Help! I Don’t Feel Like A Real Writer
By: Jim Woods
Tags: Inspiration, Writing, Writer, Creative, Creativity

Help! I Don’t Feel Like A Real Writer

Words for anyone who feels like a fraud

Photo by niklas_hamann on Unsplash

You feel fake. Like a fraud even. you see all of these other writers out there crush it and you wonder if you have what it takes.

I remember telling someone something like this: “I’m not a writer. I don’t have a typewriter, cabin or a pipe.”

That’s incredibly silly to see on the page, but that’s what I thought at that time inside of my head. I had an accounting job, and I had over 12 years of experience with that job. I could only view myself as an accountant. I felt like my job was my identity. Becoming a writer meant I had to take on a new identity. It was really awkward.

But the truth is, I was just limiting myself in my mind.

Do you feel like you’re not a writer too? That you don’t have what it takes? Those are lies. I challenge you to confront your lies. The picture inside our minds is often not a reflection of reality.

If you write, you’re a writer. It’s that simple.

Secret Rules Hold You Back

What’s a secret rule? It’s something you believe in your mind but you’ve never written down.

Writers are broke. I can never make money as a writer. I can’t do it. I can’t support my family with my writing.

This one is simply not true. I personally know many writers making good money. And it’s not so much about how much you make as how much debt you have. Personally, I like to focus on quality of life versus how much money I make.

I got a C (or D or whatever) in English in school. My teacher never said I was a good writer. I can’t be a writer.

You really never got validation or you think you’re not smart enough to be a writer. Both are simply not reasons to stop you from writing. You’ll learn as you practice writing.

I don’t have time to be a writer. My plate is already full. I’m overwhelmed as is. I can’t start writing. I don’t have the energy to do it.

I totally get this. I really do. But the problem here is one of mindset. Writing can GIVE you energy as opposed to take energy from you. And it can be as simple as writing on your phone versus using your phone for social media and YouTube.

I hope you can see from above that most challenges we face about writing are often problems we create in our mind. Change is weird and uncomfortable. I know it feels like you’re shedding one kind of skin and growing into a new one. But it’s not as big of a deal as you’re making it out to be.

The truth is, if you’re questioning if you’re a writer, you’re very likely a writer.

So what do you do next to actually start feeling confident and start thinking more like a writer?

First, keep writing. Don’t worry as much about publishing. Writing matters more.

Connect with Other Writers

Once you build a relationship with other writers, you’ll soon discover that you are not alone. You’ll find hope. And hope is one of the most powerful things in the world.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Imposter syndrome is real. It’s just a sneaky way that fear stops you from creating. Don’t let it. We’re all facing the same demons. It’s just that most people never talk about it.

So what’s your very next step? I recommend you lean on the page. Confront your fears and even try out Morning Pages. I honestly like to rant in my Morning Pages. I say things like, “Hello blank page, I’m going to write on you today. Even though I’m not sure what I’m going to say.” For more on Morning Pages, check out this post.