You Are a Real Writer: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Owning Your Creativity

Almost every writer has been there at some point: sitting in front of your work in progress, telling yourself everything you write is absolute garbage and wondering just how long it’s going to take everyone else to see what you so clearly do—that you’re not a real writer.

Imposter syndrome is the feeling that an individual is a fraud—that they’re pretending to be something they’re really not—coupled with an overwhelming worry that others will recognize that they’re incompetent and call them out for being frauds. When imposter syndrome has its grip on you, it can paralyze you and leave you unable to make progress with your writing.

However, as heavy as the imposter syndrome burden can feel in the moment, imposter syndrome is no more than a self-limiting belief that writers can overcome. It is incredibly common, and most writers bump against this obstacle at some point. So, if you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, please know you’re certainly not alone and it is possible to silence that voice telling you you’re a fraud and get back to working on your writing like the writer that you are.

Why Writers Struggle with Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome isn’t unique to writers, but it is incredibly common for writers to struggle with it. There are a few traits of the writing life that leave writers particularly vulnerable to feelings of being a fraud.

First, writing is largely a solitary activity. You don’t need any other writers in your life in order to write, and many newer writers, in particular, don’t have a community of other writers to lean on for support. Since writing can be isolating, there often isn’t much external validation to assure writers that they’re doing this the “right” way. And when writers do seek out feedback either through working with critique partners, writing groups, or submitting their work to agents and publishers, a large amount of the feedback is negative. Even if a critique partner makes an effort to be gentle with their feedback, for a newer writer, there’s often a lot that can be improved upon, so the sheer volume of suggested improvements can feel daunting and lead writers to believe they aren’t good enough rather than understanding that every writer begins somewhere and they can absolutely improve their writing craft with learning and practice.

Secondly, since there are no official credentials requires to “be” a writer, it can be easy for individuals to doubt their right to claim that title. While it certainly isn’t impossible for an attorney, for example, to struggle with imposter syndrome, it’s a bit easier to feel confident in calling yourself an attorney when you’ve gone to law school and passed the bar exam. But while there are MFA degrees for writing, having one is not a requirement for being a writer and many well-known and bestselling authors never earned an MFA. Without any set credentials, it can feel intimidating to confidently call yourself a writer. After all, what does it really mean to be a writer?

Lastly, it’s common for writers to compare themselves to others, especially those who are further along in their writing careers than they are. This can be a difficult thing for writers to avoid. After all, most writers are also avid readers, and the books they’re reading are polished, published stories. And while those published books once started out as a messy first draft as well, as a reader, we only see the finished product, not the entire process. But as a writer in the midst of that lengthy process, seeing that finished product can feel intimidating and make them feel as though their writing will never be as good as that book they’re holding. The opportunity for comparison is everywhere for writers, and even though we may logically understand that we shouldn’t compare our own first drafts with published books, it can be hard not to fall into that trap, especially if self-doubt is already creeping in.

All of these factors make writers prime for imposter syndrome to take hold. However, the good news is that overcoming imposter syndrome is fully within our power. So, let’s look at how we can do that.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Like other self-limiting beliefs that keep us from writing, imposter syndrome is simply a variation on the theme. Imposter syndrome stems from self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy, so if we can find ways to confront those thoughts, then we can break free from the hold of imposter syndrome. Here some techniques for overcoming imposter syndrome:

1. Own Your Identity as a Writer

One of the biggest reasons writers struggle with imposter syndrome is because they’re not comfortable confidently calling themselves a writer to begin with. If you struggle with calling yourself a writer, it makes logical sense that you would then fear that others won’t see you as a writer either.

The biggest struggle I see writers having with confidently claiming this title is simply not fully realizing what makes someone a writer. Again, without an official degree or credential to hold up and say, “See? I’m a writer!” individuals often wonder when they are allowed to apply that title to themselves.

