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Author: Rachel Grosvenor

Categories
Productivity

How to Get Back Into Writing After a Break

Get back into writing

Sometimes we need a holiday, and our writing breaks are planned, and at other times they creep up on us, and we realise that it’s been weeks, or maybe even months, since we last wrote. When that happens, how can we get back into writing after taking a break? Here are five ways. Oh, actually, I’m feeling kind. Have ten!

1) Be kind to yourself. 

It’s okay to take a break from your novel. Seriously – it is. You might have heard about writers who write 1000 words a day with ease and three novels a year, but all that does not matter. Being a prolific writer is how you define it. I try and write 4,000 words a week, but in the last few months, I have had a lot of editing to do as well, so I have split my time between two projects. This means that I’ve been writing more like 2,000 words a week. That’s okay. Whatever your situation, the fact that you are reading this means that you are ready to get back into writing, and that’s great. Be kind to yourself; a writer doesn’t have to write all the time to be a writer.

2) Mindmap. 

Get all of those ideas down on paper – whether they are reasonable, excellent, or you’re not so sure. Just the act of allowing yourself to think through ideas for your work in progress will create new inspiration, ideas, and inspire you to take action.

3) Writing exercises.

One of my favourites. I love to partake in writing exercises to get myself in the writing mood! I teach one of my favourite ways of coming up with novel ideas in my Novel Writing Masterclass, so if you’re a fan of exercises too and want a hand going from idea to publication, go ahead and take a peek!

4) Real-life research. 

From cooking the meals your characters enjoy to saddling up and experiencing their way of travel, there are many ways to enjoy real-life research. You could even sit down to create a map (I love Inkarnate for this). Doing things that relate to your novel but are not writing can help get those creative juices flowing.

5) Re-organise that routine. 

Writing routines change, and that’s okay! It might feel a bit dusty and stilted if you are coming back to an old routine after a break away from writing. Spend some time refreshing that writing routine and working out how you want it to be moving forward. If you want a hand with this, take this fun quiz on my website!

6) Chat to other writers. 

Get involved in the writing community. Whether you join a local writing group, a private Facebook group, or the fabulous writing community on Instagram, there are many wonderful places to find other writers. Within them, you will get accountability, warm conversation, and like-mindedness that’s hard to beat. Plus, there will be others who would like to get back into writing too, so you can share your thoughts with them.

7) Read, read, read.

Remind yourself of your writing passion by picking up those books again and digging in! The more you read, the easier it will be to write. Why? Because through reading we get more entertainment. We get an education on what it is to write, on tropes, grammar, and so much more. Most important of all, we get inspiration.

8) Write your favourite book. 

Well, no, not the exact same book. But, there’s a lot to be said for writing fan fiction if you want to get back into writing. If your creative faucet feels stuck, then slip into a world that you already know, with characters you already love.

9) Re-ignite your passion with a course. 

Writing courses are fantastic for getting us back into the writing spirit. If you are looking for a course to try, give It’s Time to Write Your Novel a go! It’s a 40 class course for only $99 and will take you from procrastination to print.

10) Create an experience. 

We don’t just have to be typing to write. You can create an experience based on your book too. From creating a collage on Pinterest to building a beautiful playlist that transports you straight into your world, there are many ways to develop an experience that will deliver you directly to your novel.

Do you have any to add? If so, I would love to hear them!

Found this useful? Please share it with another writer.

Looking for something similar to read? Check the following out.

3 Things I Did to Level Up My Writing Game
The Reset Week: Investigate Your Writing Process
The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Writing Routine

Categories
Productivity

How To Get Prepared For NaNoWriMo (Preptober)

Preptober Nanowrimo

Note: NaNoWriMo is no longer in existence, and this post is from 2021. However, it has some good information in it, so the author is leaving it live. The links will no longer work. 

November is National Novel Writing Month, a time when people across the world come together (albeit virtually) to stare into their computers and write 50,000 words in one month. So, when October rolls around, it’s time to get prepared. Preptober is a term that the writing community has given to this preparation period! So, how do you take full advantage of Preptober and get ready for NaNoWriMo? Let’s dig in.

