While I was writing last week’s post on harvest celebrations, it occurred to me that I have more to say about imposter syndrome. (Truthfully I could talk about it for ages, but I’ll try to be succinct! 🙂 )

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, Psychology Today defines it as a belief that one is undeserving of their achievements and accolades. It’s not an official diagnosis, but rather a thought pattern that usually accompanies anxiety, depression, or working in a highly competitive environment. I think it’s summed up best in Maya Angelou’s famous quote:

I have written eleven books but each time I think, “Uh oh, they’re going to find me out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.”

If social media is to be believed, imposter syndrome is pretty common — if not among everyone, then at least among the younger generations. I struggle with it particularly in my writing. I can’t exactly say why that is. Perhaps it’s because writing is so important to me and I put a lot of pressure on myself to get it “right.”

But here’s the thing I’d like to point out to other writers with doubts similar to mine. (I suspect it might apply in other fields as well!) After years of carefully researching and observing the field, I think I can say these things with confidence:

  • There is no “right”
  • There is no “good enough”
  • There is no “fake” (unless you’re knowingly plagiarizing, of course!)

The problem with imposter syndrome and other kinds of perfectionism is you’re trying to hold yourself to an objective standard. But out in the world, there is little to no objectivity. There are standard tropes and genre expectations you probably should be aware of, of course. But in the end, what agents want, what publishers want, what readers want — all of these things are subjective, and moreover, they’re subject to change. What is “good” is often a matter of perspective.

So when you get a little bit of praise and your mind wants to say “whatever, I’m no Stephen King/JK Rowling/Nora Roberts/etc,” just don’t. Because that’s not real. That kind of “perfection” is a moving target and honestly, it’s a ship that already sailed. There’s no way to follow in the footsteps of those authors and have the same success, because the world has changed since they succeeded. And while that might sound pretty gloomy, what I mean is, there isn’t a magic formula you “should” be following. You have to make it up on your own.

You have to make it up. Everyone is making it up. You’re not an imposter. You’re doing something you care about. I think that’s the most authentic anyone can be. 🙂