“The impostor syndrome does not become you.”
Something I said recently to a fellow writer at a con – someone who had multiple publications in a variety of genres through large, small and self published means. He didn’t feel he had the right to speak about writing on a particular topic on a panel because he had only published one book in that genre and it was co-written.
The Imposture Syndrome eats at you as a writer or artist. “I’m not good enough.” “Everyone knows I am faking it.” “Why do people think I can ‘adult’ this?” “I didn’t learn this in school.” “I’ve only done it once.” … the list of the internalized dialogue goes on and on.
Thanks to our culture, it’s worse for women than men, but no one is safe. Even if you have been a published author for years and years. Even if you were the point of a very long spear of people getting you to a remote location.
Neil Gaiman’s anecdote really brings this home. You can find it at his blog here: May 12, 2017.
So when your impostor syndrome flairs up, remember the malady is common … and tell that inner voice it doesn’t become you.
