Fighting imposter syndrome August 7, 2021 – Posted in: Writer

Writing is a constant work in progress… there rarely seems to be a point that you can lean back, draw a firm final line and type the words “The End”.

For me it can be an arduous, lonely and often frustrating occupation which will – if I let it – take over my whole life.

And then – just when I think that I might have finally cracked it and everything is falling neatly into place – a nasty nagging voice on my shoulder starts planting the seeds of doubt.

Yes, it’s there and it has a name : Imposter Syndrome.

Apparently this uninvited inner critic will speak to as many as 70% of people at some point in their working life. I suspect that amongst writers the percentage might be even higher.

So why on earth do we do it (the writing that is) ?

It certainly isn’t for the money? On an hourly basis it would make better financial sense to take a job stacking supermarket shelves or any other menial task. This is not in any way meant as a derogatory comment to shelf stackers – they do a great job – more to us idiots who sit hunched over our computers dealing with anxiety and insecurities when outside the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the garden is beckoning.

Yes, there are some highs – when you are finally happy with a re-worked chapter, or hold the first copy of your published book in your hands and think – yes this is entirely my creation – my baby, if you will.

You can understand why many writers use the analogy between pregnancy and book production. From the first flutters of inspiration to its painful conclusion months later, there is an obvious similarity which doesn’t end there. Like the agony of childbirth, many of us then go through the whole book writing process again and again.

I have found no answer to this conundrum. Perhaps it’s like climbing mountains or swimming in freezing water – on some weird level, we just do it because we can.

We need to write to fulfil ourselves. Because sometimes – however rarely – the writing process manages to satisfy a creative urge that just won’t go away on its own however hard we might try and ignore it.