#writing with ADHD

[ghirahimbo]

actually, I don't know how anyone else would apply this to their writing process, but something that's been working really well for me (<- adhd, focus issues) recently is writing at the piano so I can alternate between writing and practicing? I don't know, there's just something about writing a few lines/paragraphs/whatever until writing starts to feel unbearable, switching to the sequence I'm practicing and playing it through a few times (while the next lines simmer in the back of my mind), and then moving back to the writing when I'm ready that's kept me much happier and engaged than staring into space or attempting to muscle through?

again, not sure how this applies to people who don't play the piano exactly, unless there's maybe a similar activity that's not too engaging that you can switch in and out of easily? felt worth sharing, though

[etherealtidesandneonshadows]

Tips for writing with mental illness:

Pinterest is a legitimate way to become inspired or to research your story. One of my WIPs is partially from finding aesthetics I wanted to write about.

Bullet points and even asking yourself questions in the document is fine. Ex: "Do I want X to climb up the cliff or try to go get help?"

Writing anything, even if it's not related to your WIP, is fine. It's momentum.

Creating playlists is also a good source of inspiration and brainstorming. A lot of plot points from my current WIP were brainstormed during songs that inspired my creative juices.

[scripted-delusion]

Me: *quietly going about my day*

Brain: Personal chef au—

Me: Stop. We are drafting chapter 10 of our tarot au.

Brain: —where Agatha is a busy business owner who cannot cook to save her life and hires a personal chef service. And Rio is her chef!

Me: Don’t do this to me😫

Brain: And Agatha no longer wants to stay at the office 24/7. She starts coming home at a reasonable hour to spend time talking to Rio. And Rio begins teaching her how to cook. And—

Me: You son a bitch😭

[shadow-the-crow]

do you really have "writer's block" or are you just physically incapable of opening your document because you have adhd and the mere thought of writing fills you with existential dread although you actually like to write so you tell yourself you'll just write tomorrow but with every day that passes you just feel more guilty because by now too much time has passed and you might actually not be capable of writing anymore and-

[uchu-no-bashira]

PLEASE, let me nerd out with my OG Gyomei moots.

Mod here! Long read/rant about he big guy under the cut. Tagging @himejima-san @otomesass @the-axe-and-flail IDK ANY OTHER OG GYOMEI PEOPLE, SORRY-

You know what I love about Gyomei? And bear with me, because I'm not the best writer and it's so hard for me to be normal about this man and talk about him without stimming profusely - ANYWAY.

As a person who read the manga front to back and read about the descriptions of Gyomei's breathing style, movements and fighting style on the wiki, it is so exciting to see him animated, and it confirms all f the head-canon's I had about him fighting!

Sorry if I get a little nerdy or whatever, but I absolutely love, that I was right about one thing. ONCE HE STARTS, HE CANNOT STOP. Also, his weapon is NOT JUST DEADLY TO DEMONS! He is also a danger to HIMSELF! I mean, obviously, but just think about that! It's so cool! He has to simultaneously listen to the reverberations of his chain, get a mental image of his target and attack with INSANE accuracy, All while dodging his own axe and flail.

If you go frame by frame - yes, I did because I'm a nerd and have been waiting for this moment for like 2 years or whenever the Hashira meeting episode was first aired - you can see Gyomei using the chain as a BATTLING ROPE!! THAT IS SO COOOOOLL!! (calm down mod. deep breath) THIS MEANS, that he has to maintain a constant flow of momentum. And let's face it, he has the lower and upper body strength to do it! WHICH ALSO EXPLAINS WHY HE'S SO BIG!

I wondered, from the moment I read about his flash back or any of the little tidbits about him, why he wend from being thin to being extremely Jacked. One, it's because he believes a robust lower half is essential to maintaining stability, power etcetera - and he's right, because you're (supposed) to lift any and everything with your legs.

And, if you keep watching, he uses his chain, axe and flail as Nunchaku! Meaning the more momentum he has, the deadlier the attack. AND, you'll se him do a jumping side spin, which means he is JUMPING OVER AND DUCKING EITHER CHAN THAT HE IS USING. One, to not get hurt, Two, SO THEY DON'T GET TANGLED! Because you'll see him use his neck as well.

I IMPLORE ALL OF MY OG GYOMEI STANS - if you haven't already - TO GO BACK AND WATCH THAT SCENE FRAME BY FRAME. Because it is truly amazing and I just... Ahh~ I love him and his strength and resolve! And he did it so fluently! When we saw Tengen do some of the same (no shade because Tengen is fucking amazing too) He was screaming to the top of his lungs against Gyutaro.

