Imposter Syndrome
About a month ago, I posted
about my first rejection. I made the comment
that now I could call myself a real writer. I had two friends reply to
that post, pointing out that I was already a writer long before I was
rejected. I had fallen prey to something everyone struggles with at one
time or another.
Imposter Syndrome is the belief that
your accomplishments are not valid, that you are a fraud that will be
discovered at any moment. Although many people have studied this
syndrome, it is not an official diagnosis found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders. Some reports state that up to 70% of people feel
that they are imposters at some point of their life. Physicist Albert Einstein wrote in a
letter to Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, "The exaggerated esteem in which
my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of
myself as an involuntary swindler."
In my case, I do not see
myself as a writer, despite evidence to the contrary. I have written two novels
and two short stories at this point. I regularly post new content to my
blog. Before I turned my attention to purely original works, I was active
in several fanfic communities for over twenty years, creating everything from
one hundred word drabbles to a series of novella length stories. Even as a
small child, I told stories to my stuffed animals. I may not be a published
author, but I am clearly a writer. But more often than not I do not see
myself as one.
What is the solution?
I've been told that I should fake it until I make it. All authors go
through this at some point or another, and sometimes repeatedly. But if I
keep calling myself a writer, if I keep acting like a writer, eventually I will
believe I am a writer.
So here it goes. My
name is Sheryl R. Hayes and I am a writer. Thank you, Melissa, for hosting me
on your blog.
Bio:
Sheryl R. Hayes is a writer who lives in Silicon Valley, Ca, where she cares
for her mother. In addition to writing,
she works full time at a private utility company. When she is not writing, she is knitting,
plotting what costume she’s wearing to the next convention she’s attending,
playing World of Darkness, or reading.
Links:
Twitter: @SherylRHayes
Thank you for the opportunity to share, Melissa.
ReplyDeleteSheryl,
ReplyDeleteWelcome and thank you for visiting with me. I think the affirmation at the end is awesome. :-)