I arrived at the ‘Women Who Write’ workshop with excitement, not knowing ‘someone’ was waiting for me. During the first introductions, even before the event started, a few of us already said to each other, “No, I’m not a real writer.” I responded in a way that was then still positive and light, “But we are all writers, whether it’s our job or not.”
The workshop began, and my imposter syndrome couldn’t hold itself back any longer. He started talking non-stop: “What are you even doing here?” “What makes you think you’re a writer?” “This meeting is for professionals.” “You’re just a hobbyist.” “You should stop wasting your time.” And so on. Looking at my notebook, I was thinking, “Maybe he’s right.”
Oh by the way, in my mind the imposter is a “he,” maybe because of the harsh, strict, and judgmental tone and energy. Honestly, I thought I’d already taken away his power. But during this workshop, he was in control again.
There was talk about what third-party platforms reject as unpublishable, like “cliché blogs, non-native English writers, talking about yourself.” I checked all the boxes. My imposter syndrome felt confirmed again: “There’s already enough of this kind of content; you add nothing.” The host, a confident speaker with impressive experience, shared incredibly valuable tips, for which I was very grateful. But at the same time, I saw how professional she was, and it only made me feel like more of an imposter.
This voice, this part of me, whatever you want to call it, was incredibly strong. I recognize it very well. I know I can feel insecure about my work. After 15 years of working in Human Resources, I sometimes still struggled to call myself a “professional.” Let alone calling myself a “writer” after only two months of putting together blogs.
I left the workshop with the idea that I should just stop writing. Not because the workshop wasn’t good; it actually was. Aware of this complete takeover by my imposter syndrome, and feeling heavy, I decided to take a moment to recover and reflect in one of my favorite coffee spots. I needed to go back to the facts, because I don’t want this part to lead my life. I choose not to be carried away by this fearful, insecure, negative energy. I have to take back control.
So, what are the facts? Meta-analyses from 2025 and 2026 show that around 60% to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. Okay… somewhat reassuring, but still not enough to convince this know-it-all voice to be quiet. What’s the definition of a “writer,” actually? “A writer is simply a person who writes. You are a writer the moment you write.”
All of a sudden, I was laughing out loud in the café, laughing at myself after reading those sentences. Of course I get to decide whether I am a writer! I felt silly. It just seems that my ego has a hard time claiming this identity. Pff, I’m exhausting myself with these bullshit thoughts. I order a pastry and comfort myself with some sugar and kind words.
After a weekend of rest, I pick up my pen again. I refuse to be discouraged by this ‘someone.’ I thought I was the imposter, but he is! I get to decide who I am. I get to decide if I am a writer. Is there an identity you’re holding back from? Whatever it is that you do, you get to decide if it’s ‘real’.