Gyomei just did it, like he 'bout that life. UGHSRLGL;S I cannot. There are so many other things I'm missing, but that was the one that made me do the flappy hands, internal scream combo.

[feralboo-the-weirdo]

I need more of hero+ redeemed villan content. Like there's so much potental for it. Heros and villans going from enemies to reluctant friends but both of them end up in a messy gray area where they're both chaotic neutral and objectively good. like I need more hero and villans being friends content. Or like heros and villans that are friends and then go in rapidly different directions for their arcs because they're friends. Or villans screaming as the hero drags them into a redemtion arc. Or villans dragging a hero to therapy because they are traumatized tm. Or redeemed villans being super morse about the fact they can't go to such deep extreemes anymore because the hero is nuanced, and being sad they never got to use their death ray. Or a villan with really bad PTSD constantly getting between the hero and old enemies of theirs, and dealing with enemies of the Hero.

I just I need this.

So long short of this, I guess I know what story ideas I'm poking at next.

I'm also looking for good recs (books, fics, movies, etc) of this kind of Villan/hero dynamic.

Feel free to add.

[blackrosesandwhump]

Writing with ADHD: Three Tips for Participating in Prompt Challenges

I recently made a post that included some tips I've found helpful when writing with ADHD, so I thought I would make a separate post. Hope they help!

Aim to keep your prompt fills short. That way, you don’t get overwhelmed with writing something long, and you’re less likely to get bored with your own writing. (Funny how that happens!)

Set aside 5-10 minutes and jot down ideas for the prompts. Basically, have some sort of loose plan about what you’re going to be writing for each prompt. That way, part of the work is already done ahead of time (coming up with the idea) and you’re less likely (in theory) to get distracted by trying to come up with the premise for the day.

Don’t try to fight distraction all the time. It can be your friend. I know it sounds paradoxical, but I find that having an easy TV show in the background often helps me write. For example, I’ve been doing March of Pain with the cooking show Chopped in the background. Do what works for you!

[dungeons-and-dictions]

[glitchedoutpxie]

hi! i looked at ur pinned post out of curiosity and i was js wondering how youre able to write that many different fics? like im currently writing one thats on ao3 and sometimes i struggle a little (HAHAH i hadnt updated it for a month until yesterday lmaooo) to js write that. so how do you handle all of those and still update it consistently?

Henloo my second ask in one day MOM IM FAMOUS!!!

Well, while I do update all of them, it is by no means consistent 😭 the thing with adhd is that not only are motivation bursts unpredictable, but that I NEED the variation/task rotation so my brain doesn't get bored, so it's kinda inevitable for me to jump between projects, and I kinda stopped fighting it ig..?

This sometimes means waking up with what i call ✨a hyperfixation flare✨ on one fic, working an entire month to pump out 25 chapters for it while the others stand in line, or write one chapter for each fic throughout one week. I'm really just working with my adhd.

For example, Soft Muscle (25k words in total) was written, believe it or not, in 2-3 days due to a hyperfixation flare after i started watching 2003 tmnt. Stopped on a cliff hanger. Haven't updated since 23rd May.

I used to update my Ghost fic regularly, but as I got more immersed in my Bayverse tmnt fic, I sidelined it to finish the first arc. Last update was on 14 May and I'm only halfway through the next chapter.

My König fic is, unfortunately, on hold due to lack of engagement, even though I do have it planned out n all. I do have plans to post on ao3 and try to revive it, but it's not a priority. I'm more emotionally invested in other projects.

Which brings me to the last (and maybe most important) variable: emotional investment!!

Again, as an ADHDer, I'm going to prioritize the most emotionally rewarding tasks. That usually means whichever fic has the characters I'm most attached to at the moment, or if a specific scene is living rent-free in my head, that's what gets written.

Sometimes it's a ship. Sometimes it's dialogue I need to get out of my system. Other times, it's just whatever characters are making my brain go brrrr that week. So yeah, if im not emotionally locked in, even the best outline in the world won't push me to write the thing.

Currently I'm most fixated on Masks Off, my bayverse fic, so all projects have been on hold for the past month until I finished the first arc (30k words) few days ago, and now I'm back to working on my Ghost fic, occasionally jumping to the 2003 tmnt one, etc. 🌈 Task rotation 🌈

Progress is slow and unpredictable, but it's still progress, and I'm proud of my different brain for finding a way that works. I hope this explains it (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡

[storycraftcafe]

Hello there!

Do you have any neurospicy friendly tips for staying motivated? I'd love to write more, especially long-form, multi-chapter works but after a chapter or two I either get bitten by other plot bunnies or real life eats me whole.

Thanks!

Hello friend!

Oh this is right up my alley, grab a cuppa, I get wordy.

As a chronic “too many ideas, too little dopamine” ADHD brain that’s always seeking that lil extra dopamine, I suffer from the exact same problem. My motivation is a fickle thing, as is my ability to focus and my goblin brain is always after the new shiny idea.

But, I’m also at the end of drafting the biggest project I’ve ever completed(it's over 100k words right now), while also planning a novel, developing a few more ideas and writing short stories and doing this blog (intermittently at least for now).

How the hell did I manage that?

I learned to work with my brain, lean into novelty, made things really easy for myself and when needed, got some help and made things fun. 

The truth is, motivation comes and goes, as does inspiration. So we have to figure out how to keep writing without it, and how to wrangle those plot bunnies. That’s the work we do. 

My short answer is this: The solution to focusing on a big project is to make working on this project easier than working on anything else, make it the most enjoyable, and make it the most rewarding.

Here’s some advice on how:

Advice Tidbit the First: Work with your brain

Since us neurospicy types come in so many flavours, it’s impossible to give advice that works for everyone. So find what works for you. You know what helps you focus, you know what your weaknesses are and you know how your brain works. If you don’t, now is the time to find out how to work with your brain chemistry rather than against it. 

If this means having music, using a pomodoro timer, something like a special focus based word processor or a notebook, use it. If this means working with a trusted friend, a community, or alone, do that. 

For me it really means that the big project is always front and centre. It is always open, it is always flagged in my notebook, it is always present and easy to come back to and I always know where I’m going with it.

I’m gonna share some things that work for me and I encourage you to try them, keep what works, and cast off the rest.

Advice Tidbit the Second: Lean into Novelty

My brain relishes novelty, and will happily chase a new idea down a rabbit hole like a Jack Russell on speed and after years of fighting it, I’ve learned sometimes, it’s best to chase the white rabbit and see where it ends up. Just make sure you have a way of putting that idea on a back burner and coming home to the project you want to focus on.

And I do this through a few different means. 

First I write that new idea down, which in turn helps me get it out of my head instead of it repeating ad nauseum like the chewiest earworm. The brain repeats things to remember them, but if you write it down, and then immediately get what you wanna focus on in front of your eyeballs, you might be able to switch gears and get back on track.

Second, I create my own novelty by balancing a few projects at once, that are all at different stages of development, and focus on different ideas. I have the big one that's almost done, I have a novel that’s in planning, a few short story ideas that’s percolating  and this blog which is focused less on creation and more explaining things I’ve learned. And I bounce from these, as needed, to keep things fresh. 

Third, if all else fails, I stop fighting and go wild. I’ve stumbled onto some amazing gems of projects by embracing the mad rush of inspiration until I hit a wall. And the trick for me is, once I hit that wall, I go back to my big project and it always feels a little fresher after that time away.

Writers are creative creatures, and inspiration is a wonderful, amazing, maddening thing that we cannot rely on, but shouldn’t ignore when it strikes. 

Advice Tidbit the Third: Make that shit easy.

A fun, and by fun I mean hellish aspect of my brain chemistry is that the more barriers between me and doing a thing there are, the less likely I am to do the thing. Executive dysfunction is an asshole and should pay but until I can figure out a way to do that, I instead focus on making this as easy for me as possible. 

When it comes to focusing on a specific project, I make sure I have it ready to go when I wanna work on it. I open up the word doc before I go to bed, I leave some notes for myself before leaving it, I never close it unless I absolutely have to, and I always, always have a notebook or my phone on hand to write with, and I have a playlist on hand to get me in the mindset while writing or walking, or working out.

Now if you’re looking at that and going “But Cas, that’s a lot of prep-work”, yeah, it is, and that’s what I do to make things easier to start and stay focused with. Call it the neurospicy-tax. Sometimes shit comes with extra prepwork, but it will help you in the long run.

Thankfully the execution is less painful than it sounds. I just don’t close the word doc for my main project unless I absolutely have to. Opening it first thing is a habit I’ve developed over time as is carrying my notebook around everywhere. Right now I’m trying to build the habit of writing first thing in the morning after breakfast, which means I have the project, or project notes up to read while I eat.

The less I have to think about it, the less steps it takes to start, the easier it is to just do. And do it enough, consistently enough, it becomes habitual. Ish.

Advice Tidbit the Fourth and Most Important: Make the writing easier too.

Yeap. I’m gonna say it. Learn to plan in a way that works for you.

