Here's how you can conquer self-doubt and imposter syndrome as a writing entrepreneur.

Like any fear, self doubt has a protective quality. The problem arises when too much self doubt stops us from moving forward. This is where good therapy and possibly even safe relationships with others who know us well is so important to help us check in on what is protective : meditative ‘self doubt’ and what is pathological, for sometimes we cannot always see it objectively for ourselves.

To conquer self-doubt and imposter syndrome as a writing entrepreneur: Embrace your uniqueness: Recognize your distinct voice and perspective, which sets you apart from others. Focus on growth: View challenges as opportunities for learning and improvement rather than validation of your worth. Celebrate achievements: Acknowledge your successes, no matter how small, to boost confidence and motivation. Seek support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of peers and friends who believe in your abilities. Take action: Break tasks into manageable steps and take consistent action towards your goals, building momentum and confidence along the way. Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness especially during setbacks or failures.

Write, rewrite, and rewrite again. Get peer feedback from a trusted small circle. Rewrite and revise again. This process will move you closer to work that is on its way to completion.

Write about something that you know a great deal about. Write about something that you love a great deal about. My first big writing project has been my autobiography. To alleviate self-doubt, I began sharing my draft eleven years ago. I got some reactions with the most valuable coming from my cousin's boutique publishing house. Over the past year, I have shared the draft extensively. Since there has been so much to improve, I am extremely happy that the draft has been consistently rejected. In my eyes, the work keeps getting better and better. I publish chapters twice a week on Substack and Facebook.

Improvement comes from self assessment and self doubt is one the things which leads to betterment. To overcome your fear, first you need to acknowledge your fear, your weaknesses. You are already a step ahead. Now you just have to analyse/plan the next step, work on it, and make yourself a better version of your own.

Realistic goal-setting is not about settling for mediocrity. It's about being pragmatic and understanding that true success takes time, effort, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By setting achievable targets and celebrating your wins, you'll stay motivated, focused, and on track to achieving your wildest writing dreams

Setting realistic goals can help conquer self-doubt. Start with small, achievable goals, such as writing a certain number of words per day or submitting work to publications. Celebrate each accomplishment to boost confidence. Surround yourself with supportive peers and mentors.

Setting a realistic goal is achievable. All you have to do is "dream big but start small". Map out your goals and work towards achieving it. Don't forget if you dream it, then you can achieve it

Setting achievable goals is vital in managing self-doubt, especially for writing entrepreneurs who might feel the pressure to succeed quickly. Break down your broader objectives into smaller, manageable tasks and take the time to celebrate each success. This method not only makes your goals more attainable but also creates a consistent flow of accomplishments that can enhance your confidence and affirm your skills.

There will be times when it feels as if you are not making headway - and there will be setbacks. Perseverance wins through. You may not win every time, but that's OK.

As a writing entrepreneur, it's important to look at every piece of writing as a learning curve. Writing is an extremely individual activity, there aren't any set formulas that one can implement. It takes time for someone to find their voice and be confident about their words.

“Erase self-doubt by working to build your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses.” — Rodolfo Costa. Consistency is the key to achieving and maintaining momentum. It’s one of your strengths (and you can keep building it). Keep writing and eventually, you gradually eliminate self-doubt and imposter syndrome. You live, learn and get better with time. Never forget.

I truly agree with this. Embracing learning will help one to improve and build strength in areas one initially felt like an imposter

Unlearn first and approach it as one word, one line, one para, one page, one act, one article at a time. Then revisit. Draft, redraft and embrace learning from your own drafts

When you're a writer, every day presents learning opportunities. Accepting that while some clients love your work while others want you to adjust to their methods can be difficult. However, it allows you to expand your range and sharpen your abilities.

Peer support is not something that should be overlooked. It is always good to run your ideas by someone who you can trust and can offer insight into your work that you may have missed.

Once I finished writing my memoir, I had no clue how to go about editing, publishing and/or marketing it. But I asked my memoir instructor for editors she'd recommend, asked another friend to show me how to set up a crowdfunding to be able to afford an editor, and my editor took my rambling narrative and turned into a page-turner that reads like a novel (it doesn't hurt that she's a NYT Best Selling novelist!). I then checked out recommendations for the best hybrid publishing/selfpublishing companies, and found an amazing one in Dartfrog. Lastly, I hired a branding coach & webmaster, and with the help of this incredible team of creatives/entrepeneurs, I was able to become a Top New Release on Amazon on launch day w/37 downloads of my ebook!

Start building relationships with people that stand out to you. It's that simple. You don't force networking but you also can't ignore it.

Essential. See people in person if you soend much time on your own. But beware of networks that spend too much time moaning and get out of them pdq!

