How to Beat Imposter Syndrome
It's about time we talked about the monster in our minds.
Want to know something funny (and painfully ironic)? I got imposter syndrome trying to write this article. That’s right; I kept putting this topic off because I had a voice in my head saying things like…
What do you know? You’re just some random writer.
Nobody actually cares what you think.
You’re not an expert, so stop pretending.
I’m willing to bet you’ve heard similar thoughts in your writer's brain, too. You’re not alone, trust me. Despite that voice in my head, I decided it was time to write this article. So, without further adieu, let’s talk about Imposter Syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome, Anyway?
The Webster's Dictionary defines “Imposter Syndrome as…”
Relax. I’m kidding. I’m not the kind of writer who opens an article with a dictionary definition (but I am the kind to make a joke about it!). Imposter Syndrome is that feeling you get when you suddenly start thinking you’re a fraud.
It’s that voice that says, “You’re not good enough,” or “You don’t deserve this,” and you feel this way despite evidence to the contrary. For some people, these thoughts spiral into a genuine fear that others will “find out,” and they’ll be labeled as the imposters they think they are.
“For me, I look back at what I have actually accomplished to remind myself that I’m not pretending to be an author; I am one.”
- Jonathan Snyder (@itwasntme223.bsky.social)
It’s one of those feelings that comes and goes, but here’s the thing: it will come back. I often refer to Imposter Syndrome as the writer’s version of the common cold (though it’s really more like the flu).
Everybody gets it, and they’ll get it more than once.
Name anybody, any author, artist, architect, designer, carpenter, or sculptor; it doesn’t matter. Pick a creative person from the past or the present, and I guarantee you they’ve felt the crushing weight of Imposter Syndrome at some point in their lives.
Success doesn’t make it go away, either. Stephen King has felt it. George R.R. Martin has felt it. Hell, I’d bet good money William Shakespeare experienced Imposter Syndrome. It happens to everyone.
They also say misery loves company, but I know at this point you’re asking, “Okay, so I’m not the only one, but what if it’s true? What if I’m not good enough to be a real writer?”
Before we get into the article, I want you to say two things for me right now. I know this is cheesy, but when you say things out loud, you speak them into existence, so just humor me if you don’t mind.
Say this:
“I am not alone.”
“I am a real writer.”
Say it once, twice, three times, record it, and start a podcast if you’d like, but when you say it, believe it because it’s true.
Okay? Now, do me a favor and tell that nasty inner voice to shut up for a few minutes while the adults talk.
10 Ways to Fight Imposter Syndrome Every Time It Shows Up
You’re probably wondering how I came up with ten ways to fight Imposter Syndrome. Well, I didn’t. As part of this article, I asked my fellow writers across Substack, BlueSky, and Threads to weigh in with their thoughts.
Their input fueled the concepts for this article, and you’ll find quotes from their responses throughout this article!
After all, Imposter Syndrome is one of those things that you can’t defeat alone. You need the support of your fellow writers and artists to truly beat it. That’s the power of this amazing community! So, with our powers combined, here’s what we came up with!
1) Stay Hungry (Figuratively)
The worst part about Imposter Syndrome is its tendency to take away your drive and your desire to write. If you let it consume you, you’ll soon lose all interest in your work and convince yourself that you shouldn’t try at all.
DO NOT let that happen! You need to stay hungry. Hungry for knowledge, hungry for new stories, hungry for feedback, and hungry for success. I know a lot of douchey entrepreneur types use the term “hungry” alongside fun terms like “hustle” and “grind,” but here I mean it in a more artistic sense.
Artists who are hungry from a creative standpoint are nourished by their craft (and by enjoying art from others in all its forms). I’m one of those people. I love writing, but I also love reading other poems and stories.
If you stay creatively hungry, you’ll find that you don’t want to write. Instead, you need to write. At that point, Imposter Syndrome can’t stop you. It can slow you down, but that’s about it. After all, when you need something, you’ll do anything to get it.
“First, I ask myself if that inner voice belongs to me or someone else. If it’s someone else’s voice inside me, I throw it in the garbage and get to work. I cook stories to the best of my ability because I’m hungry.”
- Chris Ochoa (@comicalfoods)
Another thing to remember is that you can’t fight Imposter Syndrome on an empty stomach. When we push ourselves to the brink of burnout, we lose our ability to properly fight back against the intrusive thoughts that Imposter Syndrome likes to use against us.
Remember, if you feel off, sometimes you just need a nap, a snack, or a shower. Those three things can fix many problems, including Imposter Syndrome. Doing something (or anything) else breaks the mental cycle and gives your brain and body a chance to recharge.