It is so much easier to write freely, consistently and confidently when I have a damn good idea of where I’m going and what targets I’m trying to hit. If you’ve read my waffling about approaching chapters, I go on at length about how that pre-planning makes the work easier. This doesn’t mean you need to have the whole thing planned down to the finest detail, you don’t need every chapter and scene on cards ready to go, unless that’s what works best for you.

However, I have found that I can stick with big projects the best if I have a rough plan consisting of story beats, knowing my character arcs, and solid idea of the ending. With that roadmap, it doesn't matter how lost or distracted I get or how long I spend in the warren of Ploticus Bunnicus, because I have that guide at hand to bring me back to my story. But when I don’t have it… I get lost. And I stay lost. I lose motivation, it’s harder to pick it up again, I lose hope and I abandon that story and feel awful about it.

So if there’s any advice I want you to try it’s this: Figure out where your story is going, where you want it to end up, a few ideas on how you’ll get there, and make a map to keep you heading in the right direction.

It can be as easy as dot points giving you a few ideas about what’s ahead, a few notes from the last writing session to remind you of where you were going, or a paragraph blocking out events in a really condensed summary. Whatever works for you, but have a plan for where you’re going for those moments when something shiny crosses your path. Make working on this main project easier than working on anything else, make it the most enjoyable, make it the most rewarding. Let me know if you want me to talk about my roadmapping/planning process.

Advice Tidbit the Fifth: Get some help.

I would not be as far along in my big project as I am if I didn’t have two really amazing people that helped me along my way as alpha readers. Ie: the two people who got frantic messages at 3am asking if they could look at the raw draft I had just churned out to see if it was okay, and who also, graciously, acted as rubber duckies and brainstorming partners and problem solvers as I figured my own process out.

I owe these two so much.

Writing can be a terribly solitary craft but it doesn’t have to be. So get a buddy, someone that can hold you to task, who can give their opinion, act as a sounding board, who is as excited about the project as you are. I am so glad to be that person for my bestest buddies and they are that person for me.

So find that person, someone you can trust, a friend, another writer, or just someone that has your back. And if you don’t have that person, there are communities aplenty floating around. And I am always, always, ready to cheerlead a fellow writer. Hell, I created a whole damn server just to help other writers that I haven’t been brave enough to advertise yet.  You can find it here. [If the link isn't active, feel free to ask me for one!]

Advice Tidbit the Sixth: Make that shit fun.

Writing is work, there’s no way to get around that and writing a big multi-chapter project is a LOT of work even if you don’t plan, edit, revise, or rewrite (though you should). All my advice so far has been focused on making that work easier, on working with your brain, embracing novelty for your own ends, making the work easier, and working with a friend.

Now we get to have fun.

What makes writing enjoyable for you? Is it having a tasty treat while working or after as a reward? Is it good music? An excuse to go to a cafe? To use a pretty pen? Whatever it is, DO IT. 

I like to have a nice cup of tea in a nice mug while I write. I always have music or something ignorable for background noise on the tv. And I use my very pretty pens in my very nice notebooks.

If you’re anything like me, you possess strong opinions regarding notebooks and pens, and likely have a neglected collection of some pretty stuff. So I’m gonna say something shocking: You should use those nice pens and notebooks.

 No seriously. 

Use them. Use the pretty inks and lovely pens and use them to make writing fun. Switch colours at the drop of a hat or to show scene and pov transitions, practise your handwriting. Use different notebooks for different projects or one big bullet journal style thing for all your writing. 

Create yourself an everyday writers kit and take it everywhere with you. Use it. If you’re doom scrolling, switch your phone for your writing kit and start jotting down some ideas or write a single sentence for your story. Use these pretty shiny things. I dare you.

Keep in mind, you DO NOT need expensive pens or papers ever at all. You can do this with a cheap notebook and a ballpoint. I’m just a stationery nerd and I like using the nice things I’ve bought instead of them sitting there doing nothing.

Here’s my kit, a black traveller’s notebook with three inserts and a kraft folder, two pen loops stuck onto the folder and two TWSBI eco fountain pens. Each insert is for a different kind of project (drafting the long project, brainstorming and planning or short stories, and planning and drafting articles for this blog.) and I have sticky tabs in the folder to make pages and specific projects. Sometimes I add a pouch of yet more fountain pens because I don’t have a problem, I have a collection.

Flex aside, my point is use tools that you enjoy using. If that means a nice clacky keyboard, use it, if that means fancy ass pens, use them, if that means something you’re not scared of breaking, use it. 

Now for gamification: A common bit of advice I hear for ADHD brains specifically is to gamify the tricky things and thank the gods, there’s a bunch of people who have figured out ways to do this.

For writers specifically we have a few tasty choices.

A quick search for ‘gamifying writing’ will turn up a bunch of results but here’s a few favourites of mine.