Investigate Your Time 

Why do people manage to write more when partaking in NaNoWriMo than on a regular month? The answer is this: They prioritise their writing. Now, it’s much easier to prioritise writing your novel when there is an end in sight (that end being December in this case). However, there is a way to keep that word count growing after November, and it helps for finding the time to write those 50,000 words too. That is the magic of Investigating Your Time. To do this, I would recommend downloading your copy of The Time to Write Workbook. With this workbook, you can learn how to break your week down, create a writing routine that works for you, understand writing areas that you would like to brush up on before November, and set goals. All of this for the price of a cup of coffee? That’s a win-win. 

Create Your NaNoWriMo Survival Kit

Ah yes, the NaNoWriMo survival kit! They will all be a little different, but if you are looking for something to keep you going during those long writing hours, here is what I recommend:

1) A fresh notebook. Ah, the smell of the fresh notebook, there’s nothing like those clean pages just waiting to be filled!

2) Journal. Separate from the notebook, I like to keep a journal to work through any difficulties I am having with the process or personal things that might be keeping me from writing.

3) Caffeine. Because, well…obviously.

4) Candles. It’s all about that mood-setting! 

Confirm Your Goals

The common goal for many NaNoWriMo writers is to hit 50,000 words in one month, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be your goal, or even, your only goal. Set your goals ahead of time, break them down and understand how you will achieve them within those four weeks. The Time to Write Workbook can really help with this, too.

Sign Up on the NaNoWriMo website

When you sign up on the official website, there is a lot to get involved with. From forums to stickers, it is well worth joining in on there and finding your local NaNoWriMo group too. Sharing the experience can make it fun.

Whether Plotting or Pantsing, Get Your Idea Ready

Time is precious, especially when you are trying to write 50,000 words in one month. Save yourself some time in advance by thinking about the writing that you are going to do. If you are not a plotter, you don’t have to turn into one suddenly, but it can help to get a rough outline of your idea down on paper.

Create Your Cover

One of my favourite things to do is to create a mock-up of a book cover on Canva. There’s even space on the NaNoWriMo website for you to share, so have a little fun and visualise that complete and final product.

Find Your Incentives 

It’s time to find out what works for you in terms of incentives and rewards. The more you celebrate those words being written, the more likely you are to sit down next time – rewards are a big part of creating a writing habit, and a habit is precisely what is needed for NaNoWriMo! For me, I’ll be rewarding myself with Dairy Milk, cups of tea, and chapters of a good book.

Download Your Free Trackers!

Yep – if you are looking for a freebie to help you with NaNoWriMo, there’s one right here that I have created for you. Download your tracker/checklist today so that you can print it off and cross out those written words! I have made two, as I know some people like to move forward based on word count and others based on days of writing.

Click here to download a tracker based on writing days.

Click here to download a tracker based on word count.

You’ve got this writer. 

I cannot wait to hear all about your NaNoWriMo project! Get in touch today to tell me what you are writing about. And, if you know of another writer who is also taking part, send this to them so that they can take full advantage of Preptober too.

Looking for a similar read? Check out the following:

3 Things I Did To Level Up My Writing Game
The Time Blocking Tools That Can Help You Write Your Novel
Tips and Tricks for Dealing With Procrastination 

Categories
Publishing

3 Things Needed For A Fantastic Book Proposal

Book proposal

Are you getting ready to write a fantastic book proposal? It might be that you are looking to query, submitting to Pitch Wars, or perhaps struggling to write your blurb or pitch. Whichever it is, it can be hard to see our novels clearly when we are so close to them. In fact, I believe that this is why writers often find writing a blurb, pitch or query so tricky: we know the entire story, and it’s hard to whittle down all that information.

So, when it comes to writing a book proposal or whittling down those words to a pithy elevator pitch…what should we include?

1: A description that makes the listener/reader sit up and take notice. 

This is your opportunity to really get your story across. So, think about the following:

What is your main character’s problem, the conflict that they are dealing with?
What is their drive to overcome this?
Who or what is standing in their way?
Why does it matter? 

