Imposter syndrome -I had it and...

For those who follow my blog, I watch Sara Lubratt every week, and lately she came down with Imposter's syndrome. I can count the times I felt worthless at writing on one hand and a bit of the other. I guess maybe 7 or 8 times. Every time, I tried to write better, realizing that those who weave great tales are great writers and I... was not one of them.

I never really got over Imposter's but came to live with it. Believing and pigeon-holing myself into a mediocre literary stance, and just being honest with how I build my stories. I think that my brain doesn't think big or detailed enough at the same time which is why my tales are less spectacular.

I remember reading Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. and he blew me away with his poetic prose. At the time, I thought it a more relaxed Poul Andersen. And A.C. wasn't a writer known for his character development -emotions, etc. It was a well-crafted book and it made me warm inside as a Sci-Fi lover.

I read so many other Sci-Fi novels before I attempted to be a writer of them as well, I love Ballard and Wyndham. Both charming / playful with words. And they taught me so much. But on with the tips on surmounting I.S.

1. You cannot write a story while doubting your story. If you have doubts about your talent, it might be your story -it isn't meant to be written by you (yet). So I canned my super upmarket novel and wrote a free superhero novel 'Super Derek Underpants' and it took off very easily. To play in Derek's universe was a breath of fresh air and I never doubted what I was writing was worth telling.
2. You cannot be yourself while doubting yourself. Lotsa writers died of suicide, Hemingway, David F. etc. Painters: Vincent Van and Rockers, Shannon Hoon and Kurt Cobain. What you are, away from your word processor matters a lot and you are primarily a person, not merely a creator. If you don't love yourself, at least don't doubt yourself. You will write better.
3. Finally, you cannot edit thru other people's ideals. This is my perspective -that someone out there is being your style guide. Some piece someone wrote that floored you like Hendrix and Clapton back in the 70s were dueling guitars. You must edit or find an editor, thru your life's ambitions, not milestones set by someone else.