overcoming imposter syndrome
Ah, imposter syndrome–all writers have grappled with it at one time or another.
Imposter syndrome says, “You won’t be a real writer until…” or “How can you call yourself a writer when there are so many other talented writers out there?”
We tend to think that imposter syndrome will fade when we’ve hit an all-important milestone, like finishing a book draft or getting a story published. But the truth is, imposter syndrome is remarkably tenacious, so even after you have that book draft or story publication, you can still find yourself thinking, “Well, it’s probably a fluke that I got this! I still feel like a fraud.”
One reason imposter syndrome hits so hard is because most of us have the underlying belief that writing is something we need to prove ourselves worthy of–that this calling is not ours by right.
What a way to cut ourselves off from the thing that brings us the most joy! Sometimes, I wonder what life would be like if we applied this same thinking to other things that bring us deep happiness.
For example, one of my favorite activities is partner-dancing at a dingy little bar in Austin, a place where people of all ages and abilities come together to enjoy dancing with each other. I wonder what it would be like if the bouncer screened everyone who walked up to the door by asking: “Are you classically trained? Do you have an MFA in dance? What awards have you won for your dancing?” And if the dancer wasn’t qualified enough, he’d turn them away.
The idea sounds kind of depressing. Gatekeeping the dance floor would make the bar a very desolate place.
And yet, we often apply this same attitude to our writing. When we assume that we are outsiders, unqualified, we become our own gatekeepers. And so we cut ourselves off from something that is ours just by virtue of being human: creativity and self-expression and joy.
Of course, there are many more ways that imposter syndrome crops up in the life of a writer-–especially when it comes time to pursue publication (stay tuned for more discussion about this in our upcoming writing sessions). But the first, most important step in overcoming imposter syndrome is to give yourself permission to create, and not to feel that you have to justify your right to write. As Kurt Vonnegut once said, “The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake.”
This month in Creative Community, we’ll be talking more about imposter syndrome and strategies for overcoming it. And if you’re wanting more support around imposter syndrome, I highly recommend these books:
If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin