There’s been a lot of imposter syndrome showing up with many of the writers I work with recently and so this post is going to focus on how you express yourself in a way that shows the reader you are an authority on your topic. Or at least on your opinions. But how do you do that if you don’t feel like the authority, aren’t an expert in the field, or haven’t done 100 hours+ of research?
Easy.
First, remove those words that give the reader the impression you aren’t confident in what you are saying. Words like: I believe, I feel, It is my opinion that, I think, etc. If you just state your opinion as if it is a credible statement, they are more likely to take it as fact.
Second, back it up. Never just slap your opinion down on the table and leave it there as it is, like a greasy ketchup stain. Add the reasons why you think that way. This doesn’t have to be research, although research is awesome and definitely adds credibility to your statement. It could be based on your experiences; after all, your perspective is made up of all you’ve experienced, learned, and perceived since you were born. It could also be based on fact plus experience. Or it could be a discussion of the pro and counter arguments to your statement, which culminates in the opinion you expressed. Any and all of these add credibility to your opinions and statements, so try them all out and see which one fits for that particular statement.
Third, stop being so hard on yourself. The average reader isn’t going to care (or notice) that you aren’t the expert in the field. They will notice, however, if you plop down statements that are contradictory, unsupported or generally just garbled and confused, so take the time to write clear statements (with backup! see point 2) and you’ll be golden.
Fourth, make sure the tone you use in your book is engaging and approachable to the average reader. In a study by Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, he found that, “People give authority to people that they genuinely like.” If you share personal anecdotes, have a clear voice throughout the book, and are generally engaging, the reader is more likely to finish the book and not question your authority. Unless your opinion is in direct opposition to their own, of course, you’re not a miracle worker.
No one is ever going to be the expert in one area or another. The expert may have more experience in the field, have done more research, or have had deep thoughts about the topic, but there that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for more thoughts or opinions on that subject. There is ALWAYS room for more discussion on a particular topic, especially if presented from your own unique perspective.
So get out there and write with authority. Stand tall behind your words. Remove those tells that show you aren’t confident in your statement. And always back it up with some variation of research, experience, and balanced arguments.