Here’s a helpful diagram:
This brings me to my last point regarding hunger: sometimes, it’s just low blood sugar. If you’re anything like me, you forget to eat for hours on end because you’re working (in my case, writing for work), and before you know it, you’re hangry and vulnerable to Imposter Syndrome and its wiles.
“Chocolate. Seriously.”
- Smoking GNU (@smoking-gnu.bsky.social)
Don’t underestimate the power of something as simple as a candy bar, a piece of chocolate, or whichever form of sugar you prefer. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to put a pep back in our step (and to kick Imposter Syndrome to the curb).
2) Remember that Art is Subjective
Our second tip is something that many writers tend to forget when they are in the depths of self-doubt or have recently received a negative review of their work. First, it’s important to separate genuine criticism from trolls on the internet.
If someone leaves a bad review or a negative comment on your book, check to see if it passes the sniff test (in other words, check to see if it’s B.S. or not). If they point out flaws in a specific and genuine way, then it could be considered valid feedback (though, in these cases, they may not do it in the nicest way).
“Reading one-star reviews of my favorite books reminds me how reading is subjective.”
- Shameez Patel (@shameezwrites.bsky.social)
In other cases, they may just say something vague and rude, in which case they’re just being an asshat, and you can toss their opinion right into the garbage. In either case, these moments can lead to a massive flare-up of Imposter Syndrome.
You’ll suddenly convince yourself that this person is right! Somehow, their opinion represents the eight billion people on Earth. I know that sounds ridiculous, but Imposter Syndrome has a way of making us believe things like this.
When this happens, remind yourself that art is subjective. There are certain fundamentals that define “good” writing, but the rest is a matter of opinion.
No matter how big or small, every author has run into readers who didn’t like their books. It’s a simple fact of life, but one person’s opinion does not (and will never) define the quality of your work.
3) Revisit Your Greatest Hits
This strategy is particularly effective for me. One of the best ways to fight back against Imposter Syndrome is to remind yourself how far you’ve come. This can be done in a few different ways, depending on what works best for you:
Try reading one of your old stories that you liked
Go back and read the positive comments or feedback you received
Take some time to enjoy the hobbies or activities that inspired you to write in the first place.
I like to use a combination of all three myself. Sometimes, I screenshot messages or comments from fellow Substack writers who have said something nice about me or my writing. When I start feeling down on myself, I pull those up as a “break in case of emergency” backup.
“I’d say go back and read some stuff you wrote a while ago to see how far you’ve come. You can also block out time to consume media (books, games, movies, etc.) in the genre you write.”
- Princesse Étoilée (@rainbowsodaa.bsky.social)
The paradox of imposter syndrome is that it happens despite clear evidence that you are a good writer and deserve the success you have. A perfect example is that even though I’ve been working in marketing for six years now as a Content Marketing Manager, I sometimes still feel like I’m not qualified for my job.
When that happens, I stop and ask myself, “If I’m not qualified, how did I make it this far?” And with that, the inner critic gets really quiet.
4) Take Away its Power
In a lot of fiction and mythology stories, it’s generally understood that you have power over something if you know its name. It’s why, in horror movies, you’ll sometimes see the hero track down the name of a monster or demon. Once they have that information, they can control it.
Imposter Syndrome is very similar, but knowing what it’s called isn’t enough sometimes. As humans, we’re programmed to be afraid of things we don’t understand. If what you’re feeling doesn’t have a name, it tends to be scarier.
“I’ve named mine the Wicked Witch, and identifying it as such helps me realize the voice isn’t real.”
- Wajeeha Nadeem (@wajnad)
Consider that quote above from fellow Substack writer Wajeeha Nadeem. She brings up a really good point there. She uses her ability as a writer to give that inner critic a name. In doing so, she takes power over it and reminds herself it isn’t real. It’s just a character like any other.
As creatives, we must remember that, despite our mind’s ability to get away from us, we’re ultimately still in control. If we take away Imposter Syndrome’s power, we can wrench that control back from its claws, talons, tentacles, or whichever appendages it has in your imagination.
5) Write for Yourself First
At the end of the day, we all want success. I don’t think anyone will disagree. We publish our work in the hopes that people will read it and, ideally, resonate with it as well.
While that’s certainly an admirable goal, to truly rise above Imposter Syndrome's depths, you must write for yourself first. What do I mean by that?
We all have our reasons for writing. For some of us, it’s simply because we need to tell stories. For others, it’s because they enjoy it. And, for others, it’s a cheaper alternative to therapy. Whatever your reason for writing, focus on the benefits or reasons that apply to you and go from there.
