The Dying Sun was meant to be the first book in a trilogy. When I completed the manuscript, it was approximately 72 000 words long. It fell right into the “correct length for a new fantasy author” guide. I was reasonably proud of myself for this achievement and handed it off to my beta readers. By the time The Dying Sun was sent to the presses, it was approximately 182 000 words long with a two-part series planned, and at minimum four books per part of that series. Why did it grow? And what does this have to do with Imposter Syndrome?
WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME?
While it likely doesn’t need to be defined, I’ll do so anyway. Imposter Syndrome is the feeling that no matter how accomplished you are, you’re not the real deal. Pertaining to authors, this is often the idea that no matter how much you write, you’re not a real author because of XYZ reasoning. If you write, you’re a writer. If you have authored something, you are an author. Simple as that.
BELIEVE IN YOUR ABILITY TO CULTIVATE YOUR ABILITIES
The Dying Sun is a diverse fantasy not for the faint of heart. It is a poignant novel of epic magic and intrigue. It was a novel I thought I wasn’t good enough to write, and maybe I’m not. There are points it could certainly be improved—I promise stylistic improvements in its sequel, The Pantheon Prophet. Continued growth is extraordinarily important in both life and work. But when I outlined The Dying Sun, I thought its scope was beyond my abilities and beyond my reach. I undercut and minimized the story for the sake of fitting it into a streamlined version that generic blogger lists on the internet instructed. No one was going to read a big book by a no-name author, so therefore I needed to keep it short and sweet.
In reality, no one is going to read a story that sucks. And the original version of The Dying Sun was a bulky outline at best. I did a disservice to both the story and my skills, by being afraid to reach for the stars and write the grand epic that The Gods Chronicle series could be. I had a lot of work on my plate, and I had a lot of growth to do. Everyone takes a different journey to find that place of growth, but you shouldn’t be afraid of it.
TAMING DRAGONS
Imposter Syndrome should help keep you humble. It’s something that many of us, if not all of us, have felt from time to time. It is doubt, anxiety, insecurity, and it’s entirely useable in small doses. Imposter Syndrome is a dragon, but it’s tameable. You should use it to stay humble, as a challenge to aspire to be better and to keep learning. Don’t let it stop you from reaching for opportunities.
Stay humble, but be bold.
-L.J.
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