But here’s the thing: all that’s required to be considered a writer is that you write. That’s it. Degrees don’t matter. Publication status doesn’t matter. Even hours spent writing per day/week/month don’t matter. Every writer’s background and journey to become a writer is going to look different, and every writer’s daily life will look different. But what they all have in common is that they write. Whether they’re currently writing thousands of words per day, a few hundred words per week, or in a phase of life where actively getting words down is proving difficult, if writing is something you enjoy, something that gives meaning to your life, something that your heart is calling you to do, then you’re a writer.

Embracing this identity, though, is so much easier said than done. It takes practice, so my challenge to you is this: practice a lot. Stand in front of a mirror and call yourself a writer. Tell other people you’re a writer. Write in your journal and refer to yourself as a writer. It might sound silly, but practicing will help you become more confident. And when you can confidently call yourself a writer without hesitation, you’ll be less likely to worry that others will view you as a fraud.

2. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Looking at other writers and comparing our work to theirs is all too easy when published writing is everywhere. But while it’s good to look to more established writers as a learning device, it’s important to remember that those writers also started somewhere. Even that published book you’re reading was once a messy first draft that likely required a good deal of revision to get to where it is.

One of the best compliments my dad has given me about my writing was, “I know how much effort it took to make that look effortless.” My dad is not a writer, but he understands that writing a book is a process. While the published work we read can appear like it was effortless to write, it likely took that writer a good amount of work to make it look that way.

But here’s the thing about writing: it’s a learnable skill. While we all begin with a certain level of natural talent, if you’re willing to put in the work to learn about writing craft and apply that knowledge, you can become a stronger writer. That’s what those experienced writers you’re comparing yourself to have done. They put in the work. So, rather than looking at your favorite authors and feeling defeated that they’re so much further along than you, remind yourself that they were once in your shoes. You can get there too if you put in the work.

3. Connect with a Writing Community

While many writers start out writing in isolation, I truly believe one of the best things you can do for your writing is to connect with other writers. Not only will this help you to learn about writing from others, allow you the opportunity to share your work and give and receive feedback, and enjoy connection with others who understand the writing life, connecting with other writers is also helpful in overcoming imposter syndrome.

When you see the reality of other writers’ lives, you’ll begin to recognize your own reality in those pictures. You’ll see other writers also writing alongside a full-time job, others struggling with their writing, others worrying they’re not doing this writing thing “right.” When you see your own struggles and realities reflected back to you in those of other writers, you’ll begin to see that even though your life may not look like that dream version of a writer you had in mind, your life does look very similar to that of these other individuals who you consider to be writers.

4. Show Me the Evidence

One of my favorite cognitive-behavioral techniques used in counseling is “show me the evidence.” This is a technique therapists use to help clients identify faulty beliefs they have about themselves and/or the world and begin to confront those beliefs so they no longer have a hold over them.

The idea behind “show me the evidence” is that when a client asserts a belief, such as “I’m not a real writer,” the therapist then asks them to share the evidence that they aren’t. The client will then share reasons they believe they’re not a real writer, and the therapist would counter those reasons. For example, a client might tell me they’re not a real writer because they don’t write every day, to which I would reply that most writers don’t actually write daily. They might share that they’re not a real writer because they aren’t yet published, and I would assert that publication status has nothing to do with being a writer or not—after all, all writers begin by being unpublished.

Show Me the Evidence is something you can do on your own as well. Write down the reasons you believe others will call you out for being a fraudulent writer, then try looking at them from a different perspective. Can you identify the faults in your own evidence? This can be tricky, but if you make an effort to look at the statements from an objective perspective, you’ll likely be able to counteract your own faulty beliefs surrounding imposter syndrome. Of course, if you’re still struggling with this, a book coach can help bring a degree of objectivity to help determine what thoughts are causing you to struggle with imposter syndrome and guide you in how to overcome those thoughts.

Imposter syndrome is incredibly common among writers and can keep them from making progress with their writing goals. However, you can overcome imposter syndrome, and putting in the effort to do so will leave you feeling free and unburdened so you can get back to what’s important to you: writing those words and working towards your dreams.