Getting across these elements to the listener will make them want to know more. You do not need to tell them the spoilers; keep those for the synopsis. Whet their appetites by telling them just enough to make them want to read the work.

2: The Vital Information.

What is the vital information? Your genre and word count. You can add these into your pitch to preempt the post pitch questions, proving to the listener that you have come prepared and understand what you have written. The listener may go on to ask you something along the lines of ‘Where would this book fit in a bookshop?’
This question is designed to help them understand how much you know about your genre, so prepare the answer ahead of time.

3: Why you, and why now?

These are two excellent questions to think about ahead of time, and preparing an answer will help you get across the urgency of their requesting to see the entire manuscript. To go deeper into these two short questions:

Why is this book relevant for this person?
Why is now the right time to publish?
What stage is the manuscript in?
Why have you written the novel? 

So, now you know. Include these three things for a fantastic book proposal!

A few weeks ago, a great writer hired me to help her ahead of some agent meetings. After a coaching session, a synopsis to pitch re-write and edit, and some research – she delivered two successful pitches and had manuscript requests from both. If you are looking for some help in the same area, get in touch today. Together, we can tighten up your pitch!

Found this useful? Share it with another writer!

Looking for a similar read? Check out the following:

Three Things to Avoid When Querying Literary Agents
Five Ways to Find a Literary Agent or Publisher
When to Follow Up With A Literary Agent or Publisher 

Categories
Productivity

How To Celebrate International Hobbit Day At Home

International Hobbit Day

If you know me, then you saw this post coming a mile away. The 22nd of September (today in New Zealand!) is officially International Hobbit Day (and also Bilbo and Frodo’s birthday). So, it’s time to celebrate. Due to restrictions, I’ll be celebrating at home this year, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t be enjoying myself. Join me, if you can, in a homely hobbit party!

Here’s how you can celebrate too:

1) Dress the part.

Whatever that means to you, find something that makes you feel special and like you’ve just stepped out of Middle Earth. For me, that includes a cloak. You can’t beat a cloak, can you? I’ll be rushing around corners to try and get that billowing effect behind me all day long.

2) Drink out of a tankard. 

Yep, whether that tankard is holding a beer, tea, or water – it’s the tankard life all day. You can also put on some tavern music on Spotify, to make you feel like you’re enjoying a lovely evening at The Green Dragon with your fellow hobbits.

3) Use Middle Earth languages.

Hobbits speak English, but that doesn’t mean you have to! Here are some elvish phrases to help you get in the mood (thanks to RealElivish.net for these):

English: A star shines on the hour of our meeting.
Sindarin: Êl síla erin lû e-govaded ‘wîn.
Pronunciation: EEEL SII.la E.rin LUUU e GO.va.ded WIIIN

English: Welcome!
Sindarin: Aldol!
Pronunciation: AL.dol

English: Well met!
Sindarin: Mae govannen!
Pronunciation: MAE go.VAN.nen

English: At last!
Sindarin: Na vedui!
Pronunciation: na VE.dui

English: Come near the fire
Sindarin: Tolo anin naur
Pronunciation: TO.lo A.nin NAUR

English: Come with me
Sindarin: Aphado nin
Pronunciation: A.fa.do NIN

English: Come, join us
Sindarin: Tolo, govado ven
Pronunciation: TO.lo GO.va.do VEN

4) Eat good food.

Hobbits LOVE their food. If you want to join in, there are seven meals to enjoy daily. These are:

Breakfast – 7am
Second Breakfast – 9am
Elevenses – 11am
Luncheon – 1pm
Afternoon Tea – 3pm
Dinner – 6pm
Supper – 9pm 

What should you enjoy for these meals? Hobbits love carbs, jams, meats, and all that good stuff. I myself will be enjoying some large chunks of bread smothered in jam, some excellent cheese, perhaps a pie…oh gosh, I think I need to take a break to get a snack.

Enjoy the day, and don’t forget to share your outfits, meals, and general hobbit fun with me! I would love to see how you celebrate. Share what you’re up to on Instagram with me today! 

