Hey there! Thanks for reading the Metaphysical Author’s Confidential. This newsletter is for fellow mystics who want to write, publish, or market their magical books. I hope you find it useful. Please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
I’m in the middle of writing book number eleven. It’s a big, intense book - and I’m excited about it. Even so, there have been moments when I feel like maybe I’m not the person to write this book. Maybe I’m not enough this, that or the other thing. Perhaps this book will suck because I don’t have the street cred.
Never mind that I’ve been at my work for over three decades. That doesn’t matter when you’re in the grips of the imposter syndrome.
What is the imposter syndrome?
It’s when you doubt your skills, talents, and successes. When you reach a goal, you secretly assume it’s a “fluke” and you “got lucky.” Or you sink into depression, which makes it hard to celebrate your accomplishments. For some, it’s the underlying feeling that people will find out you’re a fraud, even though you’re beyond qualified. The imposter syndrome is actually quite common in high-achieving individuals. It’s also something many authors struggle with.
When you’re a metaphysical author, you also get an additional layer of this syndrome because you’re in a stigmatized line of work. Tarot readers, astrologers, witches, and other mystical folks have always dealt with ignorant misperceptions. That shows up in many ways: the fearful person who assumes you’re evil, the loved ones who tease you for being the “family weirdo” and make fun of your interests, the skeptic who purchases a service solely to debunk you, or the stranger that laughs when they learn about your work. All of these situations have happened to me and many of my peers.
It’s gotten better, but we’ve still got a long way to go before these misconceptions become obsolete.
How do you overcome imposter syndrome?
The imposter syndrome is complex, so there isn’t one way to deal with it. Also, it rears its head in different ways, and sometimes it’s sneaky. For example, you might find yourself procrastinating on your book to the point where you leave everything go until the last minute. Now you’re panicking as you white-knuckle your way toward your deadline. If you manage to make it under the wire, you secretly think you’ve somehow delivered a dud. That’s full-blown imposter syndrome!
The imposter syndrome can also appear multiple times throughout the publishing experience. For example, you might feel instant regret when you sign the contract (“Oh shit…now I have to write this book…”), or you might resist promoting the book (“I’m not good at marketing” is a perfect way to avoid tooting your horn). If you’re like me, the hardest part comes when I’m knee-deep in the rough draft, suddenly in freak-out mode because I assume my idea is dumb (yes, this happens EVERY time, every book). That’s when I feel sick to my stomach and less confident. Others have told me about imposter syndrome kicking in when they got their first bad review or when a relative made a snide remark about their “little witch book.” UGH.
You need to be on high alert. As soon as the imposter syndrome starts knocking on your door, you’ve got to get the garlic - you do NOT want to invite that vampire in (trust me, it does not look like Alexander Skarsgård).
Next: get help. Support is crucial. That support can come through peers who’ve experienced the same thing, a friend who knows you well and cheers you on, a therapist, or coach (Tanya Geisler is uh-may-zing). Authors tend to be solitary creatures, and many metaphysical folks are highly introverted, so it’s hard to ask for help. But support is what you need the most.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Also, please remember that this is part of the process. You will experience many highs and lows when you're a published author. Self-doubt will ride shotgun to the thrill of seeing your book on the shelves. You CAN move through this. After all, there is only one you who can share your work in your magical words.
You are wise. You have something to say. Your work is needed. You CAN finish this book. You CAN sell this book. You can be a success on your terms as you are without having to explain or prove yourself. You are enough. Please don’t ever stop.
xo
Theresa
image from stock photography Roman Samborskyi
Solidarity for the dumb ideas, I always feel that way lol
I'm grateful for this post, Theresa. It feels validating! I'm new to metaphysical authorship, so I've experienced many a flare-up of imposter syndrome. That you're one of THE actual GOATs, yet you still feel it, eases my mind. Thank you for reminding us that no matter our expertise, there's room for doubt and vulnerability.