A topic that came up a lot in Bob Mayer Warrior Writer class is that we all feel like a fraud at various degrees, like we got there by some dumb luck and not by talent.
I suffer from that big time! I am stalling on my proposal for the rest of my series. Oh it’s written and I like it, my writing partner likes it but I can’t let it go.
I’ll be honest. When I look around at authors just like me, with a debut book, and that sold the next in the series I think I’m not one of them so I wont sell again. Why? Because they are real writers, I’m not. I sold so quickly, I didn’t win any writing contests, didn’t sweat over a few manuscript (I sweat over the one but it doesn’t count does it?)
Yes a fraud. I’m not good just lucky. Same feeling as I has when I got my PhD and my big fitness director dream job. I’m lucky.
I don’t know that I’ll ever feel different about any successes I may get. It’s seems hard wired in me and the failure I do encounter from time to time just seem to confirm that I’m right. I’m a fraud.
So ok but how do I move forward? Face the fear that I will be discovered?
Enjoy the ride? Perhaps. Send it out anyway out of pure madness? Just in case? Or perhaps just forget everyone and send what makes me smile, laugh, cry and shivers. I don’t know, you tell me!
Blessed be
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Tags: RANDOM THOUGHTS, Writing
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Elmer Letterman. You worked hard at your luck, you’re allowed to enjoy it! Go girl!
Hi Marie-Claude,
I feel this way too sometimes. In talking with other authors, I think most of us feel this at some point.
We’re all on our own paths and they’re all different. You need to look at what you’ve accomplished, celebrate that you’ve done so much more than most people who dream of being an author. Realize that it’s not a mistake and that you’re not a fraud. You caught the eye of a publisher and that’s a huge thing.
One thing I did (and I was thrilled to hear Bob Mayer mention this in a recent workshop too) was read some of my favorite author’s first books. Some are no longer in print, but you can often times find them used on Amazon. Although their authorial voice was there, their work got even better through subsequent works. It helped solidify for me that talent is something that can grow over an author’s career. We can always learn how to improve our writing. To me, this gave me hope.
All we can do is write the best book we possibly can at this point in time. (Pat White told me that.)
Not everything will always go smoothly for either of us, but if you don’t try, nothing will happen. That’s a given.
So I say, if you’re happy with it, send it out, girl!