Categories
Productivity

Why My Writing Routine Won’t Work For You

Writing Routine

Writing routines and rituals are an important part of the writing process. They are the answer to ‘I don’t have the time to write’ – figuring out a writing routine can help us find available hours in our busy week. 

But here’s the critical thing about creating a writing routine…it has to fit in with your life.

I have helped many writers go through the process of creating a writing routine. It can sometimes be lengthy, as the process requires investigation into time, creative data, and more. So, it can be tempting to look at other writers and see what they are up to because there lies the promise of it all being figured out for you. 

Following Others Routines 

Let’s say we listen to Stephen King and pay close attention to his writing routine. He writes every day. Awesome!

At first, it goes well. Writing every day can be a bit addictive even, but then, there comes a day when something gets in the way. It could be anything from taking the car to be serviced to forgetting to sit down and begin, but ultimately, a day is missed. The overall feeling that comes from this is that it didn’t work, and it may even stop us from having a go at another writing routine. 

If we haven’t spent time considering whether writing every day fits with our lives, it can be a rigid and strict rule that must be broken at some stage. Life happens, and if we restrict ourselves to fixed structures not developed for us, it is far more likely that these structures will be broken.

This is why I do not recommend my routine to anyone else. Finding a routine that works for you is all about just that! It is wonderful to take inspiration from others, but a routine is more likely to work when it takes your schedule into consideration.

A writing routine must fit your life and responsibilities and nobody else’s. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be challenging to work this out because I can share the process of development with you. 

Finding Your Own Path

So, are you ready to find your writing routine and fit more writing into your life? No problem at all, for I have just the thing!

The Ultimate Writer’s Planning Workbook

This 60+ page PDF fillable workbook will take you through the stages of planning YOUR writing year, focusing on:

  • Reflection on the previous year.
  • Building and understanding your writing vision.
  • Working out what your targets are and setting them.
  • Engineering your actions toward your goal.
  • Finding the time to write.
  • Taking action and setting yourself up to achieve your goals!

Here’s what Jenn had to say about it:

“At one point, I looked at a target and the work required in the first three months to reach it and thought, “That seems too easy.” But, no matter how much I played and worked the target, it was true, and I felt a flood/wave of relief that sometimes goals can really be easy or simple to achieve once you break them down. I discovered things I didn’t know I wanted before starting the workbook, and that opened up so many new and exciting possibilities for me as well as helped give such a clearer direction for the next 12 months and beyond. Blasted through my expectations 100%. Where I’d expect it to stop at the monthly goals, as is typical with other workbooks, the additional steps really make sure the work done with the planner morphs into action instead of remaining simply words on paper/on a screen.”

Grab your copy here.

As a writing coach trained by an ICF-accredited company with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing, you can trust that this book has been created carefully, using tried and true coaching practices informed by writing knowledge. 

 

Categories
Craft Uncategorized

3 Things I Did To Level Up My Writing Game

Level up writing

Are you looking to level up? Me too! I’m always looking for a new way to improve my writing, process, research, and more.

If you are ready to raise your game, read on for the three things that I did to take me from ‘barely writing’ to ‘novel completed’.

1) Writing Courses. 

I cannot overstate how much creative writing classes help with writing. You don’t just learn about the craft, and the bare bones of the work, but you understand how vital writing is. That, for me, is the most important lesson of all. Whether this is your hobby, your passion, your side hustle, your ambition – whichever label writing has in your life, investing in it makes it more important. It makes you work harder on it, and it moves the act of writing up your list of priorities.

Because I know how valuable creative writing classes are to me, I wanted to make sure that I offered something similar to other writers. That’s why I created my Novel Writing Masterclass: It’s Time to Write Your Novel. From years of teaching and lecturing in Creative Writing in the classroom and at university, I created this programme to be a one-stop shop for all who want to write a novel. It goes through finding the time, discovering the idea, writing, publishing, and more. I made the classes bite-size to fit into a busy schedule, and it’s packed with fun tasks and worksheets that can help you become the writer you want to be.

