Imposter Syndrome: You’re Not Alone

Let’s talk a little about imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is that sneaky feeling that you’re not actually as capable, talented, or qualified as people think you are. In fact, you feel like everyone else has it together and knows what they’re doing, and you don’t. You’re an imposter, and sooner or later, the world is going to figure it out.

I think it’s safe to say everyone experiences this at some point.

When Rebecca Connolly recently shared on Facebook that she struggles with imposter syndrome, I had to stop for a moment and reread it.

Rebecca Connolly?!

The woman whose books I’ve loved for years?

The same Rebecca who taught that hilarious, wildly informative class at Storymakers Conference last May?

That Rebecca Connolly? She sometimes feels like an imposter? Wow.

Her honesty hit me because lately I’ve wondered if maybe I should quit while I’m ahead. Maybe I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Maybe I’m not cut out for this. Maybe I should keep my stories to myself.

But . . . maybe not.

Maybe I should keep sharing my journey and the joy I find in writing romance novels. Maybe what we need is more people like Rebecca admitting that even the accomplished, the successful, and the wildly talented still wrestle with self-doubt.

If someone with dozens and dozens of books under her belt still feels this way, the rest of us are in very good company. Imposter syndrome is not rare. It’s part of life, and we should keep working in spite of it.