Wrestling With Impostor Syndrome (and Occasionally Winning)

Let me tell you a little secret. One that I, like most writers I know, don’t say out loud unless coaxed with chocolate or caffeine or the promise of a free tote bag.

Ready?

I regularly think I’m a fraud.

Yep. Impostor syndrome is basically my sidekick. My unwanted sidekick. Like a clingy ex who keeps showing up at book signings whispering, “You don’t belong here.”

You see, writing is deeply personal. We’re not assembling IKEA furniture (though honestly, my last attempt at a bookshelf made me feel equally unqualified). When you write, you’re pulling thoughts from your soul, arranging them into fragile sentences, and then sending them out into the big bad world hoping someone doesn’t say, “Well, that’s garbage.”

There’s no magical scroll that arrives by owl post declaring: “Congratulations, you are now officially a Writer™.” No license, no laminated badge, not even a quirky business card. If you’re waiting for someone to officially knight you with a pen and say, “Arise, Word Warrior,” it’s not coming.

(Although, if someone wants to start that society, call me.)

So how do you know you’re a writer? Simple.

If you write, you’re a writer.
That’s it. Full stop. No secret handshake required.

Still, impostor syndrome sneaks in, doesn’t it? Especially when you compare your behind-the-scenes messy drafts and sob sessions to someone else's curated Instagram author life. They have candles, aesthetic coffee cups, and appear to have written a novel in three days while also meal-prepping and learning Italian. Meanwhile, I’ve been “editing” the same paragraph since Tuesday and just found a cookie in my notebook. (I ate it. Obviously.)

But here’s what I’ve learned—and I want you to really let this soak in like a good moisturizer:
Self-doubt doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It means you care.

You care deeply. About the words. About the stories. About doing it well. And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful.

So what do I do when I feel like a big ol’ fraud?

I lean on my tribe. A wonderful, weird group of like-minded writers who remind me that we all feel this way sometimes. That rejection is part of the journey, not the definition of it. And that yes, even multi-published authors sometimes feel like their cat is a better writer than they are.

We remind each other to keep writing.
To keep whispering (or shouting) “I am a writer.”
To celebrate progress, not perfection.
And most importantly, to never let that shadowy imposter in our heads silence our voice.

Because your words matter.
And so do mine.
Even if I still sometimes Google “what is a subplot” at midnight like I’ve never written a novel in my life.

So here’s to you, fellow word wrangler. Whether you’re scribbling in journals, plotting fantasy epics, writing cozy mysteries with magical dogs (hi, it’s me), or just bravely staring down that blinking cursor—

You are a writer.
And impostor syndrome doesn’t stand a chance against that truth.

The Absolute Madness of Naming Characters

Let’s talk about one of the most ridiculous struggles of writing a book. No, I’m not talking about the part where you stare at the blinking cursor like it personally insulted your ancestors. I’m talking about naming characters. It should be easy, right? Just slap a name on them and move on? Oh, my sweet summer child. If only. See, naming a character is like naming your kid—except worse, because nobody is going to complain if your kid and their cousin both end up being named Liam. But if your main villain is named Liam and you accidentally give the quirky coffee shop owner in book three the same name? Cue the existential crisis. Let’s walk through the madness. The Overthinking Spiral of Doom You start writing, and there’s that moment: your brand-new character walks onto the page, full of potential. All they need is a name. A simple name. Something strong, something fitting, something— Oh no. Nothing sounds right. This one is too complicated. That one is too simple. ...

DIY Audiobook. A bit of equipment, good advice and lots of patience

I want to create an Audiobook - should I? Ever since the release of book one in the "Cannabis Preacher" series of thrillers, that question has been on my mind. The "Cannabis Preacher" books were quite long. To produce an audiobook from each of the four, including voice actors and audio production with a turn key service, I was looking at around $15,000 per book. Financially, that was a non-starter for me at the time. That amount represented a LOT of books and audiobooks to sell to recover the investment, and I shelved my plan again. With the popularity of the "Magical Papillon" cozy mystery series, I found myself coming back to the growing popularity of audiobooks. I knew that audiobooks could reach a wider audience and catered to busy readers who prefer listening while multitasking. The idea of bringing my characters to life through narration excited me, as it offered a new dimension to my storytelling. The cozy mysteries were only 60-65,000...

Stories Are Everywhere: The Writer’s Endless Inspiration

As a writer, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How do you come up with your stories?” It’s a question that often makes me smile because the answer is as simple as it is profound: stories are everywhere. Inspiration doesn’t always strike in grand, dramatic moments. More often than not, it emerges quietly, weaving its way into the fabric of everyday life. Conversations with friends, the sights and sounds of a bustling city, or even the stillness of a room can spark the seed of an idea. Writers aren’t just storytellers; we’re observers, collecting fragments of life and spinning them into tales. Let me share a recent example of how a simple evening turned into the genesis of a new story idea. Over two perfectly crafted negronis, I was discussing the schedule for an upcoming event with a friend. Their house, a treasure trove of artwork, surrounded us. Every piece of art seemed to hum with a story of its own. Midway through the second drink, I remarked, “One day, someb...

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