Writer – Flores Factor

Imposter Syndrome

Writing

by Richard Flores IV on 2021-07-09 0 Comments

There tends to be two thoughts when the term “imposter syndrome” comes up. The first is that every writer, or any creator for that matter, suffers from it. The second is that you’ve never heard of imposter syndrome and as such you’re struggling to identify the feeling. In both cases, imposter syndrome does have an effect on the creator.

What is imposter syndrome? Simple put, it the feeling you don’t belong, particularly when it comes to creative content. For writers, it can be described as the feeling that you are not a successful author and may never be. As it aptly named, it is the feeling that you are an imposter among every other writer. It is like a fucked up game of Among Us, were you’re the only one playing in your mind.

I suffer from it in a just about everything I do, both creative and in my regular job. And no amount of knowing that everyone else suffers from it changes the feeling that I am really an imposter. I understand that what I am feeling is normal and I understand others feel that way too, but I just can’t help but let it bog me down.

I wish I had some great post on the 10 things that you can do to combat imposter syndrome and move past it. But I really don’t. When it hits it can be really hard to fight the desire to quit. In some cases I have done just that, or gone on hiatus.

It happened to me last week while streaming a game I absolutely love. I just felt like I was nobody and quit my stream early. And to be honest, I’ve not really recovered from it. Overall, I have been thinking of quitting my live streaming activities. And while that is live streaming, and not writing, it is strongly echoed in my writing career.

What I can say is that while I don’t have a long list of ways to combat Imposter Syndrome. I do have some positive things that come from recognizing that it exists and that it is normal. I think these have helped me from making drastic decisions while under this influence.

The first thing I do is to acknowledge that what I am feeling. I also acknowledge that this is not a feeling based on facts, but instead on overthinking. This allows me the chance to recognize what I am doing to myself and take pause to think about other things.

So once I know that I am dealing with Imposter Syndrome I can take pause on making any decisions. This is huge in keeping me from making the wrong choices that I could regret later. Because, especially when it come to quitting, it can be difficult to undo the choice.

It also keeps me from going down the rabbit hole of despair. Which is a good thing to help keep in the right mental state and pressing on. It allows me to continue to do my writing even while I feel like I may be an imposter hack. As long as I am getting words on paper, I am doing something right.

Finally, I take a moment to recognize what tossed me into the mental failure mode. This helps me to prevent the things the typically cast doubt in my mind. For writing, this can often be looking at my sales numbers or reviews. Sometimes it comes on from reading a great novel that leaves me thinking that I could never write like them. And I often feel that way after leaving a convention where I was surrounded by great people.

Now some people will say that you should avoid the triggers of your imposter syndrome. But that isn’t always practical or wise. I love attending conventions and I can’t imagine not going to them. I think reviews are great and should read them. And you need to know your sales number for tax season. There is no way I am giving up reading.

But what I can do is recognize that this feeling is coming and know what that will do to me. And when I expect it I can be ready to handle it. And that has helped a lot.

I don’t pretend to be an expert on handling imposter syndrome, but I want you to know you are not alone in feeling it. It is normal to feel this way. And most all, you are not an imposter.

10 Things to Avoid Saying to Writers

by Richard Flores IV on 2014-06-09 16 Comments

Just last week while on the internet I saw a meme titled “10 Things You Should Never Say to Writers” posted by Jessica McHugh. It was really funny, and it got me thinking of a few things to add to that list. So here is my list of Ten Things to Avoid Saying to Writers.

1. I wish I had such an easy job.

EASY! If it is so easy where are your novels? I’d love to read one. The problem is people assume that all you need is an idea and you’re off to writing a novel. They further assume that proofreading and editing are the same thing. Furthermore, they have absolutely no idea what it takes to make a readable story. Saying being a writer is easy is just like my saying being an accountant must be easy. I really have no clue.

2. Why do you even need to work?

Oh man, I get this question every time a coworker finds out I am a writer. The way they often say it is as if I have stolen a job from someone who really needs it just so I can pad my pockets. Never mind that I drove to work in a 18 year old van with one working windshield wiper (when I hit the dash just right), with no air conditioning, and leaks fluids that even a mechanic can’t identify. I really just enjoy working odd hours and tons of overtime just to add to my Swiss bank account. This ties into the assumption that the arts pay a lot of money. And in most cases they do not. Just like every actor doesn’t make millions, every author is not selling record amounts of books. I need a day job just to live on until people start buying all my books, or maybe forever.

3. Can I get a free copy of your book?

See above, Jack Ass. Do these people go to restaurants and ask the owner, can I have a free meal? Do they go to a dress maker, and ask for a free dress? Do they ask the dry-cleaner to clean their suits for free? No, they don’t. Yet they feel compelled to ask me to give away my hard work to them for free, just because they casually know me. And then they get offended when I tell them about my website’s promotions page where they can enter to win free books when I do giveaways. As if they should somehow just get one. Come on.

4. I’d buy your book but…

The list of excuses are amazing. And most of them are kind of bull shit if you ask me. The only one I accept is: “I’d buy your book but I am broke.” Because I understand that. I am also broke. But telling me you would buy my book but you don’t read science fiction, or you don’t read at all, or you’d rather spend your money on movies (really??), or some other excuse is really just slapping me in the face. Especially if you’re my friend or family member.

