How I Handle Imposter Syndrome as a Solo Indie Dev

Hi there! Iā€™m Gael, and today I want to talk about something thatā€™s been weighing on me lately: imposter syndrome. As a solo game developer and content creator, itā€™s a feeling that sneaks in from time to time. I thought Iā€™d share my experiences and how I deal with it. Maybe you can relate!

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What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is often described as a nagging self-doubt about your skills, intellect, or accomplishments. For me, it shows up as this voice in my head saying, ā€œYou have nothing valuable to share. Why would anyone want to listen to you or play your games?ā€

This is despite the fact that Iā€™ve been working in game development for over seven years! I still feel like a beginner with so much to learn.


What I’ve Learned

But hereā€™s the thingā€”Iā€™ve learned a few ways to manage it. Let me share them with you.

1. Itā€™s Not About Getting Everything Perfect

I donā€™t have everything figured out. I still have so much to learn, and guess what? Thatā€™s completely fine! My work has value for two reasons:

  • Thereā€™s only one ā€œme.ā€
    No one else has the exact same perspective, experiences, or ideas as I do. That means the games I create are unique simply because they come from me. Even if my work isnā€™t perfect, itā€™s something only I could make.
  • Itā€™s good for my mental health and self-growth.
    Creating games is more than just a job for me; itā€™s a way to express myself and learn about who I am. Video games are a form of art, after all! Working on my projects helps me reflect on my thoughts, feelings, and even the way I approach life.

Thereā€™s a famous quote: ā€œKnow thyself.ā€ Understanding who you are and where you come from is so important for a balanced and happy life. For me, making games is one of the best ways to do that.


2. Imposter Syndrome Will Always Be There

Hereā€™s a hard truth: imposter syndrome probably wonā€™t ever completely go away. Even when thereā€™s plenty of evidence that I donā€™t suck, the feeling tends to linger. Why? Because itā€™s often tied to deeper self-confidence issues.

If, like me, youā€™ve struggled with low self-esteem in the past, your brain might be wired to doubt your abilities. Thatā€™s tough to change.

So, instead of trying to suppress or ignore those feelings, Iā€™ve learned to work with themā€”or even use them to my advantage. For example, I made this post to channel those emotions into something productive! You can also use these feelings to:

  • Write a better character for your game.
  • Motivate yourself to improve your workflow.
  • Explore new ideas or approaches in your projects.

What starts as something negative can become a positive force if you let it.


What About You?

Thatā€™s how I handle imposter syndrome. What about you? How do you manage those moments of doubt? Iā€™d love to hear your thoughtsā€”leave a comment and share your experience.

Want to know more about my journey as a solo indie dev? Check out my next post, where I dive deeper into what itā€™s really like. See you there! šŸ˜Š

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