Impostor syndrome

That’s it, then, I’ve left my old life behind and I’m being let loose on a new one. Apparently, I have to stop being in shock at 1.writing a novel 2. getting an agent 3. being published. The quote was ” You have to start owning it, Mum.” ( You knew it was a daughter, didn’t you? ) That’s a hard thing to do because, like many of you,I suspect, I have impostor syndrome and, as you know, it’s a difficult thing to deal with.

Anyway, the reality is I am a published author. Now I have to deal with that and move on, apparently. But before we do, let’s just talk about this impostor syndrome thing.

Ok, this is what is said about it:  syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalised fear of being exposed as a “fraud”

Yep, that’s the one.

So that’s mine. What’s yours? And how do you deal with it? How do you sound genuine and avoid arrogance? I’m so scared of sounding full of myself and it probably goes back to school where we were all taught to be well-behaved and not push ourselves forward. Is that the point where girls let boys take over and rule the world.

So, come on, women, let’s all face this and decide together we aint’ gonna be scared of success any more and give these men a run for their money.

You see, already, I’m giving that look, that nervous look of have I said too much.

This is obviously going to take some practice and I could do with some help, so do please come back to me with your suggestions on how to get over this…and I don’t need back-patting, I need some practical help and some good advice- the type my mum used to give me.