4thewords is web browser based RPG game where you write to battle monsters and make your way through the story. It is a subscription however but it’s fairly affordable ($4 USD a month) if you end up using it everyday. It comes with progress trackers, avatars you can get cool things for, a big community and it has a 15 day trial that does not need a credit card for. Wahoo. I’ve used it, it's a lot of  fun, but it doesn’t gel with my other needs quite as well but I do turn to it none and then when I really wanna buckle down and focus. Give it a go~

Write Or Die is a classic sprint writing tool that I’ve been a fan of for years. Basically you write or you are ‘punished’ via flashing screen, loud noises or if you’re brave, there’s the mode that eats your words if you stop typing for too long. It is a one man developer that said and a bit old and neglected but Write or Die 2 is worth it if this helps you stay focused.

Too high stress? Think about trying…

Written Kitten is a web browser based writing motivator that gives you a cute kitten picture every time you write a certain number of words. It’s adorable.

Or you can grab that writing buddy of yours, or just yourself, a timer and do a writing sprint. Pick a number of words, set your timer and write until the timer goes off. See how well you did, see how any words you can get and how far above the set number you can go.

In the end all this leads to the same key point, which is to make working on your long multi-chaptered project as easy, fun and rewarding as you possibly can. If you have a mind that chases fun, make the work fun, if it chases novelty, make the work novel, if it lacks focus, figure out how it likes to focus and apply that to your project. 

You can wrangle your brain, but you have to work to its strengths. But before I wrap this up

Advice Tidbit the Seventh: Go easy on yourself.

Neurospicy brains are particular and challenging and common advice doesn’t always work for us and that’s okay. It can be tricky figuring out what works and what doesn’t, and spoons aren’t always plentiful, our moods aren’t always cooperative and sometimes the work really is hard no matter what we do. And that’s okay. What matters, I think, is that we keep trying. A few words a day are still a few words a day.  It adds up.

You got this and I am always happy to have a chat or listen.

Good writing!

[the960writers]

K.M. Weiland:

Johne Cook and I met on an online writing forum over 15 years ago, and he remains one of my favorite people to have entered my life in this journey. I have long admired his pragmatism, his insight, and his general cool in the face of the Internet’s insanity. To this day, I will often ask myself, “What would Johne do here?”

He has always been open about his experience as a writer with ADHD—both the challenges and his solutions for overcoming them. Today, I’m excited to have the opportunity to let him share his experience, tips, and resources with you. Enjoy this treasure trove of insight!

Discovery

I wish I knew then what I know now.

For my first 45 years, I thought I was broken: I was a daydreamer, I couldn’t focus on things everyone else thought were important, I fidgeted when I should have been focusing, and I focused intently on the wrong things when people wanted my attention elsewhere.

[...]

[theshenanijiang]

Monday: I think I am going to finish this fic I have been working on for like six months today. Cool. I think it will be about 40k words total. That is a good number for 8 chapters. Excellent. Tuesday: I am going to finish this fic I have been working on for like six months before I go to bed today. Might be more than 40k words. Not as pleasing a number, but okay.... Wednesday: I am going to finish this fic today! 45k words? Maybe? I can do this.... One of the characters: Hold my beer, I have backstory to exposit all over the place. This will take a while.

[thedistractedwriter]

Pairing: San x reader

Synopsis: Your best friend thinks she's looking out for you, but learns something new

Genre: SMAU

Warnings: cussing, first time making one of these, first Ateez fanfic (yes those need to be warnings) why is it I catch the spelling errors after I post? I was bored at work when I made this.

[whumpthefuck]

All my character's are autistic now. It's been decided.

Low key just want to start adding a little disclaimer to all my fics on AO3 that all my characters are, on some level, autistic & ADHD, bc I'M autistic & have ADHD, and I have no fucking idea how NT's think or why they do what they do so I don't think I could ever accurately write a NT character.

[themightyhumanbroom]

Brain: So did you get any progress on writing last night?

Me:......Yeah

Brain: You did work on the fic you planned on working on right?

Me:.....

Brain: You worked on the smut fic didn't you?

Me:....I was struck by inspiration-

*BONK*

[vandijkwrites]

I put it in the tags of another post but if you like to gamify writing and haven't tried 4thewords.com before, DO IT. It is the #1 tool I've ever found for writing with ADHD and it is so cute and fun. There's always an adorable event going on during NaNo too!

During NaNo you can get a free month and other free goodies with the code wrimo23 and it gives you a free month even if you already subscribe! (And you don't have to cancel after the month to avoid being charged because it works on a pre-paid subscription model)