When you find yourself staring at a blank page on your laptop, unable to write a single word, it doesn’t always mean you’re out of ideas.
A writer’s block is often caused by imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome? It’s when you are constantly questioning yourself, and you have a feeling of incompetence and self-doubt, despite your experience and accomplishments.
When you feel like a phony writer, how can you start a new short story or an idea for a novel?
I have found a simple guide by a personal brand strategist, Claire Bahn, which makes things easier. She suffered imposter syndrome herself, and she provides a few clear ideas how to overcome it.
Here are the highlights:
1. Keep learning – when you can’t write anything, learn something. If you work on improving your skills and knowledge, you will feel more worthy.
2. Don’t get overwhelmed by your perfectionism – it prevents you from getting anything done. Not everything you do has to be perfect, especially that first sentence on the blank page.
3. Visualize success – don’t be afraid of thinking about what you have accomplished. Write it down. Once you do it, don’t be afraid of sharing it with the others.
4. Go out of your comfort zone – when you stay in your comfort zone, you can only do what you did before. You won’t know what you’re capable of until you step outside your comfort zone.
5. Make a list of people you relate to – if you list successful professionals in your area of expertise, you will have a chance to learn what they did to achieve their goals.
Full info: Dealing with Imposter Syndrome – Claire Bahn
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