Meet Zack Solomon

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

Zack, 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.

There’s a very funny thing about imposter syndrome, and that’s that it never really goes away. I’ve overcome imposter syndrome countless times, and it’s something that I am in a constant battle with. Don’t get me wrong, it’s gotten a lot more manageable over the years and has quieted down a lot compared to just a few years ago. This is largely thanks to my psychologist and the incredible support network I have in my family, friends, and loved ones.

I experienced massive amounts of this when I was in school. I felt like a fraud sitting in those workshops where everyone carried themselves like they knew exactly what they were doing, and I was this hack of a writer who wanted to write comic books. Comic books? Why don’t you pick a real and valid medium like short stories or novels? I was so convinced that, at any given second, they were going to realize that I didn’t deserve to be sitting with them and would be asked to leave and pursue something else. And you know what? That second never came. I went through the entire program white-knuckling my pencil, bouncing my knee just waiting for the shoe to drop, and it never did. Instead, I was asked to return after I graduated and give guest lectures about writing. Me? The kid who wrote stories about monsters in the closet and sentient robots?

What’s helped me the most when it comes to imposter syndrome is remembering this: They wouldn’t have asked you to be there if they didn’t think you deserved it. They wouldn’t have given you that promotion if they didn’t think you earned it. You’re in a room that you feel like you don’t deserve to be in? Maybe it’s a writing workshop or an exclusive research project or some secret third thing? Ask anybody in that room if they’re nervous about being there. Chances are, they might be feeling exactly how you feel.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

For the past couple years, my main thing has been zines. I’ve had an absolute blast working on my horror anthology series, The Bleekhaven Accounts, and I’ve been met with many unexpected opportunities to meet and connect with some amazing creators. What still blows my mind about it all is when people come up to me at events and they recognize my work without ever having met me. Like what?! I don’t think that will ever not be surprising to me.

As far as endeavors go, I have a few projects that I’ve been working on that I am very excited to share about later this year. Anybody who has read my horror stories will be glad to hear that there’s more where those came from.

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?

This is a great question and I’ll do my best to answer it as someone who is still early in my own journey. I’d say the most important thing if you’re gonna pursue any career in the arts/entertainment industry is to surround yourself with people who make you want to improve. Some advice that I got really early on from one of my professors in school was that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. I went to local art shows and conventions and just kind of wandered the aisles looking for art or books or anything else that caught my eye. When I found it, I would end up having a conversation with the artist about their work, and slowly I found myself among this community of people who’s work I really admired. I guess you could call this networking, but at the time it felt a lot more like I was just making friends.

The other qualities that I think are really important to have is to be communicative and not let egos get in the way of creating. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to persist after people to get a response from them or have left projects due to dominating personalities. It’s one of those pet peeves that makes the collaborative nature of comic books difficult sometimes.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I’ve mentioned in previous interviews that I live with an anxiety disorder. It’s something that I manage with the help of a psychologist, and it’s something that’s always at the back of my mind. As part of this, I also struggle with sensory overload in certain settings that are very noisy or otherwise chaotic. So, when I get really overwhelmed or overstimulated, the first thing I do is physically remove myself from the situation. Usually the best place to go is the restroom. Here I can catch my breath and collect my thoughts. I’ve also recently gotten some earplugs that are designed for loud spaces, and those have helped a ton.

When I’m overwhelmed about a bunch of tasks that need doing, and I know it’s very cliche but it works for me, is to sit down and physically write out a list of all the things that need to get done. Usually, I find that having something tangible that’s not in my head really helps me visualize and plan. Then, it’s very satisfying to be able to cross stuff off the list once it’s finished. Having something that I can hold in my hands and see is really helpful for me when it comes to avoiding stress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hewritesatnight.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zack__solo/