Impostor Syndrome and the Copywriter

Do you ever feel like you don’t deserve your job? That you aren’t as skilled or as creative as other writers – as “real” writers? You aren’t alone. 

In fact, these feelings extend well beyond just writers. Big name professionals from a variety of fields have admitted to feeling like impostors in their careers: including Tom Hanks, Neil Gaiman, Michelle Obama, Sonia Sotomayor, and Neil Armstrong.

Once surrounded by aspiring creative writers in my graduate program, I am no stranger to feelings of creative inadequacy. I questioned whether I belonged. Most of my classmates felt the same. I didn’t know it at the time, but there is a term for what I was feeling — impostor syndrome. 

Impostor syndrome is defined as a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite accomplishments proving otherwise. Those with impostor syndrome often chalk up any success they experience to luck, accident, or a form of deception. Even when presented with evidence of their competence, they retain feelings of not deserving accolades and that they will eventually be “found out”. 

There was an epidemic of impostor syndrome at my writing program and likely in writing programs at colleges around the country. On a daily basis in our writing workshops, burgeoning writers would silently be wondering how much longer we can trick everyone into thinking we deserved our spot at the school. 

Little did I suppose that I would continue to face impostor syndrome in my professional career as a copy/content writer. In no other job from my past have I run into such feelings of insecurity regarding my talent. I was never worried about whether I was good enough to wash school buses. I didn’t care if I was the best or worst at mowing fairways at the golf course. And it never occurred to me that I might not “have what it takes” to sell candles. 

Even as a college professor, I never felt like I didn’t belong in front of the class. Though it may have been because I was too busy slowly dying inside from my fear of public speaking and general social anxiety to worry about whether I was smart enough to be there. 

Yet, as I now look at the words I write for my copy writing career, I struggle daily with the idea that my writing is awful and that someday, probably today, I will be discovered for the fraud that I am. 

What is Impostor Syndrome?

Psychologists first coined the term “impostor phenomenon” in an article published in 1978. The piece, titled “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention” by Pauline R. Clance, PhD, and Suzanne A. Imes, PhD, described the inability to accept success, despite evidence supporting it. Those with impostor syndrome often attribute success to luck or deception, not ability. Fear of being unmasked as a fraud is also common.  

Since this first work, it’s been found that impostor syndrome affects both women and men from many different walks of life, not just high achievers. Many people with impostor syndrome suffer alone, as fear of being found out as a fraud is a key part of the condition. Pressure to achieve from family and society alike reinforce fraudulent feelings regarding success. This pressure can result in self-worth being tied too closely to high achievement. 

Impostor Syndrome and the Copywriter

Taking on a new venture can increase feelings of self-doubt in everyone. I experienced this when I switched careers from teaching to writing. I have been a lifelong writer, earned my MFA in creative writing, taught college students how to write for ten years, and now have been a copywriter for another ten years. But making the switch from the classroom to the office brought on a new wave of uncertainty.

With impostor syndrome, feelings of doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud are persistent, even when there are clear signs of success. In my first few weeks, months, and even years as a writer, it might be normal for me to feel unsure of the work I produced. But even after a decade of copy writing professionally, I can be stricken with feelings that I’m fooling my employer and don’t really belong in my position. 

Feelings of being an impostor don’t just stem internally. Negative criticism of one’s work can also come from external sources, further supporting feelings of being an impostor. This is difficult in creative fields like writing where work will regularly receive critique. Excessive edits, overly personal criticism, and even office politics can all spark a writer’s negative view of their worth. 

To avoid this, writers with impostor syndrome are often perfectionists, holding their work to higher standards than necessary. This can lead to procrastination, as the person fears their work won’t live up to expectations and is afraid to start it. Or on the opposite end, writers might invest an unreasonable amount of time drafting and refining a project in an effort to reach an unattainable ideal. 

I see this often in my own career when I push deadlines, making edit after edit in hopes of making my work “good enough” in my eyes. Often, it is the copy that I am most anxious about submitting that receives the best feedback. 

So am I actually an impostor? Or is it impostor syndrome? 

This is the central question facing anyone who is doubting themselves. Do I just think I’m a fraud? Or am I actually an impostor waiting to be found out? For many, regardless of profession, these thoughts can simmer to the surface.

Even as I write this article about impostor syndrome, even with a degree in writing, even after ten years teaching writing and another ten years as a copywriter, I still doubt my ability. I’ll even confess to my fear about when it comes time to hit the publish button on this post. 

What Can I Do?

You don’t need to just live with false feelings of being an impostor. Learning to accept your abilities and believe in yourself can be incredibly difficult, but with a little effort, you can begin to minimize feelings of doubt in your career. 

Recognize your talent.

I know. I know. Easier said than done. But being able to see the true value of your work is essential if you hope to succeed as a copywriter. Confidence in your own work and talents can carry you through criticism, both from others and from within yourself, and help you recognize great work when you create it. 

You deserve your job and the accolades you’ve earned. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have gotten them to begin with. Believing in yourself and the talents you have is central to pushing past impostor syndrome. 

Learn to let go of your work.

As a writer, you are likely aware of the importance of the editing process. But prolonged editing and agonizing over small details can keep you from meeting deadlines. This potentially hurts your reputation as a reliable writer. 

One of the teachers in my graduate program used to say, “Writing is never done. It is just due.” This was his real world adaptation of the E.M. Forster quote “A work of art is never finished. It is merely abandoned.” 

When copy writing for a client or employer, it is critical to recognize that at some point you must let go of your work and hit submit. However, this can be especially hard when publishing your own work, such as on your blog, where deadlines are self-imposed and pressure to complete the work is off-set by fear that your writing isn’t good enough. To avoid this trap, set yourself a deadline and stick to it.

Don’t focus on criticism.

One of the toughest lessons for a writer to learn is that criticism of a piece of your writing is not a criticism of you as a writer or as a person. As writers, we can become quite attached to the work we create and take any feedback personally. But when working as a copywriter, your client or employer might have a different vision for what the final product should be. You won’t always hit the mark with your first attempt. Remember, this doesn’t mean you aren’t competent enough to be a writer. Or that your job is at risk. When receiving feedback, focus on the improvements that need to be made and look for ways to apply these changes to all your writing to better adapt your work in the future.

Remember your successes.

When feeling like your work is inferior, it is important to look toward the positive results of your writing. Try creating a folder where you keep positive feedback regarding your work. When you are feeling apprehensive about your ability as a writer, read some of the praise you’ve received in the past to remind you of your talent. Similarly, when you receive awards or similar accolades, display them in your writing space as daily reminders to reinforce your value.