You Are Not a Fraud
You Don’t Need Permission to Create
As songwriters, we all have moments of doubt. Even after years of studying the craft, writing countless songs, and honing our skills, that little voice inside sometimes whispers, "What if I'm not good enough?"
If you've ever felt like a fraud, you're not alone.
Real Story
I remember one of my most nerve-wracking yet exciting moments as a songwriter. After years of reading, studying, and practicing songwriting techniques, I found myself finally in a writing room at a major music publisher in Nashville.
I was about to co-write with one of my favorite and most successful songwriters—the kind of songwriter I had dreamed of working with. And to make things even more intimidating, my new co-writer had just won another Dove Award the night before. Crazy eh?
I was nervous—really nervous. But then, the first thing they said to me was this:
"Now, this is when you realize I am a fraud."
I was stunned. Here was an award-winning songwriter, someone I admired, admitting that they, too, wrestled with self-doubt. And that’s when it hit me: Impostor syndrome doesn’t go away, no matter how much success you achieve. If anything, it’s a sign that you care deeply about your work.
I want to share 10 tips to help you overcome those doubts that hold you back. I’ll also reference principles from my books, Song Maps and The Organized Songwriter, to give you practical tools for building confidence and improving your songwriting process.
10 Tips
1. Even the Best Songwriters Feel This Way
You are not alone. Many successful songwriters—whether they’ve won Grammy Awards or just written their first song—experience impostor syndrome (click here for beginners). It’s completely normal. The key is not letting it stop you from writing.
2. Writing Through It
Even songwriters with decades of experience and awards still wonder if they can write another great song. The feeling of doubt is not proof of failure—it’s part of the process. Instead of trying to eliminate doubt, learn to write through it.
3. Your Voice is Your Superpower
You don’t have to sound like anyone else to be valid as a songwriter. Your voice, perspective, and way of telling a story make your songs special and unique. Comparing yourself to others can be inspiring, but it shouldn’t stop you from writing in your own way. Some of your ideas might initially feel silly or not high value enough. But you’d be wrong: part of your superpower is to dare to suggest things like this. To find out more about daring to suck, see more in The Organized Songwriter.
4. Co-writing Strengthens Confidence
One of my biggest lessons is that co-writing can help you break through self-doubt. When you collaborate, you see that other writers struggle with the same insecurities. The magic of co-writing is that everyone brings something unique to the table—no one has to carry the whole weight alone—and everything stays in the writing room. See my top 20 tips for an awesome co-write here.
5. Songwriting is a Skill, Not Magic
Songwriting isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike; it’s about showing up and putting in the work. Techniques like those in Song Maps help you develop a structure so that you don’t feel lost every time you sit down to write. You don’t have to be a genius—just consistent. And honor your lovely ideas, dare to get them out in the co-writing room, click here for more.
6. Perfection is the Enemy of Progress
You'll never finish anything if you wait for the perfect lyric or melody before you start writing. Writing bad songs is okay; that’s how you get to the great ones. Permit yourself to be imperfect. Here’s the reality of commercial songwriting:
Most songs are not written, they are rewritten. They are crafted through many versions until they emerge as the best version of the song.
7. Organization Builds Confidence
A structured approach to songwriting can help combat impostor syndrome. My book The Organized Songwriter shares ways to keep track of your ideas, set goals, and develop habits that make songwriting feel more natural. When you have a plan, you feel more in control. And being an organized songwriter is more professional than many of those that aren’t.
8. You Belong in the Writing Room
If you’re writing songs, you’re a songwriter. You don’t need permission to create.
You don’t need permission to create.
The more you write, the more you’ll realize that every songwriter has doubts, no matter how accomplished. What sets successful songwriters apart is that they keep writing despite those doubts. Even when your ideas are a little raw, with a few rough edges around them (click here for more), they can sometimes be incredibly successful as songs.
9. Celebrate Small Wins
Songwriting is a journey, not a single moment of success. Take time to celebrate small victories—finishing a song, getting positive feedback, or even just showing up to write on a tough day. Acknowledging progress helps build confidence over time.
10. Keep a ‘Wins’ Journal
Whenever you get a compliment on your writing, finish a song you’re proud of, or hit a personal milestone, write it down. Especially when you continue despite everything that makes you feel impostor syndrome. On days when doubt creeps in, revisit your journal to remind yourself how you have handled this.
In Summary
Impostor syndrome is a sign that you’re growing, not failing. The truth is, every songwriter deals with self-doubt, but that doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. The best way to overcome it is to keep writing, learning, and showing up.
Questions
Here are some questions you could ask yourself:
Have you ever felt like a fraud in your songwriting journey? How did you handle it?
What’s one songwriting technique that helps you push past self-doubt?
How can you use co-writing to build confidence in your abilities?
Hope this helps!
Simon