Am I Struggling To Write, Or Is It Impostor Syndrome?
Have you ever sat down to write and found yourself wondering if you're actually a writer at all?
In this episode of The Edit, Holly tackles a question that stops countless writers before they ever finish a manuscript:
Am I having trouble writing—or am I dealing with impostor syndrome?
While writing challenges and impostor syndrome can feel similar, they're actually very different obstacles. One is about the craft of writing. The other is about questioning whether you're qualified, experienced, talented, or "enough" to tell your story in the first place.
Holly explores the difference between these two struggles, why so many writers—especially memoirists, nonfiction authors, entrepreneurs, and storytellers—battle feelings of inadequacy, and how to recognize when self-doubt is becoming the real obstacle.
You'll also learn four practical strategies for overcoming impostor syndrome and continuing to write the story only you can tell.
Because the world doesn't need another version of someone else's story.
It needs yours.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
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The difference between a writing problem and impostor syndrome
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Why so many writers question whether their stories matter
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How comparison steals momentum and confidence
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Why readers connect to honesty more than expertise
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Four practical ways to overcome impostor syndrome
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How to build confidence through consistent writing
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Why your unique voice matters more than credentials
Key Takeaways
Writing Problems Sound Like:
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"I don't know where to start."
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"I can't figure out the structure."
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"I know what happened, but I don't know how to tell it."
These are craft issues—and they can be solved.
Impostor Syndrome Sounds Like:
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"Who am I to write this?"
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"Nobody cares about my story."
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"Someone else could tell this better."
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"I'm not a real writer."
These thoughts aren't about the manuscript.
They're about your worthiness to write it.
And that's a completely different challenge.
Four Ways to Combat Impostor Syndrome
1. Recognize What You're Actually Experiencing
Determine whether you're struggling with the writing itself or questioning your right to tell the story.
2. Build a Writing Community
Surround yourself with supportive writers who understand the journey and can provide honest, constructive feedback.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Track your progress and acknowledge each completed chapter, scene, outline, or writing session.
4. Keep Writing
The most powerful way to quiet impostor syndrome is to continue showing up for your work.
Writing confidence comes from writing.
Quotes Featured in This Episode
Opening quote - "The only definition for a 'real' writer is 'someone who is writing.'"
"The real writer is someone who writes."
— Marge Piercy
"Don't be a writer, be writing."
— William Faulkner
"People who struggle with impostor syndrome believe that they're undeserving of their achievements. They feel they aren't as competent or intelligent as others might think, and that soon enough people will discover the truth about them."
— Adapted from a description shared by George Michelsen Foy, referencing Psychology Today
"The stories people hesitate to tell are often the ones someone else needs the most."
— Holly Totten
"Readers don't connect to the person with the most dramatic story. They connect to the person who tells the truth of their story."
— Holly Totten
"Your story does not have to be the biggest story in the room to be the story someone needs to hear."
— Holly Totten
"There may be hundreds of books on the very topic you have to share, but nobody has your voice."
— Holly Totten
"People don't connect because of the information. They connect because of the way you tell it."
— Holly Totten
"Your story without your voice is only words."
— Holly Totten
Resources Mentioned
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George Michelsen Foy's blog: Shut Up and Listen
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Psychology Today (impostor syndrome definition discussed in the episode)
Connect with Holly
Email Holly at writelynotable@gmail.com
Or visit her website https://www.writelynotable.com
If this episode encouraged you, share it with another writer who may be struggling with self-doubt.
And if you're enjoying The Edit, please take a moment to follow, rate, and review the show. It helps more writers find the encouragement they need to tell their stories.
Remember: Your story without your voice is only words.