“Always write for yourself. Write what you want, not what you think others might want.”
- PsychMedSurvivor (@psychmedsurvivor.bsky.social)
If the soul of your work exists in a place where it’s meant for you first and foremost, then Imposter Syndrome can never touch it. You can wish for success and chase your ambitions, but at the end of the day, write for yourself first and foremost, and you’ll find that much of the self-doubt goes away.
6) Focus on Your Unique Writing Voice
Something I’ve often said on Substack is that “no one can tell you a story quite like you,” and I believe every word of that. Your writer’s voice makes your work unique, and building it is an incredibly important step in your writer’s journey.
The Flash Fiction February event I ran in 2025 was a perfect example of this. Each day, I gave subscribers a prompt, and you would not believe how many different stories came out of that one idea. Every day, I would read wildly different stories born from the same seed.
“I just try to remember that no one has my voice, and no one can tell stories the way I can.”
- Mina Howell (@minahowell)
That’s incredible, and it showcases how every writer tells their stories differently. When I was younger, I heard that old quote from Mark Twain, “There’s no such thing as an original idea,” I’ll admit that I felt a little discouraged.
But here’s the thing: just because the hero’s journey has been done every possible way many times over doesn’t mean that anyone has done it exactly like you could. It’s those little details, those nuances, those micro-decisions, where the magic happens in storytelling.
“Don’t listen to that dark voice in the back of your mind trying to eat away at you.”
- T.P. Kaaos (@tpkaaos)
So, whenever you hear that voice telling you your stories aren’t unique or interesting, just do a favor and remind yourself that there’s not a single human being out there who can write a story quite like you can.
Your art deserves to exist. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, over and over, until every writer in the world believes it.
7) Create (and Manifest) Your Writer’s Persona
As writers, we have the ability to create something from nothing. That’s a superpower, no matter how you slice it. That power isn’t limited to just stories on a page, either. We can also write our own stories if we choose to do so.
It has to be a focused effort. It needs to be intentional. In recent years, I’ve heard that people can “manifest” something if they believe in it. Regardless of your beliefs in the greater machinations of the universe, I think it’s true that we, as writers, can shape reality through our actions.
“Build an image of a professional. Imagine your publisher, literary agent, or editor impatiently waiting for you to deliver the finished work. Rather than evade the responsibility (which is giving into Imposter Syndrome), you build the situation.”
- @Robopulp (@robopulp)
So, do me a favor real quick. This article is running long, but I promise we’re almost there. Close your eyes and imagine a day in your ideal writer lifestyle. What books are you working on? What kind of relationship do you have with your editor or agent?
Are you self-published in this vision? Do you have days set aside for marketing and days for writing? Map it all out before you open your eyes again. Imagine what it would be like to be in that person’s shoes for a day.
Now, ignore the voice in your head saying that will never happen. It doesn’t know anything; frankly, its fashion sense is god-awful. Have you seen those shoes it wore the other day? Your Imposter Syndrome doesn’t know anything; if that’s how it dresses, then I wouldn’t trust a single word from it about writing.
Sorry, that was a bit of a tangent there. Ignore the voice in your head and think about what’s standing between you and that writer persona you just envisioned. Those obstacles are just that: obstacles. You can dismantle them, one by one, and build your path to that reality.
You're a writer. So, write your story.
8) Be Mindful & Introspective
As someone who has suffered from anxiety due to trauma and other factors, discovering the concept of mindfulness was a huge step in the right direction for my mental health. It also helped me as a writer.
“Something that has helped me is to try and understand why I feel it or in what area. Like, what’s the trigger for it? It’s not always the same across the board. Then, I think about the creative journey and see it not as a competition but as a bunch of people running their own personal race.”
- Glen Weatherhead, Founder of Indie Release Radar (Visit Glen’s Website)
There are numerous elements to mindfulness that could fill a whole series of articles, but the core concept is just being present. It’s recognizing how you feel in any given moment, down to the most specific details, and simply acknowledging those feelings without judgment.
It grounds you in the present, and if you’re someone who’s always worrying about the past or the future, it’s an incredible tool. We can also use it to fight Imposter Syndrome by shining a spotlight on it when it happens.
“I find that pausing to verbally call out my accomplishments and skills helps shift the perspective of Imposter Syndrome a lot. I was going through this yesterday, and I was like, ‘wait, I’ve done a lot of things I can be proud of,’ and listed them.”
- Sarah E Ashley (@saraheashley)
If you hear that voice creeping up in your mind, pull it out of the shadows where it’s most comfortable and confront it right then and there.
