"I’m Not a Writer": Battling Imposter Syndrome

The Writing Forge

Chrysta Bairre joins Miranda and Bonnie to talk about Imposter Syndrome in this week’s episode of The Writing Forge. We referenced NCW/Writing Heights’ annual writing retreat a lot. Check out our website for details on our next retreat! https://writingheights.com/retreat

This week’s question: Do you also suffer from Imposter Syndrome? If you do, what are some ways you counteract it? Let us know at the social links below.

Tips and Tricks:

• Imposter syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.
• Sometimes imposter syndrome is sneaky, not necessarily feeling like a “fraud." For instance, the inability to accept compliments while immediately internalizing anything negative said about your work.
• You can experience imposter syndrome even if you've published multiple books or done the work of a profession—nothing will feel like it “counts.”
• A few practical tips to dealing with imposter syndrome:
• Practice receiving positive feedback differently
• Get more practiced at talking about your contributions and accomplishments and how you’re proud of yourself
• Resist the urge to talk about and point out all the imperfections in your work
• Imposter syndrome can stop you in unconscious ways, such as missing out on opportunities or not even considering options because you don’t think you’re “worthy” or you “belong.”
• Try having an accountability partner to talk about your weekly wins: how you showed up, what you accomplished, progress you’ve made
• Also try a “Win Jar” (can be physical or digital): every time someone pays you a compliment or you get good feedback, put it in the jar. When you're feeling low, you can return to the jar and go through the things there.
• Appreciate the people in your life. Help reflect on their wins and accomplishments; yours will start to sink in for yourself as well.
• Join or create communities to help empower your skills and your belief in them.

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Cover art by Maggie Walker

Links:

For more about Chrysta, visit https://liveandlovework.com/

Beautiful Badass: https://smile.amazon.com/Beautiful-Badass-Believe-Yourself-Against/dp/1734584106/

Chrysta’s blog post on compliment dodgeball: https://liveandlovework.com/2018/03/29/the-1-reason-you-are-underpaid/

Original 1978 study on “The Imposter Phenomenon:” https://www.paulineroseclance.com/pdf/ip_high_achieving_women.pdf