Over the last few years, I’ve encountered the term imposter syndrome, and I’m like, “What is that?”
Imposter syndrome is a thought pattern that reoccurs in someone’s mind and tells them they’re not good enough at what they do. For example:
“I’m not a good teacher.”
“I’m a terrible physician.”
“I’m not as good a writer as all the other writers on the planet.”
Usually, imposter syndrome is brought on by several things:
- Perfectionism
- Fear of failure
- Discounting success
- Overthinking
Recently, I got some got advice on how to deal with imposter syndrome.
I attended a webinar called Protecting Your Creative Brain from . . . Life. It was hosted by Writing Mastery Academy‘s Jessica Brody and featured guest writer and actress Emmy Laybourne.
Jessica and Emmy have been friends for years. They met while promoting their novels on a book tour with several other authors. They made the webinar so much fun by sharing their own anecdotes about the writing life.
The webinar attendees asked questions about writing, and I decided to ask about imposter syndrome. I’ve transcribed Jessica and Emmy’s responses to my questions. If you want to watch a video of the entire webinar, subscribe to Writing Mastery Academy.
My questions:
Can you give advice on what to do for writers who may have imposter syndrome? What is it exactly and how can writers surrounded by more successful author peers stay motivated?
Jessica:
This is such a great question, Andrew. When I was touring with Emmy, we were also on tour with other authors, who I will say were more successful than myself . . .
Emmy:
. . . and myself.
Jessica:
Very much so.
Emmy:
Leigh Bardugo was on our tour.
Jessica:
Yeah, Leigh Bardugo was on our tour, and she obviously was a huge success, was then, is now. A huge inspiration at the same time. But I remember just feeling, you know, smiling on these panels, and knowing that half, more than half of the audience was there to see Leigh, and not to see me. There were moments where I was like, “What am I doing here? (laughter) I don’t belong on this panel with these amazing authors.” So, I have definitely been there, Andrew, and I think just having Emmy here with me is a fun walk down the memory lane of my imposter syndrome. But I want to hear if you have any awesome advice for Andrew.
Emmy:
I do. I have a really practical bit of advice for you, Andrew, which is go to the library or the bookstore and find several books that are terrible, that have been published, that are in your genre that suck, because they’re there. So many bad books have been published. It will bowl you over. And every time you start to feel like, “I’m no good. I can’t write a detective mystery.” Then pick up ‘A Is For Applesauce’ (laughter). Find the worst mystery ever written and read it and rejoice that you’re better than that writer.
“Go to the library or the bookstore and find several books that are terrible . . . that are in your genre that suck . . . Read it and rejoice that you’re better . . .”
Emmy Laybourne
I know that sounds flippant, but it actually is really true. When I’m writing a book, I never read books in the same genre as what I’m writing. I certainly don’t read fancy literary fiction when I’m writing. I read books in other genres that are not going to mess with the voice of the project I’m working on. But also, I don’t want to be comparing myself to other people. Remember that comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare what you’re doing, your process, your work. Really, you need to be the defender of your work. I know it’s hard to take that stance.
You can’t write and edit at the same time. Jess, you’ll remember I used to say this on tour. It’s like driving a car. You can’t drive with your foot on the gas and your foot on the brake. So, imposter syndrome, those thoughts, “I’m not good enough. I don’t belong here. Who am I to think I could write a book?” That is your foot jamming on the break. You just can’t write with that [thought]. So, you got to somehow stop stepping on the break.
Jessica:
I remember quoting you in one of my online courses, “My friend, Emmy Laybourne, aways used to say . . . (laughter)” It’s such good advice. I actually have a similar tactic that I use. I don’t go and read the books at the bookstore. But I go and find the really bad reviews. I do it the other way around. I find a book that I love, like my favorite book in the world. And I go on Goodreads, and I find the one-star reviews for it. Not to change my mind, but to remind myself that every book has lovers and haters. Every book is good for someone and terrible for someone else. It’s all relative. It reminds me that not every book is for everyone. This is more how I deal with my own negative critiques.
“I go and find the really bad reviews . . . I find a book that I love, like my favorite book in the world. And I go on Goodreads, and I find the one-star reviews for it. Not to change my mind, but to remind myself that every book has lovers and haters.”
Jessica Brody
I feel like this works in a similar way, in that write the book only you can write and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. Or even what everyone else is thinking. Because there will be someone out there–and hopefully multiple people–who will love what you write. It won’t be everyone. I guarantee you. But the people who will, that’s who you’re writing it for. That’s what I tell myself even though it’s hard sometimes. You want to be the person that writes the book everyone loves, but I don’t think there is that person.
Emmy:
The way you put that was absolutely genius. We have the book that we want to write in our minds. We’re trying to achieve a dream of a book in our minds. And it takes years of practice to get there, so you have to be patient, too.
So, I felt Jessica and Emmy did a great job of explaining how they deal with imposter syndrome. The whole webinar was full of great tips on developing creativity, finding time to write, and becoming a better writer overall.
I’ve mentioned Jessica Brody several times on this blog and I highly recommend her books on writing:Save the Cat Writes a Novel and Save the Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel. She also has a wonderful young adult fiction trilogy called Systems Divine. I’ve also mentioned Jessica’s Writing Mastery Academy, which I’ve been a member of for a few years. I highly recommend it. It’s hard to believe someone as successful as Jessica has dealt with imposter syndrome, but haven’t we all?
This webinar was my first introduction to Emmy, so I haven’t had the opportunity to read any of her novels. I bought her book Berserker, so I’m looking forward to reading it. Also, I checked out her series called Monument 14, and I am definitely putting that on my reading list. It looks great.
Here’s a fun fact about Emmy: She played Molly Shannon’s best friend in the movie Superstar, so I’m going to have to watch it.
Hope these tips on dealing with imposter syndrome have helped. Take care.
Photo by Gratisography: https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-man-person-cigarette-543/
Andrew M. Friday 
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