Howard Tayler, Writing Excuses Podcast:
“Word count equals motivation times focus.”
If it’s motivation and focus I need, I thought, no wonder my word count hasn’t budged in weeks.
This past summer, my son was diagnosed with ADHD. And the more I learned about ADHD—the more I unlearned what I thought I knew about ADHD—the more I understood my own brain’s struggles with trying hard things, getting started, and following projects through to the end.
It’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s not a matter of not knowing what to do.
It’s a gift (curiosity! humor! creativity! intelligence! fervor! ) … and a curse.
Watch This is What It’s Like to Have ADHD on Facebook
Whether hyperactive or inattentive (me) or combined (my son), ADHD can make writing long works difficult and make multiple rounds of revision feel impossible. But when people with ADHD get published, it’s because they fought for it with an unrivaled passion unimaginable by neurotypical writers.
If you have ADHD, hopefully some of these tricks can help you get those words on the page.
Much thanks to all the users on Twitter who sent in their tips and tricks, quoted below.
Got ideas not mentioned here? Please share in the comments!
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Understanding ADHD’s Hurdles for Writers
Both motivation and focus are difficult for brains with ADHD, thanks to executive functioning disorder. But ADHD also affects writers in other ways. It’s difficult, sometimes impossible, to get started on the task because of ADHD’s connection to perfectionism and the fear of failure.
The stereotype of people with ADHD is that they are messy and disorganized because they’re too lazy or unmotivated to get organized. In reality, many people with ADHD are perfectionists.
“I’m an all-or-nothing type of person.”
“If I can’t do it perfectly, I’m not going to do it.”
“I have organizational systems for my organizational systems. None of them work!”
First drafts are, by definition, not just imperfect but often hot steaming excrement. For a writer with ADHD to get through that step of writing is frankly a miracle that we should celebrate a whole lot more.
People with ADHD also often struggle with a debilitating fear of failure and rejection.
Nearly everyone with ADHD answers an emphatic yes! to the question: “Have you always been more sensitive than others to rejection, teasing, criticism, or your own perception that you have failed or fallen short?” This is the definition of a condition called rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
…The term “dysphoria” means “difficult to bear,” and most people with ADHD report that they “can hardly stand it.” They are not wimps; disapproval hurts them much more than it hurts neurotypical people.
…[Some] find that the pain of failure is so bad that they refuse to try anything unless they are assured of a quick, easy, and complete success. Taking a chance is too big an emotional risk.
—ADDitude Magazine, “The Fear of Failure Is Real — and Profound”
Rejection-sensitive dysphoria plays less of a role during the actual act of writing than the career aspects of writing. Recreational writers can write for fun. Professional writers have to submit their work to people who will have an opinion about it.
Knowing that RSD is an actual thing—with a name—can help writers with ADHD better prepare for and cope with rejection.
Knowing that perfectionism and RSD can prevent writers with ADHD from even getting started on a project will better equip them to overcome them.
Let’s look at other obstacles and how writers with ADHD have learned to hurdle them.
Removing Obstacles
The two most common obstacles to writing with ADHD are 1) the internet / apps and 2) distracting environments.
I touch type alone in the dark with my laptop lid closed (Bluetooth keyboard) so I have absolutely no other input that could distract me. I can get about 2 to 3 hours of focus like that before my brain hurts. Then I go back the next day and fix all the typos. —Jared Gray
I often write in my car at a park. It cuts me away from some of the distractions of the home. The Library also works really well. —Andrew Valorson
I know I just said that apps can be one of our greatest distractions, but certain apps can also be our greatest tools. Check the resources at the bottom of this post for recommendations.
Implementing Tools
Because of the stigma surrounding mental health, many people are wary or judgmental of accommodations or medical treatment.
And yet we don’t criticize someone for correcting their nearsightedness with glasses, or scoff at a person with asthma for using an inhaler.
Many people with ADHD find relief through therapy, training, and medication. And oftentimes we find our own accommodations and tools to help us get things done.
Writing the old-fashioned way not only removes the distraction of the internet, but it also gives sensory input, which can improve focus.
I do all my brainstorming with paper and ink, for the tactile aspect. Helps me work out plot tangles, too. —Joan Albright
Writing by hand. Like longhand. Pens. Notebooks. It’s still super hard to convince myself to *start* writing, but it reduces the distraction count to basically zero. And it keeps me from falling into the seductive trap of editing. —Ben Brainerd
I use an Alphasmart or Royal typewriter which takes the internet away. I also enjoy getting up and walking around while thinking things through with a dictaphone. —Alexander Keane
Making writing into a game or competition can increase interest by introducing a sense of urgency.