To conquer self doubt and imposter syndrome as a writing entrepreneur, you need to have positive affirmations. This is to keep yourself motivated. You need to remind yourself of the achievements you had over the years. This is so that you would remember that you are worth something. You also need to tell yourself that not everything can go smoothly in life. Remind yourself how you fought through all the problems to succeed.

From my past experience, I used to dread the idea of positive affirmations. I thought it was just an act of saying a couple of words to try and suppress my negativity. If only the solution was that simple, I would say those words forever. But when I started establishing myself as a writer, my perception slowly changed. Positive affirmations are only just words until you believe in them. Without validating them, they’re meaningless. The purpose of saying them to yourself is to simply start that believing process. Building and believing in your affirmations can change all the negative thoughts your mind had learnt, and replace them with the simple truth - You’re not an imposter. You are deserving of success. ??

I think that being overly focused on self-affirmation can be dangerous. The sweet spot lies between lack of confidence and overconfidence. Ultimately, your worth as a writer does not lie in what you think of your own work.

The brain blots out what it sees all the time, so maybe put reminders of affirmations on a phone calendar that you can come across 'by accident'. Take an affirmation and use it every morning for a week first thing. Then review.

Awareness is crucial in acknowledging alignment with our Core Self. We carry limiting & expansive beliefs, inherited and chosen core values. The Core Self, grounded in expansion and consciousness, faces tension & duality from conflicting emotions. Awareness recognizes misalignment, enabling adjustments to resolve internal tension and move beyond limitations. Making adjustments calls for compassion, allowing vulnerability & consistency to give permission for our essential nature to be seen. This replaces external belonging with a deep-seated feeling of internal belonging. The Creative Self, fueled by light & darkness, expresses each shade without bias. Offering an unfettered view of our emotional experience provides a greater perspective.

You need to reflect back on your success as a writer if you feel that you have self-doubt. This is so that you would be able to assure yourself that you are good in your job. You need to remember back how you achieved your first success. Although it might have been a painful process at that time, you actually managed to pull through and succeed. You also need to remind yourself how many achievements you have. This is so that you would feel confident of yourself.

It's good to remember that you've been successful, but it's also important to handle criticism constructively. If you're too success-focused, you may fall into the trap of believing that you are above criticism. Success is good, but failure is your best opportunity to learn.

Updating my CV recently reminded me of the many successful projects I have initiated or been involved in. It is easy to dwell on the rejection emails, but going back through your work can remind you of what worked and where your talents lie.

This is wonderful advice. Write a list of all your achievements, no matter how small. But remember, writing a book in itself is a massive achievement- then you are an author - big milestone! Taking the plunge to work as a writer takes courage - huge achievement! Write them down and review the list whenever you feel self doubt creep in.

Learning to cultivate self-trust and self-compassion are key to overcoming self-doubt. The second step is practice. The more we practice the better we’ll become. The better we develop our skill, the more self-confidence we’ll have. Finally, by giving doubt a “seat at the table,” we can actually learn from it and make better decisions. However, never let doubt drive the bus. Simply make him a passenger. He will eventually know his place :)

When you’re feeling inadequate as a writer, it may help to remember a few things: - These doubts are common among writers (and others), probably even more typical than you think. - Just because you’re telling yourself these things doesn’t mean they’re actually true. - Finding ways to share your feelings can help foster connection and kinship with others. Writing is an organic creative journey. You’ll evolve as a writer - writing ?? is a process! Your strength as a writer will continue to grow. Try to enjoy the process as you move forward!

Imposter syndrome isn’t real. Start there. It’s a title created to mask the real issue which is low self-esteem. This shows up in writing as “writer’s block,” when we believe that we have no words for the story. When this happens to me, because it happens to all of us, I play. Yes, play is an amazing way to get out of our heads and into our hearts which is where the words come from in the end. But you must commit to playing. You can’t think about the project. You must think about nothing. Throw a ball, paint, pet your dog, and have fun. I promise you’ll come back to the project with a new perspective and better energy. Take a breath and begin again.

Breath serves as the unifying thread in various practices, from meditation & flow states to peak performance & creative expression. It is the keystone that holds the arch of our existence together, providing a steady rhythm amidst the chaos of daily life. Taking a pause to connect with our breath is akin to nourishing our souls with a wholesome meal or invigorating our spirits with a brisk walk. It is an invitation to fully inhabit our physical selves. So, as you navigate the ups and downs of life's journey, remember the profound wisdom that resides within the simple act of breathing. Embrace your breath as a faithful guide, leading you back to the sanctuary of your innermost self, where peace and creativity await.