Fighting Imposter Syndrome, a guest post by Marc J. Gregson

I’ve heard some authors place a lot of themselves into the characters of their debut novels. However, I was skeptical this was true of my writing until I wrote the novel that ended up becoming my debut. In Sky’s End, although Conrad and I are very different, we did have at least one thing in common: he was furiously trying to rise within his society, while I was desperately trying to get published.

We were both singularly focused on reaching our goals.

After the release of Sky’s End came the next part of my journey with Conrad: his continuing adventure through war-torn skies, and for me the complete and utter dread of writing his sequel. When I began working on Among Serpents, I thought maybe it’d include less of me, but in fact, it mirrored my journey even more.

In Sky’s End, Conrad’s always racing to get something he doesn’t have, be it a found family or his sister, but in Among Serpents, Conrad’s struggling to keep everything together even though the world’s falling from the sky. Furthermore, he’s dealing with his new leadership responsibilities and is afraid he will lose everything he’s gained. Deep down, he’s terrified that he doesn’t deserve anything he’s earned.

Conrad has imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is that cruel inner critic who whispers in your ear and tells you that you don’t belong. That everyone is looking at you, and they can see through you, and they know you’re not actually that great. Imposter syndrome is thinking you didn’t deserve your success because you didn’t truly earn it.

Unlike Conrad, I’m not shouldering global-scale burdens, or rulership responsibilities, but as I worked on Among Serpents for months, I continually felt unworthy. My imposter syndrome had developed into a vicious, bald-headed monster that consistently whispered anxieties into my ear. How was I going to follow-up the excitement in Sky’s End? Did I just get lucky with the first book? Maybe I’m not actually any good at this. How could I simultaneously write a great sequel and be a good husband, father, and effective teacher?

I was stressed and overwhelmed—much like Conrad is in Among Serpents—and I felt rather helpless. In Among Serpents, things outside of Conrad’s control kept happening to him. Likewise, things kept happening to me, and they all required life adjustments. Exciting things like hitting the New York Times bestseller list, or announcing the movie, or being on panels at major events with authors I’ve long admired. They all felt like a dream. They were amazing. The stuff you can never imagine happening to you. But, while all these wonderful things are happening, beyond all the joy and smiles on my face, deep down, I felt like I was undeserving of any of it.

When colleagues complimented me at work, I brushed their flattery off. That was easier to say than come off as an egomaniac and shout, “Yeah, you’re right. I earned it all myself, aren’t I the coolest?!”

Even though I couldn’t accept compliments, I also couldn’t just wallow in my cold writing office and agonize over a blank Word document. I couldn’t let the inner critic defeat me, no matter how large the imposter monster grew. I had a sequel to write. So, how did I defeat it, silence that inner critic, and write Among Serpents?

Truthfully, although I write about destroying giant, horrible monsters, I’ve never quite been able to vanquish the imposter beast. But I’ve learned how to work around it.

While I wrote Among Serpents, I was driven by a quote from a hall-of-fame NBA player who never won a championship. In fact, because he didn’t win a championship, many critics claim all the accomplishments of his storied career are less valuable because he couldn’t top Michael Jordan. One might assume, based on these critiques, that this player felt unworthy of his achievements. But when this player was asked if he had any regrets about not winning a title, his response resonated with me. He said something to the effect of, “No, because as long as I put everything I had onto the court, then I did everything I could do.”

Control. That was the key. My imposter monster’s strength dwindled when I simply focused on the things that were within my power. No, I can’t control the reaction of others, or how they’ll feel about Among Serpents, but I could control the effort I put into my book. I could control whether I work it into a shape that I’d be willing to stand behind and be proud of.

I realized I could fight my imposter syndrome by giving Among Serpents everything I had.

The inner critic is fierce, and it can drag down anyone. But at the end of the day, if you put everything you have into your work, if you fight to make it the best that you possibly can, then hopefully you can look back with pride, rather than regret. Sure, you might not beat Michael Jordan. You might not be the best there ever was. But you can still be your own personal hall-of-famer.

Meet the author

Marc J Gregson is a New York Times bestselling author. He attended the University of Utah, where he received his bachelor of arts in English teaching. Marc’s pursuit of learning has led him into the classroom, where he teaches middle school English. He believes in the power of words and that stories can unite people from all origins.Above the Black is his first fantasy trilogy for teens.

https://marcjgregson.com

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About Among Serpents

Strap in for a high-octane mission that hurls Conrad and crew toward jaw-dropping discoveries that could trigger total obliteration, in Book Two of the Above the Black fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky’s End.

It takes guts to rise to the top of Meritocracy. It’ll take sheer ruthlessness to stay there. As militants and monsters lay waste to the Skylands, Uncle’s lawless tyranny threatens to unravel fragile Trade alliances. Conrad, no longer a mere Captain, now commands a squadron of ships at the order of the King. But Conrad’s High status can’t protect him from his own turmoil, and the price of power is steeped in blood.

Tormented by tragedies of war and by betrayal from his own family, Conrad must prove his worth to all of the Skylands. Led by an unhinged Explorer, Conrad embarks on a secret expedition to turn the tides of battle—before another island falls at the jaws of the gigataun. It’s a journey fraught with peril: Deadly monstrosities. Sabotage. Stowaways. And with friendships pushed to the brink and gentle romance stirring, Conrad will have to muster more than courage to weather the raging storms ahead.

Order your copy of Book Two of the Above the Black trilogy and continue the adventure! Marc J Gregson expands his fast-paced fantasy universe with shocking twists, treacherous battles, and a memorable cast of characters. Fans of Frank Herbert and Jules Verne will appreciate touches of classic science fiction, including speculative frontiers and turbulent political intrigue.

ISBN-13: 9781682637067
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication date: 01/07/2025
Series: Above the Black #2
Age Range: 14 – 17 Years

Filed under: Guest Post