If you don’t feel ready to invest in a writing course, you can invest in other ways. I have created the It’s Time to Write Workbook for this very reason – for the price of a cup of coffee, you can invest in your writing process. This workbook launches on 17th September and will take you through the process of:

  1. Finding the time to write 
  2. Creating a writing routine that fits with YOUR schedule
  3. Identifying writing areas you would like more information on
  4. Learning how to set and achieve writing goals

If you are ready for a taste of coaching and want to see a way forward in your creative life, this is the workbook for you.

Here’s what Emma had to say:

‘Love the layout, very visual. It’s really useful, and I love how everything is broken down, so you’re not so overwhelmed with the task at hand.’

Here’s what Hannah had to say:

‘This workbook is a great place to start. Knowing what my Creative Data is and using that to structure my time has been eye-opening. There’s real value in providing a structure that makes the seemingly huge (and very intimidating) task of sitting down to write achievable.”

As a writing coach trained by an ICF accredited company with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing, you can trust that this book has been created carefully, using tried and true coaching practices informed by writing knowledge.

2) Community.

Being a part of a community of writers has driven me to do better, write more, and keep going. From the classroom to Instagram, to the small group I run on Facebook (if you are interested in joining, search ‘It’s Time to Write Your Novel’ in groups and request!), a writing community and shared experience helps everyone level up.

3) Reading. 

To be a good writer, it helps to be a good reader. The more you read, the more you learn about grammar, plot, characterisation, what you enjoy, what you don’t like, and just plain everything to do with writing. It is the most valuable thing a writer can do to improve their writing. I find it really helps to set a number of books to read in one year, and work toward that. This year, I am trying to read forty. I’m on track so far!

What has helped you level up as a writer? 

Are you looking for similar reads? Check out the following.

The Reset Week – Investigate Your Writing Process
How to Harness Your Writing Motivation

Categories
Publishing

3 Things to Avoid When Querying Literary Agents

Querying Literary Agents

So, you are ready to query and know how to do it. (Hint – if you need some help, check out the bottom of this blog post for information on finding literary agents, beta agents, and which path is best for you). Here are the things to avoid when querying Literary Agents. 

1 – Sending Work Out Indiscriminately

Like applying for a job, sending out cover letters and samples of your work at random will not end positively. Agents want to know why you want to work with them, why you chose them, and why your work is relevant to their list. If you send work out randomly, you are less likely to get a positive response and may even be rejected by a publisher that would suit a novel you haven’t yet written. Get a good name for yourself, and focus on the agents who represent the type of work you have written. 

2 – The cut and paste

I used to be a recruitment agent many years ago, and I can confirm that people can tell when a cover letter is cut and pasted. As other people may have taken the time to address an agent personally, those people are usually the ones the agent will go with. 

Instead of cutting and pasting the information in your cover letter and query, research the specific literary agent you are sending your work to, and tell them why you are the best fit for them and why they are the agent you would like to work with. The more research you do, the more likely they are to respond to you. 

3 – Querying Too Soon

When should you query? When your work is finished. A few things can come from querying too soon, and they are mostly panic, sweat, and grammatical errors. If you send off a few chapters of a novel you’ve written before it is complete, and the agent requests the full manuscript, you will either have to tell them that it is not yet finished or write through the night to get it to them. Either way, the work will not be as good as it might have been initially, which is a real shame. So, don’t rush to print – finish your novel and then send it out. 

So there you have it. The message is: Take your time, research, and show the literary agent exactly why you are the writer for them. The harder you work at this stage, the more likely you will have a positive response. 

Was this post helpful? Share it with another writer!

Looking for a similar read? Check out the following:

How to Book an Agent 1:1

5 Ways to Find a Beta Reader

Traditional vs Self-Publishing – Which is Right For You?

Categories
Craft

5 Things to Avoid When Writing Dialogue

Writing Dialogue

‘Writing dialogue is not always easy,’ she said, shifting in her seat.
‘Okay, will you tell me more?’ I stared at the quotation marks she had used, curious.
‘Oh, these? I’m British. Yep, if I were American, I would use double quotation marks. But, the most important thing is being consistent. Anyway, I’m getting off track. Let me tell you about some mistakes to avoid when writing dialogue.’

