Inspiration for Writers: Quotes to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
“You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend or not.” - Isabel Allende
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Imposter syndrome is an unwelcome guest that many people encounter. No one is more susceptible to it than writers and other creatives. While working on my latest novel, I frequently encountered my inner critic, which appeared more often than I would like to admit.
But having done this for a while, I know a few tricks to help hold it back, or at least keep it from completely debilitating me when I write.
Because of the common nature of this phenomenon, I thought I’d share some of my favorite quotes for dealing with imposter syndrome. Though these are for writers, anyone can use them to fight it when it appears.
“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” - Stephen King
Starting with the King himself—Stephen King, that is—this is a quote I return to again and again, most often when I’m at the beginning stages of any project, writing or otherwise. I have it hanging on a corkboard in my writing space and have a sticky note that moves from notebook to notebook.
What resonates most about this quote for me is the idea that beginning anything—a novel, short story, essay, business, or job—is inherently terrifying.
Why? Because of fear of the unknown.
We never know how something is going to turn out. We have an end goal in mind, milestones we want to hit, and a final result, but there’s no guarantee we’ll reach them. Sometimes they happen in a way we least expect or sometimes they don’t happen at all.
That's why I always keep this quote close to me, as it serves as a reminder that we could start something new on any given day. And having it near helps me embrace the fact that I will encounter imposter syndrome, though how long it sticks around depends on me.
“Practising belonging is, in any doubtful moment, choosing over and over again, no matter where I am or who I’m with, to accompany myself—to stay with myself, in my body—rather than abandon myself.” - Holly Ringland
Holly Ringland’s first nonfiction book, The House That Joy Built, has become my go-to creative manifesto next to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, which we’ll get to later. In its pages, she imparts words worthy of printing on T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, and more.
This specific quote is in her chapter about imposter syndrome, and as part of her “Toolkit of Unfuckable-with Magic,” she states that “when I’m plagued by imposter syndrome, I remind myself I belong here.”
Imposter syndrome’s job is to make you feel like a fluke. It intentionally instills doubt in your work, accomplishments, and yourself. And it’s persistent, which makes it difficult to shake.
What I love about this quote and Ringland’s entire chapter/book is that it’s important to remember that doubt is a natural cycle of creativity. It’s going to appear no matter how hard you try to fend it off. But if you remember that you have a seat at the creative table, you can push it out of the room for a while.
It’s about accepting that imposter syndrome is always there, but you won’t give up on yourself or your dreams because of it. You can even turn imposter syndrome into a friend, or at least a “frenemy.” You greet them but don't heed their words, knowing they don't help you. You just keep moving forward.
“Creative entitlement simply means believing that you are allowed to be here, and that—merely by being here—you are allowed to have a voice and a vision of your own.” - Elizabeth Gilbert
This quote and the above one by Holly Ringland I feel go hand-in-hand. Together, they’re stating the same thing: you have to be willing to show up even when imposter syndrome appears. It’s vital for your creativity and for yourself.
Imposter syndrome’s biggest goal is to get you to believe you’re not worthy of creating what you want to create. It’s going to make you feel as though you’re not good enough, creative enough, or smart enough to get to the end. That’s when you have to grab on to that creative entitlement, as Gilbert says, and hold on for dear life.
Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about silencing doubt forever. You have to learn to coexist with it while continuing to create. To me, that’s what this quote means. By creating, even with imposter syndrome staring you down, you’re telling it, “I belong here, and I have a vision to share.”
Creativity thrives when we abandon doubt and embrace the joy of our craft and our calling.
Additional tips for overcoming imposter syndrome
While quotes can be a wonderful source of inspiration, I wanted to share a few other tips that can help on days when the words just aren’t hitting as they should.
Recognize the voice of imposter syndrome and acknowledge these thoughts without judgment. When you identify these patterns and give them a name, you can begin to reframe them into something useful.
Build a support system, especially with other writers/creatives. Join a writing group, connect with a mentor, or find an accountability buddy. Sharing your struggles and successes with others who understand can lighten the emotional load.
Create a “wins” folder that holds positive feedback, kind words, or small victories related to your writing. On tough days, revisit this collection to remind yourself of your accomplishments. It can either be a digital folder or a physical one.
Embrace the process, not just the outcome by focusing on the act of writing itself. Stop obsessing over the final product because when you pay attention to the process, you can quiet the perfectionist tendencies that feed imposter syndrome.
Other writing quotes you might enjoy:
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” - Maya Angelou
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” - Arthur Ashe
“Everything you want in your soul only has a chance of becoming if you turn up.” - Holly Ringland
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” - Theodore Roosevelt
“People don’t do this kind of thing because they have all kinds of extra time and energy for it; they do this kind of thing because their creativity matters to them enough that they are willing to make all kinds of extra sacrifices for it.” - Elizabeth Gilbert
“Creativity doesn’t have to be taught, it has to be liberated.” - John Cleese
“You are not obligated to complete your story in one sitting. Small steps lead to big stories.” - Unknown
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” - Suzy Kassem
“The act of writing is the act of discovering what you believe.” - David Hare
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” - Richard Bach
“Creativity takes courage.” - Henri Matisse
“But what if you can?” - Holly Ringland
What are a few writing quotes or affirmations you swear by? Share them in the comments so we can overcome imposter syndrome together.
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The nagging imposter syndrome! It’s a mean one. Love your tips, especially the one on keeping a “wins” folder. It reminds me of Gretchen Rubin’s “to do” list tin. ( worth a buy!) I love mine. She has a “to do”, “could do”, and also a “ta da” list of what you accomplished each day! For me, the “could do” was so liberating. I’d also never thought to list what I’d completed as I’m so focused on what I didn’t do! It makes a huge difference.