© 2024 J. J. LeVan
Anxious thoughts filled my mind as the cursor hovered over the SEND button. My hopes, as well as my manuscript, silently hung on an “attach file” paperclip icon. The silent rhetoric began.
You’re a hack!
You’re not a REAL writer.
You’re underqualified!
They’ll never take you seriously.
Have you ever experienced the phenomenon of imposter syndrome before submitting your words to the world? How can creatives silence those pesky, intrusive thoughts?
GET VALIDATED
While providing excellent content is important, our true validation doesn’t come from others’ opinions but from God. Knowing that you are loved and so much more than your project is step one. Embrace that.
KNOW YOUR WHY
Knowing why you write is like a secret weapon. When you are passionate about your why, it shifts your focus and drives you forward. Take a few minutes to sit down, dig deep, and ask, “What is my why?”
• To respond to your calling?
• To reach your ideal reader?
• To inspire or encourage?
• To be a voice in the darkness?
BE TEACHABLE
Investing in your passion not only improves your quality of work, it bolsters your confidence. No matter where you are on this journey, there’s always going to be more to learn! So, what’s your next step?
• Take a class.
• Attend a writer’s conference.
• Listen to a podcast.
• Join a local writing group.
STOP COMPARING
Comparison is the thief of joy. It steals all of the fun from writing. There is plenty of elbow room at the table for all kinds of storytellers and encouragers to spread their wings. No one else can write your story. So keep moving forward!
• Own your unique voice.
• Celebrate your peers.
• Keep learning!
• Focus on progress, not perfection.
SHOW YOUR WORK
Take a deep breath and let someone else put eyes on your work in progress. In small, personal settings, constructive feedback can help ease you into understanding your reader better. Participating in community groups is a friendly way to practice discussing your work while hearing different points of view.
• Share in a writers community.
• Explore critique groups.
• Connect with an experienced mentor.
• Hire a professional editor.
BE BOLD
Frankly, your audience will never hear your message if you never submit it. Let “Strength and Courage” be your battle cry in the land of writing giants.
• Seize the day!
• Click SEND!
• Hit SUBMIT!
• Publish!
Your reader is waiting for you.
_________________________
J.J. LeVan is an award-winning author with a heart for autism and its caregiver community. She released a children’s picture book entitled He Meant You to Be You, which shares God’s love for these uniquely and wonderfully made children. Inspired by her oldest son’s diagnosis in 1998, she has become an advocate and an encourager to Children’s Ministry leaders working with neurodiverse kids. J.J. is also a certified independent provider for the State of Ohio. Connect with J.J. on IG and FB.