I Battle Imposter Syndrome on a Daily Basis yet I Refuse to Give Up on My Writing Career
Meg, the founder of Novelty Revisions - a platform dedicated to helping writers - shares her personal journey with imposter syndrome and offers strategies to manage this psychological phenomenon.
As a writer, Meg admits to wrestling with feelings of inadequacy, despite evidence of her writing skills and success. She continues to write and publish, viewing it as a way to assert control over her imposter syndrome. Each time she hits 'post', she takes a deep breath, having built a protective wall around herself against feedback on her work.
Imposter syndrome, a common experience in creative growth, is characterized by feelings of inadequacy that persist even when there's clear evidence of competence. For writers, dealing with imposter syndrome can be challenging, feeling like a hellish experience. However, Meg encourages those struggling not to quit writing, despite their doubts.
To manage imposter syndrome, Meg suggests several key strategies:
- Observe and defuse imposter thoughts: By becoming aware of negative internal narratives and practicing cognitive defusion techniques, you can "social distance" yourself from these thoughts, viewing them as mere thoughts, not facts.
- Moderate comparisons with others: Comparisons on social media often fuel imposter feelings. Remember that you only see others’ highlights, not their struggles, and focus on your own goals and growth instead.
- Engage in reflective journaling: Track your progress and remind yourself of your achievements and lessons learned by reflective journaling. Revisiting your writing journey builds confidence and counters self-doubt.
- Be transparent and vulnerable: Share your challenges and areas where you need help. Sharing your struggles can open you to support and reduce the pressure of feeling you must have all the answers.
- Take breaks from social media and digital distractions: Reconnect with your present self and avoid triggers that worsen imposter feelings by taking breaks from social media and digital distractions.
- Remember imposter syndrome is common and natural: Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear completely but can be managed with ongoing self-awareness and positive habits.
Together, these methods help writers prevent imposter syndrome from blocking creativity and allow more full engagement with their work.
Meg, a freelance writer and an eight-time NaNoWriMo winner, has work published in Teen Ink, Success Story, Lifehack, and USA TODAY College. She writes not just for herself but for anyone who might be reading, believing they have important things to say.
For more insights on writing, check out related articles such as "Writing Through Your Fear" and "How to Be Taken Seriously as a Writer." You can also follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and nerdy things.
In her pursuit of helping writers, Meg, the founder of Novelty Revisions, has personally battled imposter syndrome and recommends addressing it through strategies such as observing and defusing imposter thoughts, moderating comparisons with others, engaging in reflective journaling, being transparent and vulnerable, taking breaks from social media, and remembering that imposter syndrome is common and natural. As she continues to write and publish, Meg aims to provide a platform for others to share their experiences and grow in health-and-wellness, including mental health.
