There is something interesting about how we label ourselves in regards to our careers. For instance, as an ICU nurse, I don't hesitate to call myself a nurse, but I have misgivings about calling myself a writer. I have friends that have no trouble calling themselves teachers, firefighters, financial analysts, etc., but they balk at calling themselves artists. Why is that? Why do we require ourselves to be super successful at writing and the arts before we can apply our "label", but we don't require it for other professions?
Part of the reason may be because we put our work "out there" on public view. As a nurse, only a few people witness my work at any given time. But if I publish a book on Amazon, well, then it's there for everyone to see, and I can be judged and found lacking. If you hang a painting in a gallery, anyone can see it, and what if they don't think you're any good? So what can we do about this?
We can relax. We can let ourselves off the hook. Understand that not every book, painting, sculpture, or other creative endeavor is going to resonate positively with everyone. You don't like everything you read, so don't expect everyone to like what you write. Take criticism with a grain of salt. Use it to improve (if it's genuine) and then leave it behind you.
Here's something to keep the doubt from overwhelming you: experts say that those most likely to suffer from Imposter Syndrome are high achievers. That's right, you are a high achiever! Go you! High achiever Meryl Streep has persistently suffered from Imposter Syndrome, saying that when it comes time to do a new movie she is flooded with thoughts about how she really can't act and doesn't know why anyone would ever want to see her in a movie again. Meryl Streep. Let that sink in. We are not alone.
So go forth and be the high achieving writer you are meant to be. And when someone asks you what you do, give your best Meryl Streep performance, and say, "I am a writer."
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