Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessie Kwak. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Jessie, 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.
Imposter syndrome is a tough one! I’ve always had that voice in my head telling me that a certain thing isn’t “for me.” I was too poor as a kid. Not smart enough in college. Not talented enough as a writer — whatever it was, that voice would bubble up inside me, murmuring, “Who do you think you are?”
I’ve learned two things about that voice.
The first is that it’s trying to protect me. From embarrassment, from failure, from humiliation. Even though it seems like the voice of imposter syndrome is holding me back, it’s actually trying to help.
The second is that I learned it will never go away. When I was applying for our local newspaper’s student journalism program, the voice told me I wouldn’t get in because I wasn’t from a “rich kid school”. Despite winning awards for student journalism, when I wanted to share my science fiction stories in my writing classes, the voice told me no one would take my writing seriously. Despite publishing a dozen sci-fi books, when I applied to speak at a conference, the voice told me I was a “nobody.”
I finally realized that the voice showed up when I was pushing myself — and that I didn’t need to see it as holding me back. Instead, it was like an old friend saying, “Girl, are you sure? That cliff looks scary!”
When I hear that, I know I’m probably on the right track for doing something that helps my career grow even more.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a writer — I write science fiction and thriller books for myself, and I ghostwrite business books for my clients.
I’ve been freelance writing for over ten years, writing everything from blog posts and case studies to product descriptions and technical manuals, but I really love writing books! I enjoy delving deep into a project and helping my clients craft something that gets their message out in the world.
For my own fiction, I like writing character-driven stories that are full of action. Page-turners with characters you enjoy spending time with, and love to root for. I often end up poking at morally gray ethical areas, which is why many of the characters in my sci-fi books tend to live outside the law.
Right now, I have two sci-fi series — the Bulari Saga (think the Expanse meets the Godfather) and the Nanshe Chronicles (think Firefly meets Cowboy Bebop meets Leverage).
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?
1. Tenacity. Both freelance writing and publishing are hard journeys, with lots of setbacks along the way. Learning to write publishable books requires thousands of frustrating hours spent on bad drafts. Getting those books in front of readers requires experimentation and failure. Landing freelance clients means that people will tell you no constantly! You have to hone your ability to keep walking forward. Just keep going! The path may be rocky, but eventually you’ll look back and realize you’ve been climbing.
2. Self-discipline. Being your own boss really isn’t for everybody! It’s lonely. You have to manage your own time. You have to wear all the hats. And you have to have the self-discipline to step back from your day-to-day and make hard, boss-level decisions about your business when sometimes it’s easier to stay in the employee-level daily grind. Remember to schedule time for the important things in your business: making strategic decisions, doing impactful work, and taking time off to relax.
3. Networking. It truly is all about who you know! I wasn’t born into a well-networked family, and I’m a total introvert. But I taught myself how to build my own network, and that community has been one of the most powerful forces in shaping my journey. You don’t have to go it alone!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents instilled a sense of adventure in me. They have always loved travel, and even though we didn’t have much money, we took road trips to camp in national parks and visit family all over the US. When I was twelve and my sister was nine, we took an epic summer road trip around the United States, including a jaunt from Miami to Venezuela to visit some friends who were living there.
Even at home, my parents encouraged us to have new experiences. My dad would often turn right instead of left on our Sunday drive home from church, just to see where a new road led. And I vividly remember being in the grocery store and seeing lychee fruit for the first time. When I asked mom what it was, she said, “I have no idea. Let’s buy some and find out what to do with it!” We brought home nopales (cactus paddles), pigs ears, and octopus for the same reason during other trips.
A sense of adventure is a critical part of having a growth mindset. I’m incredibly grateful my parents encouraged my sister and I to try new things — I think it’s led both of us to live fuller, more meaningful lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessiekwak.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kwakjessie
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JessieKwak
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jessiekwak
Image Credits
Initial image: Robert Kittilson Second upload: 1. Jessie Kwak 2. Kathleen Colvin 3. Andrea Rangel 4. Jessie Kwak 5. Jessie Kwak 6. Jessie Kwak 7. Erik Grove 8. Robert Kittilson