I set short timers, word wars with others (one of many reasons I write during nanowrimo time,) non-food bribery (new pen/notebook at 10k 4ex) —Karen T. Smith
I set a screensaver to activate after 60 seconds so if I get distracted it kicks in. —Ty Schalter
An ADHD brain craves stimulation, which is why stimulants are often the most effective medication. Besides medication, my stimulants of choice are chai and Hot Tamales cinnamon candy (the latter I discovered while trying to stay awake during Western Civ homework).
Music helps me focus. Energetic heavy metal or Orchestral stuff. But it’s what I write that matters. I have to be doing something tight in and sensory. It has to feel like I’m living what I’m writing. And Caffeine. Stimulants help with ADHD. Ritalin is a stimulant.
I also use tools like Habitica to show myself progress beyond wordcount and keep me accountable. Habitica is wonderful. The widgets are super handy. (At least on Android.)—Andrew Valorson
It takes time and lots of trial and error (under the supervision of a trained physician) to find a medication and dosage that works for ADHD, because every brain works differently. I have tried several combinations and am now (in 2019 anyway) on Wellbutrin. But my son started thriving on the very first stimulant we tried for him.
This is not a medical blog and cannot be considered medical advice. See a medical professional to discuss the best options for you, and do not take ADHD medications without a prescription from a doctor who is informed of your medical history and present concerns.
The most difficult and crucial part is getting proper treatment. I struggled undiagnosed for YEARS. Find what works for YOU. I’ve seen the timer (Pomodoro) method mentioned, which really helps me. Weirdly enough, writing in public (library, cafe) helps too, though it seems it would be distracting. I can’t sit still at home. Oh, and meds and coffee. —Elizabeth Perry
Allowing Certain Distractions
I believe in accepting that my attention will be misplace and allowing controlled distractions. At my house, the distractions are never controlled because I have small, unpredictable children and am randomly reminded of chores.
At work, a controlled distraction might be having a podcast or Netflix show playing in the background while I’m working on nonverbal, autopilot tasks.
At home, I might listen to an audio book while doing chores.
When I’m writing, I’ll go to a coffee shop or library, where the comings-and-goings are expected. I can’t listen to stories or watch a show, obviously, but I do listen to a playlist that evokes the right mood.
Routine and rituals are helpful. When I know what songs to expect, I can tune my playlist out just enough to focus on writing. But if I accidentally turn on shuffle, that control is gone. I’m distracted when a song is played out of order.
I like playing music (without lyrics) to engage the part of my brain that likes to wander.—Joan Albright
Undoubtedly, inevitably, I still get distracted by ideas or my internal editor while writing, so I give myself permission to write annotations—otherwise I’ll be consumed by them for fear of forgetting them later. If I’m writing longhand, I leave about a one-inch margin on the edges for notes. If I’m typing, I mark notes with three slashes /// so I can find them later (It’s easier for me to find three lines than “TK” when I’m scanning through a document).
Harnessing Hyperfocus
Hyperfocus can be how and when you get the words down. I usually end up writing in big marathon sessions.
The other day when I was working from home, I got a great idea during a midday shower. As soon as I got out, I wanted to write my ideas down. Before I knew it, it was two hours later, the sun was nearly set, and I hadn’t had lunch yet. Also I was still in my towel. I definitely did not clock eight hours of work that day!
Rick Hodges, an author sharing his story with ADDitude Magazine, says:
Some authors follow a disciplined process by writing a certain number of words or pages each day. I can’t fathom doing that. I have to write furiously when inspiration or motivation comes, followed by long periods of inactivity. Looking back, I see the lack of short-term gratification as a big drawback that caused me to procrastinate and set the manuscript aside for months at a time. I craved a quicker reward than writing a book provides. Showing my work-in-progress to writer’s groups helped to put me back on track, and when new ideas popped into my head that I could incorporate into the manuscript, it prompted me to get back to work.
