34 Comments
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Matt's avatar

People sharing their struggles is one of the best anecdotes to impostor syndrome. Lovin this thread. Keep your heads up. Keep writing y'all.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

I wholeheartedly agree, Matt! Thank you so much for checking it out and for your support!

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Annieguile Bentulan's avatar

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.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

I’m so happy the article helped you! I absolutely love your writing, so anything I can do to remind you that your work needs to exist is a major win in my book! 😁

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Annieguile Bentulan's avatar

You are so KIND!!!! That means so much to me🥹 thank you! Your support makes the whole terrifying process of putting my work out there feel a little less daunting. I’m keeping this comment in my ‘reasons to keep going’ folder. 😂🫶

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

It's the truth! I still think about the horror story you did during Flash Fiction February, haha. I'm very happy to hear my support helps you put your art into the world. That means I'm doing my job. 😁

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Rachel Tribble's avatar

Thank you for writing this! I have the hardest time thinking of myself as a writer and then of course - who would read it and all the games I play in my head.

This was really helpful!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Really glad it helped, Rachel! You are absolutely a writer, and I am happy to remind you any time you need it. 😊

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Rachel Tribble's avatar

12 daily reminders every day every month throughout the year 😂😂😛. Thank you so much ! Honestly! I’m sure I’ll take you up on it.

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Ash's avatar

This is really helpful. I’ve started turning my microfiction into horror short screenplays. I went to a filmmakers meetup and every time someone asked “what do you do” (because there were writers, directors, actors…etc) I would say “I’m a writer” and the damn imposter syndromes would pop up and I would start explaining how I was new at it and all this stuff. Everyone accepted me but I kept making myself feel like I didn’t belong.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

I’m really glad you enjoyed the article! I really resonate with this story here. It can be incredibly daunting to step into a group of experienced writers and feel like you don’t belong.

I had a similar experience when I first became a professional writer. I had started out as a Technical Writer and I remember talking to an electronic engineer and he was asking me about manuals for 3D Printers, and I felt like the biggest imposter ever, haha.

However, just like your story, I was quickly accepted by the community, and that’s doubly true here with the fiction and poetry community on Substack. I’m a big believer in the fact that if you are writing anything, you’re a writer.

Doesn’t matter how new you are, how experienced you are, or how much success you’ve seen. From the moment you created something from nothing (in this case, screenplays), you became one of us. 😁

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Hazel's avatar

I think every time I write posts announcing changes or ideas I have for any of my publications, that sense of imposter syndrome kicks in. Yesterday I was highly debating taking out one part of the post I put out earlier, but eventually left it in because it’s an idea I really want to try out

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

I understand that for sure, but it's absolutely important to chase inspiration. I love how you've always been transparent with your community. I think it's an extremely admirable quality.

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Shira's avatar

I feel imposter sydrome all the time. I don't think there's any amount of success or external validation that will cure me of it completely. However, I still write. I still hit publish. The support of the amazing community of writers on Substack has helped and encouraged me so much.

Thank you for writing this awesome article. These tips are going to be so helpful to me and so many others!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Thank you so much for this amazing comment, Shira! I apologize that I missed it back when you first posted it. But yes, you're absolutely right there there's no "cure" for Imposter Syndrome.

Instead, it's something we have to intentionally dismiss when it arises with support from the community and by finding our own sense of confidence in our work. I appreciate your input and support as always!

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Things saved from wildfires's avatar

Thank you for this!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

You are very welcome! I'm trying to do articles on writing topics like this weekly. I just posted a new one about the differences between plotters, pantsers, and plantsers!

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Maryellen Brady 💗📚's avatar

What writer hasn't experienced this? Like, Every. Single. Day. Even with all the love & encouragment....

Uber helpful.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

It's true! Imposter Syndrome is tricky to handle, and it does happen to everyone. I'm glad you found the article helpful, though! Everyone here is so talented (yourself included), so nobody should have to deal with Imposter Syndrome, but it's also a fact of life. The human brain is funny like that.

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Wild K. Nebula's avatar

I love this and the audio voice over! This is such an important topic to dive into. You’re the best! I love this. I love this. I love this! I am a real writer.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Haha, thank you so much for checking it out! You are indeed a real writer, one of the best, as far as I’m concerned!😁🤗

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T.P. Kaaos's avatar

This is going to help so very many people! I know I will be coming back to this consistently to help with that dark voice of mine! Thank you so much for adding my comment, it kind of shocked me. Haha. Not in a bad way.

This post has so many insightful and helpful tips, a little something for everyone!

Thank you so much for making this, it's delectable!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Appreciate the kind words and the support as always, Kaaos! You know I had to include you in there, haha, you’re one of the most supportive writers here on Substack!

Folks like you are out there helping people fight Imposter Syndrome every day.

I hope it helps you and many others, that’s always the goal!

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Chef Chris 🎃's avatar

Lots of great advice! Thanks for including my quote Bradley. I chuckled when you skipped over the voice part and focused on the creative hunger part. That's actually more true to who I am. Stay hungry! Love it!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Haha, yeah the article was already gigantic, so I had to trim a few of the quotes to fit into places where they made sense. I was confident that I used the most important part, which it sounds like I did, haha.

Stay hungry, indeed!

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Mercedes de Santiago's avatar

I Will be reading it on the weekend. It’s a very interesting subject.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Thanks Mercedes, excited to hear what you think!

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Mercedes de Santiago's avatar

Uff, I thought I have lost it... Well, I'm reading it tonight...

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

All good, I hope you find it helpful!

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Stephanie Church's avatar

Love the advice to go back and reread older works with readers’ comments!….It not only provides encouragement, but really does reveal to our own self the evolution and growth of our work. Thanks for this article!

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Thanks for checking out the article, Stephanie! That was one of my favorite tactics as well. 😁

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@mindset&mythos's avatar

Solid writing. I'll take some of these ideas and add them to my own ideas on tricking, rather than defeating, imposter syndrome.

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Bradley Ramsey's avatar

Glad to hear it, and thanks again for your contribution!

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R William Parmenter's avatar

Excellent! And timely. Thank you.

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