Blogging Truths Be Told: Don’t Play the Blogger Imposter

There are several places I could go with the subject matter I’m dealing with in today’s blog post, and I’ve decided to settle on the more tame option.  So, let’s get after it. Dictionary.com describes an imposter as being “a person who practices deception under an assumed character, identity, or name.” In other words (in my own words), an imposter plays a part that is not his or her own part to play.

Now, the content angle I’ve chosen to specifically hone in on is the imposter who pretends to be someone else in order to increase his or her readership.

And, here’s one of those stop and reflect moments coming up right . . . about . . . now — so, how many of you have actually tried to do that? I mean how many of you have put on the imposter face to win the race? It’s a rhetorical question of course, so answer it in the confines of your private thoughts. There’s no need for me to know that type of intimate information. But I’ll go out on a limb and state that I can easily imagine that many of us have had moments in time where we’ve put on a fake face in order to vie for the attention of the audience we’re seeking.

It’s like putting on the costume, taking center stage, and portraying a made-up character. You’re supposed to put on this show of a lifetime and receive the ultimate sign of approval (in the form of a standing ovation) from the audience at the end of the performance. You get the accolades at the end, but the act requires you to literally become someone you’re not in order to please people who don’t even know the real you. And, you do this day in and day out until the show has run its production. What an energy-depleting process!

Is that truly how you want to achieve your success — imposter-style? Well, maybe actors and actresses can thrive professionally in this arena and they certainly get paid very well for it. But, is the pretend meant for bloggers (even if it results in a big payoff)?

And, what happens after the show ends? Do you just leap out of your fantasy world and land right back where you left off in your reality (as you know it to truly be) until the next time you decide to create a piece of written content for your readership to view?

To me, one of the worst sentiments I could receive from a faithful follower of my blog (after 2-1/2 years of blogging) is one similar to . . . 

“I’VE NEVER FELT LIKE I’VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE REAL YOU.”

That’s a statement I hope no one in my reading audience for Degrees of Maternity will ever be able to utter or think about me. Reason being: pretty much ALL of my posts have something to do with the “real” me and my “real” life with the “real” people in it.

Personally, one of the reasons I started blogging was to share personal aspects of my own life in hopes that those experiences would resonate with other people who have real lives to live as well. I never want to come off as putting on airs, being a phony, or catering to the pressures of conforming to some way of being that’s not true to my real-life persona — the only one that’s naturally been given to me.

What’s wrong with being yourself when you live this blogging life?

I know I’ve been giving you a lot of questions to ponder and please ponder them. I want you to think about the message I’m trying to deliver here. Because if you’re in the midst of taking on such a difficult challenge as being someone you’re not, then you’re living beneath your own unique privilege. And, you’re going to be mentally and physically drained when it’s all said and done.

I guarantee you that any success or achievement you may be experiencing from falsities of character are fleeting, temporary, and built upon a reputation that’s not truly your own. Let’s just say that it can become overwhelmingly complicated to keep up the appearance of being someone you’re not, even in your written content for your blog. Who wants to keep getting credit for putting creative work out there that’s not derived from your true self? Do you even feel like you’re getting the credit for it, or is your imposter persona actually getting the glory?

Now, let me just clarify that this blog post’s reference to imposters isn’t talking about fiction writers here. We all know that fiction is made-up stuff. There’s a place for that. I’m not even talking about having a blog where you’re reporting about other people and the experiences and events in their lives. And, I’m certainly not referring to bloggers who are trying to educate their readers by bringing in others’ information that may be beneficial to their audiences (as long as credit is given to the originators of that information). 

My aim with this post is to hone in on those bloggers who create false narratives in their human character, thoughts, emotions, outlooks, personality, experiences, viewpoints, and opinions and, then, try passing them off as their (true and authentic) own. There’s just something incredibly wrong with that blogging picture.

And to keep from messing up the picture or to help fix the distorted picture that you’re portraying right now, just practice being who you truly are (in your writing and in your blogging). It’s so much easier to maneuver through life that way. There’s no acting lines that you have to learn, recite, and hope you can deliver with believability, because you’re free to be YOU and express yourself in true YOU fashion.

Okay, so I know this is somewhat abrupt, but I feel like now is a good place to go ahead and end this blog post. However, I also realize that a little more needs to be said on this topic, and I’m just the one to lay a PART TWO on you. So, let’s go with that. I think I’ll follow up today’s blog post with another “IMPOSTERS BEWARE” post for next Friday, specifically in reference to taking on someone else’s blogging persona or even their actual blogging content and making it out to be your own.

I must say that I was pretty tame in my discourse today, but I may not be as nice about the subject of identity thievery in next week’s discussion. Just a little warning before the fact, but I still want you to come back next week. Part two will be worth it.