1 – Not Varying the Character Voices

People speak differently, and that means that characters should talk differently, too. The way that people speak comes from many different places. It is derived from where they were brought up, how they are feeling that day, what situation they are currently in, and who they are with. For example, I don’t speak to my partner the same way I speak to a client. So many different things change dialogue, and relationships with other people and characters is right up there in importance. You may have an extremely confident secondary character, and a less sure of themselves main character. Just by this distinction alone, these two people should be speaking differently. So, think about your characters as real people, and allow their personal voice to shine through.

2 – Overusing Dialogue Tags

He said, she said, they said…it can all get a bit much when dialogue tags are overused. Trust that your reader is intelligent enough to understand who is speaking without constantly being reminded. It is absolutely fine to use these tags but do so with restraint. Overuse can pull a reader from a story.

3 – Too Much Exposition

‘But Sally, don’t you remember that day when your car drove off the cliff, and we realised that our mother was not who she said she was?!’

In real life, people don’t remind us of things that have happened in this way, and when it occurs in a novel, it can feel disconcerting. Exposition needs to happen, but aim to use it in subtler ways. For example, you can use narrative, setting, a character’s thought process. You can use exposition in dialogue, but make it as subtle as it would be in real life. For example, the above quote might read:

‘Sally, I don’t want a repeat of last year.’

Then, the narrative could go into an inner monologue with some hints of the car driving off the cliff etc. Remember that your reader is astute, so lay down those breadcrumbs of a memory, and keep them coming back for more.

4 – Leaning on Stereotypes

Our characters shouldn’t be stereotypes, so the trick is to research before writing their dialogue. If they are from somewhere you don’t know too well or haven’t been to, listen to some audio to try and get a sense of the different way people speak.
Take me, for example. I am from Birmingham, UK, and not many people outside of Birmingham believe it. That’s because there is a stereotype of a Brummy accent derived from a specific part of Birmingham. However, I still say a few things that give away my hometown, like ‘Mom’ and ‘tuth’.
So, never rely on the stereotype. It’s far more realistic to create your character’s dialogue based on your research.

5 – Making It Too Realistic

This might sound confusing upon first reading it, but bear with me! People speak in complex ways, stumble over words, we all say ‘Um’ a lot mid-sentence, and sometimes we use the wrong words entirely. While this is all great for writing dialogue, as it makes it realistic, there is such a thing as going overboard on realism. Reading dialogue with constant ‘Um’s’ and ‘Ah’s’, significant pauses and silences, and more will get frustrating. Be realistic, but not at the expense of your novel.

So there you have it! Five things to avoid when writing dialogue. If you found this helpful, please share it with another writer!

Got any tips to add? Let me know!

If you’re looking for a similar read, check these blog posts out:

What Does It Mean to Write What You Know?
5 Books On Writing That Will Improve Your Craft

If you need help with your dialogue or something else writing-related, please get in touch. I would love to chat! You can book a discovery call yourself by checking out the calendar here.

Categories
Coaching

The Reset Week: Investigate Your Writing Process

Reset week

The writing reset week is a week full of coaching prompts. I wanted to provide you with a catalyst for positive change and an example of how powerful coaching can be. Investigating your writing process is essential for improving it, so here is your week full of prompts. Enjoy, and let me know if you have any questions about any of them.

Monday

Welcome to the first of the Writing Reset Week! This week I will ask you a new coaching question every day to help you investigate your writing process.

Here is day one:

Write a letter to yourself listing your writing dreams and goals. Put this letter aside. You are going to pick it up again later in the week.

Tuesday

Imagine a time in the future where you have succeeded in achieving your writing goals. Looking backwards, describe the steps that led you there.

What step are you at currently?

Wednesday

Think about what you want from your writing life and ask yourself: What will having this give me that I don’t already have?’

Thursday

What are you assuming about yourself that is holding you back from your path?

Friday

What are you like when you are at your best, creatively?

Saturday

What has inspired you today, this week, this month of this year? What or who assists this inspiration?

