We recently connected with Lindsey Pope and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsey, 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 is something I still struggle with to this day. To me it’s not about overcoming it as I’m not sure if I ever will. Rather, it’s all about managing it and moving forward even if it’s still there. The first step for me to manage it was to immerse myself into groups with other writers where I quickly learned how common it is. Seeing so many other writers struggle with it made me feel like it was just part of the job in some strange way, and also brought me a level of comfort in feeling like I wasn’t alone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am passionate about sharing love and laughter through writing. What’s most special about it to me is connecting with my readers, and since I write children’s books, I have gotten the chance to connect with readers of all ages. I love the smiles on people’s faces and the magic that comes with reading. I also love how I’ve met several people who dream of writing a book, and I get to encourage them along their journey. So many people encouraged me, and it feels great to pay that forward. On top of writing, I love creating and teaching meaningful workshops that relate to writing and mental health. I pride myself on creating safe spaces where people can genuinely learn about themselves and connect to others in a meaningful way.
So far, I have self-published four books. I am currently working on self-publishing my fifth book. My first two books were written for adults and my other three (including the one in progress) are picture books aimed toward children. I do have the desire to continue writing for all ages in my heart and am excited to see where the journey takes me next.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge most impactful on my journey so far have been: 1. Developing mutually beneficial relationships – I have partnered with several small business owners and nonprofits in my area to create meaningful events, and I’ve also promoted several other indie authors who are happy to then promote me.
2. Being willing to learn – writing is a craft and I’m grateful I immersed myself in learning the craft prior to publishing my first children’s picture book.
3. Remaining open and adaptable – I’ve learned that some things you try when you’re starting out will be a huge hit and others will be a huge bust, and some will require you to adapt last minute to something you weren’t expecting. The more open and flexible you are, the better.
The advice I’d have for others would be to learn more about your field of interest and also start building mutually beneficial connections as early as possible. The more cheerleaders you have in your corner as you launch your dream, the better!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I was lucky to read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and her book had an immense positive effect on me and really encouraged me to publish my first children’s picture book, Sheldon’s Time. The most valuable nugget of wisdom for me was how she encouraged me to not wait until I wasn’t afraid, but rather move forward despite my fear. That really helped me realize I could pursue my dream, even though I felt terrified to do so.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseypwrites/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindseyPWrites/
Image Credits
My headshot was done by Malgorzata Baker Photography in Havre de Grace, MD.