5. I’d write a review for your book but I don’t know what to say.

Oh this one really pisses me off. Listen, I don’t care what authors say about not reading reviews and all that other bull. We need reviews on our books to be successful. And when you have read one and you won’t review it, I suppose that is your choice. But don’t come tell me that you won’t write one because you don’t know what to say. We are not asking for a New York Times evaluation. We just want you to rate the book and write your thoughts about the book down. Do this once and then copy and paste it on Amazon, Goodreads, and where ever else you see the book. It isn’t hard and it means more to us than you can possible imagine.

6. It must be your dream to see them make your book into a movie.

It is my dream that people READ MY BOOKS, not watch them. The only reason why I would want my book turned to a movie is because it would hopefully mean more people would READ them. As any avid book reader knows, they always fuck up the movie.

7. I have a cousin’s friend’s uncle who is a writer.

Okay. I never understood this. There is only one other career I’ve ever heard this done with; and that is police. Ever notice if you mention a cop someone always has to speak up with how they somehow know a police officer. For some reason people need to tell me how they know a writer. And they always say it as if that acquaintance some how makes them an expert. The best follow up question to this statement is: “Oh, what do they write?” Because they have no damn clue and secretly I like watching hem squirm.

8. I have a lot of great ideas for books, I just don’t have the time to write.

Some variation of this is always on every author’s most hated thing to be told. Sometimes people want you to write their idea and give them credit. But the worst for me is when someone tells me they don’t have time. I work 40-60 hours a week at a day job, publish a magazine, have a family, and still make time to write. It isn’t that you don’t have time. You don’t have the passion to write.

9. I am not going to wind up in one of your books, am I?

They always say this with some little hint at it being a joke. You’re not funny. And there is a good chance that background character I just killed off was you. I killed him because he made bad jokes too.

10. Someday you’ll be famous and I’ll say I know that guy.

And I will tell security I’ve never seen you before in my life.

Writer’s Block

by Richard Flores IV on 2011-09-16 3 Comments

I can hear all of you yelling at you screens: “Where have you gone Richard? Why did you leave us?”

I know I have been quiet on here. I haven’t posted in 10 days. I think in blog time that is something like 3 years. I have been stricken with a terrible case of writer’s block. The only natural enemy of the writer. Well, there may be others, but writer’s block is certainly the worse .

Writer’s block is that horrible condition where a writer has no idea what to write. In can be minor; like not know what to write on Twitter. Or it can be severe; like not knowing what to write anywhere. Writer’s block affects all writers of all ages, there is no vaccine against it, and it often requires lengthy treatments that are not guaranteed to work. Worst of all it’s not covered by most insurance carriers.

My case was moderate. I managed to put together a few tweets, I think I got on Google+ with a post, and Facebook got a few posts. But, I could not think of anything to write, both here or for a new short story. I haven’t got anymore written on my novel.

I tried all the treatments. They don’t work. I brainstormed, I read, I wrote nonsense, I opened the documents to type, and still nothing got down to the page. I tried hard to get something down on paper some where. Nothing. Not even a sticky note on the fridge reminding me to buy my son Ice Cream toppings for his school party.

I had an awesome dream. I woke up and thought, This will make the most awesome story known to man. Sure enough, my writer’s block was so severe that I didn’t write the idea down and fell back a sleep. That is a cardinal sin in the writing community, and I did it. And now, I still can’t remember even the smallest detail of what that dream was about. All I can remember now is, You fool. You could have been the next Heinlein, and you didn’t write it down. Your note pad was arms length from your bed and you were too lazy to write it down.

Then yesterday I got a rejection letter from a publication for my latest short story. Its okay, it was only the first market I have sent it too so I was not really surprised. However, when you have writer’s block it is a bit more discouraging. I sent it off to another publication as I promised myself I would always do.

And then I had a great idea for a blog post. I will write about Editors.

Then I realized that might be career suicide if I wrote down what I was thinking of editors after getting a rejection. So I decided that post should probably wait.

Well then my Van broke down… yes I drive a mini-van. Stop looking at me like that. Men drive mini-vans too. Well, as you have read in other threads, writing provides stress relief for me. Well, I needed it and I still couldn’t think of a damn thing to put on paper.

Then today, I went through my routine. Checked Facebook, Checked the Facebook Author Page, Checked Twitter, Checked Google+, and then I got to this site. And I thought to myself, I need to blog. My adoring fans need to hear from me. It has been three blog years since I posted.

It didn’t work. I couldn’t think of anything. Then after going back to Facebook and then back to this site. It dawned on me. I should write about the tragedy of Writer’s Block. And so, I give you this post. I managed over 700 words here.

I AM CURED!

So what is my point is all this? I am not sure I really have one. Give me a minute, let me see if I can make one up…

Okay I got it.

Writer’s Block is a debilitating disease to a writer. And really only time can cure it. The more you force yourself to writer something the more resistant the disease becomes. Sometimes you have to just take a break and let the disease run its course. And when you are ready you will have something great to write. Or at least something to write.*

If you have suggestions on how to cure Writer’s Block, please feel free to comment.

Now if you will excuse me, I have things to write.

*Note:  The statements made in this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA, your 
results may vary.

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Imposter Syndrome

10 Things to Avoid Saying to Writers

Writer’s Block