By forcing your Imposter Syndrome into the light, pausing to confront it, and addressing it mindfully, you’ll quickly see it for what it is: utter nonsense. Examine the doubts, present your evidence, and watch that big scary monster crumble into dust.
9) Find a Mentor
This point is very near and dear to me because I can point out a few people in my life who nurtured and supported me as a writer, but one, in particular, stands out as the “mentor” who really helped me grow into the writer and artist I am today.
Her name was Sophi, and she was my supervisor when I first joined the company where I work now. At the time, I was hired as a Technical Writer and worked on an electronics engineering blog. From day one, she was an avid supporter of me and my work, but more than that, she actively sought ways to help me grow as a writer.
“The only real difference in authors is style and strengths. You won’t write the same as the legends you look up to, but your writing will shine in its own way.”
- Samuel Bowen (@samuelbowen)
She wrote articles for the engineering blog, but more than that; she was an electronics engineer herself and someone who was incredibly good at networking. She knew everyone, not just on a baseline level; she truly knew them as human beings. Her ability to build community and foster real connections was incredible.
Needless to say, I was inspired. I realized I could learn so much from her, and I did. Not only did she help me grow as a professional writer, but she also gave me the push I needed to restart my creative writing as well.
As many of you may know, I’ve been publishing on another platform called Vocal for four years now, and I still post articles and stories over there, but I’ve since switched to Substack since my audience is here, and the growth has been incredible since I joined.
“These people don’t come along often, but when they do, their support will stick with you for the rest of your life.”
Sophi was the one who told me about Vocal. She saw the writing challenges they do, and she encouraged me to try one out. The rest, as they say, is history.
I worked with Sophi for several years before she moved on to other things, and while we haven’t talked in a while, I still think about all the things she taught me.
She often described herself as someone who planted seeds for incredible ideas, nurtured them to grow, and then moved on to repeat the process elsewhere. She certainly did that for me.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to articulate how much I appreciate the time and energy she devoted to helping me evolve as a writer and human being.
I learned so much from her that I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be the writer I am today without her mentorship, and I do mean that from a professional and creative perspective. She would say that it was all me, but I like to give credit where it’s due.
Did I have the potential? Yes, but I didn’t see it. I needed someone else to see and convince me to ignite that spark.
So, I guess what I’m trying to say is find yourself a Sophi. Someone with the wisdom and knowledge to support you and the desire and drive to see you grow into the best version of yourself.
These people don’t come along often, but when they do, their support will stick with you for the rest of your life. I hope I can one day pay it forward and support another writer (or many writers if I’m lucky) in a similar fashion.
10) Seek Support in The Writing Community
And so, we reach the final tactic in this gigantic Imposter Syndrome article, but this is always something I have to mention when it comes to furthering your craft as a writer. The writing community (especially on Substack) is filled with supportive, enthusiastic, and genuine human beings, and I know that from experience.
They want to see you succeed just like I do. They are the living embodiment of the cure for Imposter Syndrome. Sometimes, all you need is someone to remind you that you are good enough, that you are a real writer, and that your art deserves to exist.
“I shake before writing anything. I shake before posting anything. There isn’t a time when I think I have produced anything brilliant. But I do it anyway. I do it anyway.”
- Nazish Nasim (@nazishnasim)
So, don’t be afraid to ask for their support. If you feel down on yourself or your art, just reach out. It can be a note, a DM to me, or whatever you need. Ask for feedback if you’re worried about a piece you’ve written! Invite people to beta read or give you their thoughts on an excerpt.
Are there trolls and less positive people hiding out there on Substack and across the internet? Yes, but that’s a fact of life. You can’t be afraid of people like that because they’re the exception to the rule. The vast majority of writers are collaborative, friendly, and supportive. I’ll tell you how I know:
Because they’ve felt Imposter Syndrome, too.
We all have. No one is above it, but there are plenty of ways to fight it. I hope you found a few in this insanely long article. Again, a huge thank you to all the writers who contributed through the quotes throughout this piece. As always, I am here for all my fellow writers if you need anything at all.
Let’s kick Imposter Syndrome to the curb and get back to writing.
Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing
A song for those times when you need a reminder that you’re a badass.
People sharing their struggles is one of the best anecdotes to impostor syndrome. Lovin this thread. Keep your heads up. Keep writing y'all.
But here’s the thing: just because the hero’s journey has been done every possible way many times over doesn’t mean that anyone has done it exactly like you could. It’s those little details, those nuances, those micro-decisions, where the magic happens in storytelling.
That's the line that encouraged me most, I needed to hear that!! Thank you so much for writing this!! What a gem. I've literally saved this.