Meet Lori Stanley Roeleveld

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lori Stanley Roeleveld. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lori Stanley, 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.

Early in my days of imagining I am a writer, I frequently wrestled with imposter syndrome. Then, while attending a writers conference, I was in a workshop with a the woman who had founded the conference. At the time, she was in her seventies and had written over 60 popular novels. The instructor asked us each to write a description of a room and then brought the mic to several writers to read theirs aloud. When she began to read she suddenly faltered and announced, “Ugh, it’s terrible! I’m not a writer!” That moment, for me, was worth the price of the conference. It was then I realized imposter syndrome is almost a part of the writer’s job description. It’s vital to learn to accept it may never go away but learn to manage it and recognize it, not as a threat, but as an affirmation that you’ve likely found your calling. One way I manage it when it begins to paralyze me is that I drive to the library or a bookstore. Then, I imagine all those writers suddenly appeared in the room with me. What I know is that I’d feel way out of my league with many of them but there would also be many who would leave me wondering how they managed to get books on these shelves. Then I remind myself, why shouldn’t I be one in this crowd? Why shouldn’t one of my books earn a place here? And, I go home and write.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a Christian author, speaker, and writing coach. In 2022, after spending years balancing my writing life with homeschooling two children to graduation and then full-time work in human services, I took the plunge and created Take Heart! Coaching and Freelance. Besides writing books (6 and counting) and speaking, I offer a variety of writing services including articles, ghostwriting, speechwriting, and editing. My primary focus, however, is coaching writers with a specific focus on Christian writers over 40. I offer one-on-one book and life coaching but the majority of my clients enjoy the group coaching experiences and classes I create. I currently am running several cohorts of my Out of the Shire Group Book Coaching. This is a year long, four-phase class designed to help writers take their writing further than they ever have before. We cover a variety of topics including craft, motivation, resilience, and perseverance as well as business aspects of writing such as proposals, conference prep, branding, marketing, and platform. I run monthly “Persevere” groups around a range of topics including my popular “Better Writing, Greater Reach” group which includes monthly challenges to improve craft and expand platform. Right now, I’m testdriving a course that’s very exciting called “Productivity with Peace.” In it, I share the mindset and practical tips that have helped me be prolific and creative at every stage of life while still getting a full night’s sleep.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First, as a Christian writer, trusting God to lead my writing journey has been key. As a Rhode Islander, I’m far from the Bible belt and from most centers of Christian publishing so I relied on God to help me make connections and find my niche. Second, when I began, despite my fears, to write in my own voice, that’s when my writing found its audience and gained notice from people in the business. Early on, I tried to fit myself into a box I felt was the right package for readers but finally, probably out of frustration and futility, I actually wrote in a way that felt and sounded like me. That was “accidental” genius. Then, my writing career leveled up when I decided I was done with “deficit thinking” and instead, would operate from a place of abundance. I made a list of all the things I believe I do right with writing, my strengths, gifts, passions, and life experiences. I abandoned worrying what I’m not good at and what I don’t have and instead, developed these strengths. I’ve never looked back. My best advice for those early on is to begin a list of strengths and build on those. Learn from everyone. When someone’s writing moves or impacts you, study and ask why. Network and build authentic relationships with people in the business but more than anything–write! Writers write. Period.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I’m entering my third year of self-employment and right now, I’m realizing I need to be a better boss to me! I’ve been kind of a driving tyrant, pushing myself to work many long hours (although I’m faithful about NOT working from sundown on Saturday to sundown on Sunday every week). So, this year’s goals are to a) be a better boss to myself and b) to work smarter. To do the first, I’m monitoring my self-talk and making sure they’re full of kindness. For instance, I’ve given myself permission to make mistakes, even to fail, and to simply learn from what went wrong and move on without recrimination. To learn to work smarter, I’ve reached out to several publishing professionals who have been self-employed much longer than I am to ask advice. I’m in the process now of reflecting on their responses and considering changes I can make so I can continue this work for the long-haul but create margins in my schedule, as well.

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Lori Stanley Roeleveld

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