DID YOU SAY IMPOSTOR SYNDROME?
Hej Writer, do you ever feel like a bit of a fraud? Like you’re not a “real” author? Maybe you feel like you don’t deserve the sales, the glowing reviews, or even the likes you get? Perhaps you find yourself comparing your work to others and feeling like a literary charlatan because you’re no Joyce, Morrison, or Proust.
If the answer is yes, I have good and bad news for you. Let’s start with the bad news so we get that out of the way: You’re probably dealing with impostor syndrome. That’s it. End of bad news. And the good news? You’re in good company. According to an article in the International Journal of Behavioural Science*, around 70% of the population experiences this phenomenon.
In today’s talk, we’re going to explore what impostor syndrome really is, how it manifests, and – more importantly – what you can do about it.
What Is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where a person feels inadequate despite evidence of success or competence. It’s sometimes referred to as impostorism or impostor phenomenon, and its hallmark is a deep-seated fear of being exposed as a fraud.
The syndrome doesn’t discriminate – it affects everyone from best-selling authors to emerging writers. You could be winning literary prizes or selling millions of books and still feel like none of it is deserved. Often, even external validation like good reviews or large social media followings can’t quiet the inner critic that says, “You’re not good enough.”
Now, if you belong to the lucky (?) minority who’s never had to wrestle feelings of inadequacy, this may all sound trivial to you. It may sound as if it’s not a “real” problem. If that’s the case you may want to tap out here, but if you stay for the ride you may learn a thing or two. It may even help you become a better ally or support system for someone you care about who does have this problem. Because that’s what it is. A problem.
A Close Relative of GAD
Impostor syndrome manifests in different ways, but it was American psychologists, Dr Pauline Rose Clance and Dr Suzanne A. Imes, who introduced the term ‘impostor phenomenon’ for what they described as an “internal experience of intellectual phoniness.”
In their study, Clance and Imes surveyed more than 100 women, all of whom had been formally recognised for their professional excellence and academic achievement. And they all had one thing in common – they couldn’t see or acknowledge their own success and accomplishments despite consistent external validation and positive feedback. Instead, they would say that they had been lucky, or argue that people had simply overestimated their worth.
In 1978, the results of this study were presented in “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention.” The commonalities found in the women included factors such as “generalized anxiety, lack of self-confidence, depression, and frustration related to inability to meet self-imposed standards of achievement.” This, in turn, the researchers suggested, stemmed from factors like gender stereotypes, familial problems, cultural norms etc.
Although Clance and Imes described it as a common phenomenon among high-achieving women, we have since learned that impostor syndrome affects all genders alike. In later years, it has also been linked to – or at least seen as a close relative of – Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
It is not a mental disorder, but it can be treated with psychological interventions. There are also a number of strategies you can implement in your life to help you deal with this problem. However, they are not an alternative to professional help.
Disclaimer
If you are struggling with something that has a negative effect on your ability to function in your daily life, please note: I am a coach, not a licensed health professional. What I want for you is a chance to live and love your life to its fullest. Sometimes that means picking up the phone, or going online, to book an appointment with an expert. There is no shame in that.
Five Different Types of Impostors
If you’ve read this far and started to feel relieved that you don’t have any of the symptoms hitherto described – hold your seahorses, mate, we’re not back in port yet. You see, in keeping with its name, impostor syndrome can appear in different guises. Clance and Imes identified five main types. Let’s see if you recognise yourself in any of them:
- THE EXPERT: You base your worth on what you know and constantly feel the need to prove your knowledge. As a writer, this might look like endless research or feeling inadequate if you can’t answer every question.
- THE GENIUS: You believe everything should come easily. If your first draft isn’t perfect, you feel like a failure. Writers with this mindset often abandon projects when they don’t measure up to their ideal.
- THE PERFECTIONIST: Nothing is ever quite good enough. You may rewrite the same paragraph over and over or never feel ready to publish. This fear of imperfection can lead to procrastination.
- THE SOLOIST: You feel the need to do everything on your own. Accepting help or feedback makes you feel like you’ve failed. As a writer, you may avoid critique groups or editors, believing you have to handle it all yourself.
- THE SUPERHERO: You measure your success by how much you can juggle. You try to write, manage life, and do it all perfectly, leading to burnout and the feeling that you’re falling short everywhere.
Writers who struggle with impostor syndrome often find themselves paralysed by fear or perfectionism, unable to enjoy their accomplishments, or worse, avoiding writing altogether.
The worst part is that external success doesn’t always quiet those inner demons. In fact, the more recognition you get, the louder that voice inside might become, insisting you don’t deserve it. That’s why it’s a good idea to figure out if this is a problem you have, and if so, how to address it.
Question of the Day
- Do you ever struggle with impostor syndrome?
- How do you manage those feelings when they arise?
Let’s talk in the comments below, or email me at news@aswewrite.com.
Now, look at us, messmate – we made it all the way to the end again. How cool is that? Thank you for stopping by the old ship and giving me a moment of your time. I hope you found a nugget or two you can take with you from our little talk, and I look forward to seeing you at the next one.
Tack & hej,
//Linn 🤍