We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Curto a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chelsea, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I think every creative experiences imposter syndrome. When I’m feeling it heavily while writing, I take a second to reflect on all the lovely things people have ever said to me. I remember how they like my characters. How they like my writing style. How my books are their favorite books, and I remember I can’t please everyone, but I CAN write someone’s favorite book!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Chelsea, and I’m a flight attendant and author. During the COVID pandemic, I took a leave from work. During that time, I started reading dozens and dozens of books. After falling back in love with reading, I decided to try my hand at WRITING a book… which is a LOT harder than reading! It’s been over two years since I published my first book, and I feel so lucky I get to to this as my job!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Patience, commitment and positivity. Being an author can be a very lonely job, especially as you watch others around you succeed and wonder when it’s YOUR turn. You have to remember to run the mile YOU’RE in, not the mile THEY’RE in. Finding the good in the journey makes it a lot more fun, too.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Honestly, I go out and move my body. I’m a runner, and when I’m feeling stuck creatively or my brain feels like it’s too cluttered, I’ll put on my tennis shoes and go for a run. That’s where some of my best ideas come from, and I feel so relaxed when I have the chance to stretch my legs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authorchelseacurto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorchelseacurto
Image Credits
Artists: @inkandlaurel and @_quinnasaurus
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