Feeling like a fraud who doesn't deserve to call themselves a writer, despite real evidence that you can actually write.
Imposter syndrome for writers is the deep, persistent feeling that you don't belong in the writing world and that it's only a matter of time before everyone figures out you're faking it. It goes beyond normal self-doubt - you might dismiss your published work as a fluke, attribute positive feedback to people being polite, or feel like you're somehow tricking readers, agents, or fellow writers. The cruel irony is that imposter syndrome tends to hit hardest when you're actually making progress, because each new milestone raises the stakes of being 'found out.'
Imposter syndrome can hold you back from submitting your work, applying to programs, sharing your writing publicly, or even telling people you're a writer. It creates a ceiling on your ambitions that has nothing to do with your actual talent. Recognizing it for what it is - a psychological pattern, not a reflection of reality - lets you take bold steps in your writing career even when that inner voice says you don't deserve to.
Angelou famously said she'd written eleven books but each time thought 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now' - proof that imposter syndrome doesn't care about your resume.
Gaiman has spoken extensively about feeling like a fraud, once receiving a letter meant for a different Neil and thinking 'well, at least they haven't found me out yet.'
Even after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, Morrison described moments of wondering whether she truly deserved the recognition her work received.
Collins has discussed the intense self-doubt she experienced during the writing process, questioning whether her concept would resonate with readers at all.
It often gets worse with success because the perceived stakes increase. Neil Gaiman and Maya Angelou both described feeling like imposters well into their celebrated careers.
Imposter syndrome is a cognitive distortion, not a talent assessment. The fact that you care enough to doubt yourself often means you're taking your craft seriously.
Talk about it with other writers. You'll discover that the people you admire most often feel exactly the same way, and naming the feeling takes away much of its power.
Create an 'evidence file' right now. Open a document and list every piece of concrete evidence that you are a writer - stories you've finished, positive feedback you've received, classes you've taken, writing habits you maintain, even the fact that you're reading this glossary to improve. Keep this document somewhere accessible and add to it whenever imposter syndrome flares up. Spend ten minutes building your initial list.