Sunday

Take a look at your letter from Monday. This is your North Star. Throughout the week, I have asked you questions that that, when answered honestly, will help you consider where you are on this journey, what is holding you back, what assumptions you are making about yourself, and remember what it feels like to be your best creative self, filled with inspiration. Now is the time to reflect on the week and consider how you can move forward mindfully and positively.

If anything has come up this week that you would like to talk about, please do get in touch. I would love to hear from you. As a Certified Professional Writing Coach, I know how important it is to investigate our creative lives and take stock now and then. I hope this reset week has been powerful and informative.

Categories
Coaching

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome for Writers

Imposter Syndrome

I used to be scared to call myself a writer…

I used to think that if I said it aloud, whoever I spoke to would question me on it and ultimately call me out. Well, let me tell you, I’ve been owning my writer title for many years now, and not one person has done what I feared. I know I’m not alone either…

“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody and they’re going to find me out.” – Maya Angelou

Imposter Syndrome is a tricky beast that lots of us are familiar with. Through my coaching, I have seen that it impacts so many writers in the community. It is the belief that one is not allowed to call themselves a writer or that they might be ‘found out’ as being a fraud. It can even disguise itself as a comparison with others. However, there are ways to address this thought pattern, and I’m going to let you in on the tricks I have used to squash my Imposter Syndrome! If you struggle with it too, read on, because with a bit of work and some reframing, you will be ready to claim your title of ‘Writer’ and stand tall!

Observe the Thought

So often, we feel our thoughts when they come to us without observation. This is like going and standing in the rain when it starts; you end up soaking wet and unable to distance yourself. Just because it rains, it doesn’t mean you are the rain. Just because you think you are unworthy of the title of ‘Writer’, it doesn’t mean you are unworthy. Next time you feel imposter syndrome, try taking a step back and observing the thought instead of feeling the thought. Answer the following question and observe:

What was the trigger that made you feel this way?

Reframing

Once you can acknowledge and observe the thought of Imposter Syndrome and the trigger that started it, it’s time to reframe that image. Ask yourself the following:

What would you say to someone in your position?

Remember that no one in the world has all the answers and that it’s okay not to know something, and it’s a great thing to educate yourself and step into a learning mindset. With that in mind, what’s wrong with someone else knowing more than you or having to learn something new? Absolutely nothing! Writing is an ongoing practice of education and a lifelong journey. Being on that journey does not mean that you are not a writer; it could just mean that you are at a different stage of learning from someone else. Reframe your thoughts of Imposter Syndrome as an acknowledgement of a learning opportunity.

Talk It Out

Talk to the people around you about how you feel, especially if you are having a hard time separating yourself from your feelings of Imposter Syndrome. Ever heard the phrase ‘A problem shared is a problem halved?’

So many people from all walks of life struggle with imposter syndrome. Share your thought process, your reframing practice, and what you learn with others. It’ll lighten both your and their loads.

Get Your Facts Straight 

When you notice that Imposter sign flash across your thoughts, take a moment to think of the facts. Write down five things that you are proud of regarding your writer’s journey. It could be that you just finished a short story or gave somebody advice online. Whatever it is, these represent the reality of the writer you are. They are the facts. Be proud of what you have achieved so far, whether you have written a Haiku or an entire novel.

Visualise

Visualising your success as a writer is a powerful way to keep yourself focused. Close your eyes and think of your ultimate goal.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What will it feel like once you are there?

How will it look?

How will you stand and present yourself once you have reached your ultimate writing goal?

Feel all those amazing feelings and draw them into your body whenever you notice Imposter Syndrome sneaking in. Practice battling your doubts with your visualised confidence, and watch Imposter Syndrome lose the battle.

Stand Tall

Making ourselves physically larger, taking up space and owning our place in both the room and the world is a powerful way to build confidence. It’s proven to make us feel braver when we stand like a superhero – legs apart, hands on hips. Practice standing tall when you begin to feel concerned about your writer status. Take up as much space as you can with your body and breathe in deeply. For Imposter Syndrome, there is a powerful affirmation you can use while taking up your space.

Say it loud, and say it proud:

I AM A WRITER.