.
Focus on Positivity
Impostor syndrome can make a writer view his/her success as undeserving. So, you must consciously learn to appreciate your wins, consistently celebrate every growth you make, and be happy with positive feedback. Constantly basking in the consciousness that you are daily becoming a better writer is a good way to wade off impostor syndrome.
Keep Improving
If you ever nurse the feeling of self-doubt and fraudulence as a writer, it’s a call for improvement. Rather than shying away from writing tasks and believing that your writing isn’t good enough, look out for ways to become better. Keep improving in your crafts. Writers are readers, so, don’t stop reading. Read stories by other authors, write something new every day, take writing courses, and attend writers’ conferences or workshops.
Never Give Up
As already mentioned, imposter syndrome is not a permanent condition but a temporal experience. So, if you discover that you are suffering from such as a writer, do not give up on your writing profession. It is just a phase that will pass away, so, continue with your craft while striving for the best.
Share your Fears
Just like the popular saying that, “problem shared is half-solved,” relating your fears to others is a way to go. Do not bottle your feelings. If you are experiencing impostor syndrome, kindly talk to family members, friends, colleagues, or your mentor. Sharing your concerns with others has a way of relieving you of your fears. A large percentage of individuals including writers encounter impostor syndrome regularly. Hence, you can easily get help from people who have overcome such experiences in the past.
Conclusion
Imposter Syndrome is simply a mental drift that can be combated through a mindset shift. It Isn’t powerful enough to stop your writing career. So, whenever impostor syndrome comes knocking, remain confident in yourself and your ability, meditate on the growth and successes achieved, and share your fears with someone. Finally, be a part of writers’ communities where you get to meet others who would likely share secrets that helped them deal with impostor syndrome.