Prativa Poudel and Jolie Finley – Writing Consultants

When writing, we may encounter imposter syndrome in many ways. We may be ashamed of our writing, or fear that others will read our writing and believe we are not as smart as they thought we were. If you have ever felt like everyone is smarter than you or doubted your achievements despite having various evidence of success, you might have been experiencing imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome can lead to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression, and it is a common feeling that we see in every day in the Writing Center.

One of ways we experience imposter syndrome in writing is by seeking perfectionism, which can lead to writer’s block. For instance, we may be setting unattainable standards for ourselves, such as expecting our writing to be flawless in the first attempt. This can make us feel that we are not good writers and lead us to experience writer’s block. Writer’s block is one of the biggest ways imposter syndrome can show up during the writing process. Oftentimes when we are in the beginning stages of writing, we think that because we don’t know where to go next, we are not good writers. But that’s a normal part of the writing process, and as soon as you start treating it as such, you will feel less pressure to always have the answers. In fact, wanting to figure out the best things to say or the best order to say them in is proof that you are a great thinker, and therefore a great writer.

This may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to overcome writer’s block is to start writing! Though the perfectionist in you may cringe at this thought, you can try to write down any and every thought you have about your topic and revise from there. It doesn’t have to follow any logical organization or even sentence structure, but if you at least get words on the page, you can start parsing through what’s worth turning into something readable and what can be omitted. It’s much easier to revise something terrible than to write perfectly from scratch. We have to accept that what we write the first time will not be perfect: it may not even look like coherent thoughts.

We may also experience imposter syndrome when we encounter confusing or strict grading rubrics. Many courses are set up in a way where student measurement of success heavily relies on grading rubrics, so we not only compare our current achievement to our previous achievements but also with fellow classmates during peer review workshops. Many of us compare ourselves to others in our daily lives, but when that happens in an academic setting, and is made part of the grading process, it can take a toll on our self-confidence.

Sometimes all it takes to overcome imposter syndrome caused by grading practices is sitting down with somebody else (maybe a Writing Center consultant) who you can discuss confusing language with. Getting another person’s perspective may help you understand the guidelines more clearly. It may also be helpful to sit down with someone before starting an outline, so you can create it based on the assignment guidelines. That way, they can ensure you are not missing anything you may have overlooked. But if talking to other people about your writing is not really your jam, try leaving your paper and the guidelines alone for a couple of days. Once you return to it, you may notice details you missed in your anxiety-ridden frenzy. You can utilize the rubric to your advantage by delegating time and direction to writing based on it.

Additionally, we may hesitate to reach out for help in writing in worry that we will be discovered as unintelligent, and others may find out our perceived incapabilities, leaving us feeling exposed to everyone. Therefore, such kinds of impractical desires make us prone to feeling like imposters. We may use phrases like – ‘I will fail’, ‘I can’t write’, ‘I’m terrified to show anybody my writing’, ‘I don’t know if I’m ever going to bring the project to its completion’, and so on. Hence, feelings of anxiety and self-doubt can gradually affect the writing process, causing delays in finishing given assignments. Imposter syndrome can lower our rate of success, ultimately becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Though it may sound corny, one of the ways to overcome these obstacles is to build up confidence in ourselves. There have certainly been times in your life when you succeeded at something, when you did better than you expected. Remembering those times, we should let the past stories of success be our power! Reminding ourselves of those times can give us the power to heal and the power for our future success. We should accept life is full of challenges and everyone encounters challenging situations. Let this difficult situation be another opportunity to learn. Bad experiences teach you lessons, and good experience gives you lasting memories. Most of all, treat yourself with sympathy. Tell all the good stories of your achievements to your mirror. Recall them time and again to recharge your minds! We should perceive grading rubrics as a direction to achieve academic goals rather than the tenant of excellence. Your self-worth is not measured by them. Avoid seeking perfection based on them, as they do not reflect your reality. Finally, we are always here at the Writing Center with open arms.

• Working in the Writing Center