Meet Ann Sloan

We were lucky to catch up with Ann Sloan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ann, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome can be a powerful and paralyzing feeling, making you doubt your abilities and accomplishments. Overcoming it is an on-going process for me, but it begins with acknowledging and normalizing it. The truth is it’s very common. Many people, even extremely successful people, on occasion experience imposter syndrome.

Knowing that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way helped me realize that it was a normal part of the process.
I had transitioned from a career in television marketing to novel writing. First, instead of solely focusing on the end goal of becoming a successful writer, I made a point to celebrate small wins along the way. Completing a
chapter, receiving positive feedback from beta readers, or even just sitting down to write every day were all achievements worth recognizing.

The second rule was to set Realistic Expectations. It’s too easy to compare yourself to established authors or have unrealistically high expectations for your writing. I found it helpful to set achievable goals for myself, both in terms of writing progress and personal growth. This way, I could measure my progress based on my own journey rather than constantly comparing myself to others.

The third way was to practice self-compassion; treating myself with kindness and understanding during moments of self-doubt was crucial. It’s important to constantly remind yourself that it’s ok to make mistakes; they’re the key to growth.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a novelist and owner of a small publishing house, Trojan Cat Media. Last year, under this imprint, I published my first novel called Suffer: A Hollywood Novel, a comedy with rom com vibes set in the world of television. It’s about a diva actress who interacts with a group of her super fans, and things go hilariously askew.

My current work in progress is another novel called The Carlötta Beautox Chronicles, a satirical comedy based on a fiction podcast of the same name which I wrote and produced three seasons of. That will be published in early 2024.

Prior to pursuing a career as a novelist and fiction podcaster, I worked in network television for more than 20 years writing and producing award-winning TV promos at ABC, CBS, NBC, and more. About five years ago, I decided to focus more on my own creative endeavors and I’ve never looked back.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Writing a novel can be a daunting undertaking but I tried to focus on three principles to get me to my goal. First: persistence and resilience. There are moments of self-doubt, writer’s block, and frustration but it’s important to keep showing up to write, even on tough days. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have to learn to silence your self-doubt. Second, hone your craft. A passion for storytelling is great, but you also have to constantly be trying to improve your skills. The more you invest in developing your craft, the more confident you’ll become in your abilities as a writer. Take classes, read as much as you can. Lastly, and most overlooked, I’d say would be time management. Set clear goals and establish a writing routine that works for you. It might mean waking up early, writing during lunch breaks, or dedicating specific hours on weekends. My advice is to treat writing as a commitment, just like any other job. Allocate time for it, respect that time, and over time, you’ll build momentum.