I would say my favorite moment so far in my writing journey was completing my first novel. There was a satisfying moment where I sat back, took a deep breath, and sighed.

I had done it. I had written a complete novel.

That feeling was immediately followed by an overwhelming wave of doubt. Had I written a novel? Or was I just hyping myself up? Did my writing actually suck? Was this even worth it?

I hate to say it, but this is almost completely inevitable when you finish your first novel. Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. When you finish it, you look back and wonder if what you wrote is worth it. Unfortunately, it’s usually only you at the finish line looking back at your work.

This feeling stayed with me for about a week after I completed my novel. I refused to even look at my book for a few days because I was worried I would hate my own work. There were times where I sat in bed staring at the ceiling, wondering if all of this work had been for nothing.

Was I even a writer? Or was I just fooling myself?

This single question ate at me for a while. Suddenly, I didn’t even want to write a poem, let alone work on my other project. It really ate away at my creativity. It took me a while to realize it, but this was a classic case of imposter syndrome. My book wasn’t published yet (obviously), so I felt like it was wrong to consider myself a writer.

However, this was untrue.

I don’t remember where I first saw the quote, but it went something like this:

“Publishing a book doesn’t suddenly make you a writer. You are a writer the second you start your first chapter.”

I had this quote written on a sticky note underneath my monitor for a while after finishing my novel, and it helped me get through editing and sending out my first few queries. Eventually, I gathered up enough courage to reread what I had written.

To my surprise, I still loved my book and the story I had created. The more I read, the more confident I became in my own ability.

I finally felt like I really was a writer.

Now, I keep this quote close to my heart. Just because the results haven’t arrived yet doesn’t make me or you any less of a writer. Sitting down and going through the process of creating a written work is worthy of being celebrated. So celebrate the small wins in your writing.

Whether you have finished ten 100k-word epics or are just starting your first novella, you are a writer. Be proud of that, and enjoy the process.