Navigating Imposter Syndrome

wittering noun
wit·​ter·​ing ˈwitərə̇n, -riŋ
plural-s
chiefly Scottish
: a piece of information (as a sign, token, or hint)

Etymology
Middle English (Scots) wittering, witering, from gerund of witteren, witeren to clarify, inform, teach, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse vitra to manifest, reveal, vitr wise, vita to know“Wittering.” 

— “Wittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wittering.

---

how to overcome imposter syndrome

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

• Everyone will hate this...
• Not nearly as good as [insert any other author’s name]…
• Why do I even bother?

Welcome to the land of imposter syndrome! Where nothing you ever do feels quite “enough.” And no matter how many titles you publish, or how much you achieve, that still small voice is at the back of your mind chiding you.

I published Scarred Beauty earlier this past month with very little fanfare. I’ve been dubbing this release my “slow burn,” as opposed to how I managed Craving Beauty. For one, I didn’t want to push as much funds into a sequel of an ongoing series when that series isn’t yet complete. But I also have had this abject fear that while I had almost entirely positive feedback for the first in the series, everyone would hate the sequel. Why? Great question. I have no clue.

Not everyone struggles quite so much with imposter syndrome, but most authors I know have dealt with it at some point or other. Part of mine stems from the fact I haven’t managed to sell quite as many books as my peers. I’ve had middling to less success if I’m honest. I haven’t minded as much, since I threw equal if not more focus on reviewing/blogging and my day job (where I help create book covers for my fellow authors). The fact is, I haven’t put out as much content as I could have by this point, certainly not as much as most of my peers who started publishing at the same time I did. Story of my author life…

Because I don’t think I’ve faced a book release without at least some struggle with imposter syndrome, I tried to push through it and “just keep swimming.” It ain’t my first rodeo, thankfully 😉 I know that my brain is being irrational, and that just as many folks are likely to love the story as I did writing it. I know that for every glowing and bad review, there are a dozen readers who just don’t leave reviews or ratings but still enjoy it. In today’s online culture, we tend to hear and focus on the extreme voices, and negativity is often the loudest. Maybe that’s why (if you’re like me) we’re so quick to jump to the negative?

It’s ironic really, because I’ve always been a “glass half full” person. I’m overwhelmingly positive for other people’s efforts and endeavors. So why is it so hard for me to believe in myself?

I wish I had all the answers for you, that this could be the fix you need to hear to help with your own struggles. But I hope you’re at least encouraged in knowing you aren’t alone. Many people, even more successful people than me, can’t quite shake the whispers of “not enough.”

Instead of accepting and dwelling on that voice, I encourage you today to use those words as a challenge to yourself. Take the drive and the sense of “not enough” to do even better with your next project. Sometimes I wonder if that’s not simply the voice all creative artists hear. That even the great masters of their craft are never fully satisfied, but that is what pushes them to keep creating.

So keep creating, keep pushing, and don’t be afraid. With every project, you will improve and grow. I believe as humans we stay fundamentally the same at our core selves, but our experiences and our skills are ever in flux. If we’re lucky, we can look forward to aging and growing into the people and creatives we were meant to become. Sending you much love and extra hugs!

---

Wylder Tales continues with…

---

recent reads I’m crazy about…

Still on my epic journey to finish Safari Spell’s Long Live Dead Reckless series! I’m nearly finished with Book 2 after re-reading Book 1 + the prequel. This series is insane but in the best of ways 😉 Next, if you loved The Princess Bride, full stop go and grab a copy of The Pirate King’s Thief! It’s an absolute treat! And finally, if you haven’t seen my review for S. Khubiar’s Just a Hat, hop on over to the post and enter the giveaway while you have a chance! I’m still blown away by this book and look forward to more from the author!

---