Sometimes you can trick yourself into hyperfocusing by removing obstacles, gathering all of your tools ahead of time, and setting a timer. If you know that you’ll take a break once the timer’s done, you’ll be more likely to allow yourself to focus during “focus time.”
timer method. though, part of my problem is I have a hyperfocus problem and can write for 10 hours without moving/eating/anything which pisses my doctors off. —Jasmin Nyack
For physical, visual timers, I highly recommend the Time Timer, which was recommended to me by two different therapists my son was seeing as well as his summer camp director (who specializes in ADHD and child development). We have two of them, the classic and the magnet. The classic I bought from Lakeshore Learning; you can get it from Amazon, but if you do, please use smile.amazon.com to benefit the nonprofit of your choice. The magnet I had to order direct from Time Timer. Yeah, the price is kinda steep for a timer, but with half of my family with ADHD and half unable to tell time, a visual timer like these was desperately needed.
For virtual timers, see Forest and 30/30 in the resources below.
Resources
Technology
Here’s a list of apps and sites that might be worth looking into:
- NEW: TickTick—Free download. Premium version $28 annually. From author Rebecca Mix: “i use an app called ticktick that has been life changing — i can rank tasks by priority and move them to the next day, and even add tags if i only want to work on something like writing or dayjob related, and it has made my life so much easier.”
- 750words.com—First month free, paid membership following. Turn writing into a habit with this cloud-based writing software that tracks your progress and challenges you to write 750 words each session. If you can write during work breaks, use your work email and turn on daily email reminders. I set the notification to come before a peak writing time, and set the text color of the writing window to light gray so I’m less likely to read what I’ve written.
- Cold Turkey Writer—Free download. Pro version $30. This app doesn’t let you do anything else on your computer until you’ve written a set amount of words or for a set amount of time. It’s good for hyperfocus, but not good if you have to consult notes or change music. The pro version has some swanky advanced features.
- Freedom—Free trial. Monthly, Yearly, and Forever pricing. Freedom blocks the internet, social media, and apps across your devices. Sign up, and once or twice a year, they do 50% off the Forever pricing. I did this … but I keep forgetting to turn it on before working …
- Habitica—Free with in-app purchases. Habitica is turns your life into an RPG by rewarding you for establishing good habits. I was introduced to it by Susan Dennard originally. It was too complicated for me, and I lost interest too quickly, but the interface is great, and with no price tag, it’s worth trying.
- Forest—Free with in-app purchases. It has abit of a learning curve, but this app goes beyond a simple timer and motivates you to keep working, both with little quotes and with a bush or tree that grows as long as you keep working. (Hint: The circle around the tree is how you increase/decrease time.) Having happy little trees on my screen did keep me from checking my phone for texts, Twitter, or Facebook for an hour. I think it would work well at work, too, if I remembered to turn it on, but keeping my phone in my bag is just easier.
Further Reading
- Speed-Writing Your First Draft: 5 Quick Tips—I used these methods to write 20,000 words in less than 24 hours. Best. Hyperfocus. Ever.
- 10 Steps to Finishing a Novel
- [Worksheet] A Goal Planner for Personal Growth
- Time Management: Gantt Charts and the Pomodoro Method
- [Download] 2018 Printable Quarterly Calendar
- 7 Secrets to Maximum Work Productivity (video and post)—ADDitude Magazine
If you like it, then you should put a pin in it.
Lara Willard 
Reblogged this on Lara Willard and commented:
Right now, it’s hard for anyone to write a set amount each day. Be kind to yourself and allow “incubation” time. Writing isn’t just putting words on the page—that’s measurable progress, but most human progress is abstract, immeasurable.
If you have ADHD (or are just feeling scattered because your routine has been uprooted), writing from home can be especially difficult.
I’ve updated my Writers with ADHD post to include a quote from Rick Hodges and his guest post for ADDitude Magazine. I hope it helps you allow yourself some inactivity.
“Some authors follow a disciplined process by writing a certain number of words or pages each day. I can’t fathom doing that. I have to write furiously when inspiration or motivation comes, followed by long periods of inactivity. Looking back, I see the lack of short-term gratification as a big drawback that caused me to procrastinate and set the manuscript aside for months at a time. I craved a quicker reward than writing a book provides. Showing my work-in-progress to writer’s groups helped to put me back on track, and when new ideas popped into my head that I could incorporate into the manuscript, it prompted me to get back to work.”
I’m also posting “motivational” quotes on my Instagram account (@larathelark) each Monday. Look for the Yoda post emphasizing the “do not” part of his quote.
I’d love to hear from you and see how you’re doing. Has time at home made writing easier or harder for you? If you have a writerly or bookish Instagram account I can follow, let me know!
❤ Lara