You will be fine. Each of us has to take that first step toward growth. Some of us fall down and need to take that step again. There are no rules for how often you are allowed to fall before you achieve the goal. Go there open to learning. And let us know how it goes. We’ve got your back.
Oh I so know how Imposter Syndrome goes! If it's helpful to you, I wrote a post about it a little while ago. I think you will be fabulous at the writer workshop!
Barb: Some thoughts: 1. Imposter Syndrome is the writer's basic condition. I'm 76 years old have published seven books, stories in the New Yorker, etc., etc. and I still have it. You might treat it like what a counselor once called (about something else) a "persistent visitor"--the idea being that you can address it when it returns, saying, Oh, it's you again. Listen, I have work to do--why don't you sit over there and let me attend to things here. 2. Your work is not you. It's an artifact, moving from a state of just born to eventual completion (or abandonment); having it critiqued is vital--you need to know how others are interpreting what you've written; sometimes it helps if you have your own sense of what's not working, or not there yet , or your doubt about where it's headed. The group is there to clarify these things; sometimes the writer has to stay silent in these sessions, but if you can ask questions, ask them. Also, remember that some "advice" is wrong . . . that's why I always say you should take what you hear from others and put it in the pot and see what happens; lots of times, I've found, you don't have to decide anything--you come back to the pot and see that the weak ideas have dissolved or burned off or whatever, leaving the better choice . . . 3. The anxiety meds come it two kinds: the kind that treats the underlying medical issue, and the kind that calms you short-term; some people are reluctant to use the second kind if they've gotten better using the first kind. But a Xanax now and then can be good thing (just having some with me helped--knowing I could stop the panic if I needed to. It's not my place to give medical advice, of course, but I've been there and I sympathize. Good luck!
I accidentally deleted my original comment, but thank you, David, for your reassurance. The critique process for this workshop is based on Liz Lerman’s Critique Response Process, with which I was unfamiliar until now. I’m afraid I’m using it incorrectly.
You’re like, IN my mind! I was going to write about imposter syndrome next 😅
But you’ll be fine! I’ve been taking writing classes for a couple of years now and one of the best ones I’ve been in was a workshop. Feedback is so so important. I sometimes have a hard time hearing feedback but I found it’s also important to know where the feedback is coming from. Sometimes people don’t understand your work but they say things because they have to for the class. Like David said, some feedback is “wrong”. Just take what resonates with you the most.
I also know that almost every other person in that workshop is feeling like an imposter too. Some of the better writers in my workshop were always shy or doubtful of their work but I would be on the side of the screen, sooo envious of them and what they could do with words that I would try harder to impress them the next time I shared work. That’s an upside of feeling like an imposter; you get to learn from people better than you. You’re in that workshop to learn and better your craft. If you are the worst writer in the room (which I doubt), you’re actually gaining the most from taking the workshop.
I hope whatever I said helps, even a little bit. Can’t wait to hear about what you’ve learned! I also hope that it doesn’t feel too much like a slog. Ideally, you won’t feel like it’s too much of a burden on your time and schedule because it’s something you like to do 🤞🏽
I actually am glad I am reading v you front to back because I heard the joy and accomplishment in your post where you flew up and out in the workshop and became and grew from it.
I read this and I know a similar rut of the imposter…. Having real world experience and breaking through the fears is so rewarding.
You will be fine. Each of us has to take that first step toward growth. Some of us fall down and need to take that step again. There are no rules for how often you are allowed to fall before you achieve the goal. Go there open to learning. And let us know how it goes. We’ve got your back.
Thank you, Petrena! Your words mean a lot.
Thank you, Petrena! Your words mean a lot.
Oh I so know how Imposter Syndrome goes! If it's helpful to you, I wrote a post about it a little while ago. I think you will be fabulous at the writer workshop!
https://journeyingalongside.substack.com/p/a-prescription-for-imposter-syndrome
Thank you, and thanks for the link. It’s given me a lot to think about.
Barb: Some thoughts: 1. Imposter Syndrome is the writer's basic condition. I'm 76 years old have published seven books, stories in the New Yorker, etc., etc. and I still have it. You might treat it like what a counselor once called (about something else) a "persistent visitor"--the idea being that you can address it when it returns, saying, Oh, it's you again. Listen, I have work to do--why don't you sit over there and let me attend to things here. 2. Your work is not you. It's an artifact, moving from a state of just born to eventual completion (or abandonment); having it critiqued is vital--you need to know how others are interpreting what you've written; sometimes it helps if you have your own sense of what's not working, or not there yet , or your doubt about where it's headed. The group is there to clarify these things; sometimes the writer has to stay silent in these sessions, but if you can ask questions, ask them. Also, remember that some "advice" is wrong . . . that's why I always say you should take what you hear from others and put it in the pot and see what happens; lots of times, I've found, you don't have to decide anything--you come back to the pot and see that the weak ideas have dissolved or burned off or whatever, leaving the better choice . . . 3. The anxiety meds come it two kinds: the kind that treats the underlying medical issue, and the kind that calms you short-term; some people are reluctant to use the second kind if they've gotten better using the first kind. But a Xanax now and then can be good thing (just having some with me helped--knowing I could stop the panic if I needed to. It's not my place to give medical advice, of course, but I've been there and I sympathize. Good luck!
I accidentally deleted my original comment, but thank you, David, for your reassurance. The critique process for this workshop is based on Liz Lerman’s Critique Response Process, with which I was unfamiliar until now. I’m afraid I’m using it incorrectly.
You’re like, IN my mind! I was going to write about imposter syndrome next 😅
But you’ll be fine! I’ve been taking writing classes for a couple of years now and one of the best ones I’ve been in was a workshop. Feedback is so so important. I sometimes have a hard time hearing feedback but I found it’s also important to know where the feedback is coming from. Sometimes people don’t understand your work but they say things because they have to for the class. Like David said, some feedback is “wrong”. Just take what resonates with you the most.
I also know that almost every other person in that workshop is feeling like an imposter too. Some of the better writers in my workshop were always shy or doubtful of their work but I would be on the side of the screen, sooo envious of them and what they could do with words that I would try harder to impress them the next time I shared work. That’s an upside of feeling like an imposter; you get to learn from people better than you. You’re in that workshop to learn and better your craft. If you are the worst writer in the room (which I doubt), you’re actually gaining the most from taking the workshop.
I hope whatever I said helps, even a little bit. Can’t wait to hear about what you’ve learned! I also hope that it doesn’t feel too much like a slog. Ideally, you won’t feel like it’s too much of a burden on your time and schedule because it’s something you like to do 🤞🏽
Thanks so much, Katherine! It’s reassuring to know that the others might feel the same way.
I actually am glad I am reading v you front to back because I heard the joy and accomplishment in your post where you flew up and out in the workshop and became and grew from it.
I read this and I know a similar rut of the imposter…. Having real world experience and breaking through the fears is so rewarding.
It’s very rewarding!