I’ve been working on this post for literal years. And if that doesn’t illustrate exactly what it’s like to be a writer with ADHD, I don’t know what will.

Still, since my diagnosis, several regular readers of my blog have reached out to me to write about this topic, so I put it on my 2025 deadline. And I figured I’d better get on it while the shiny newness of this year still offers dopamine.

So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Plot Bunnies Everywhere

Many ADHD-ers are ideas people—a fact that translates to our projects. So, it isn’t surprising that story ideas pop up at the most random of times, demanding immediate attention.

As a young writer, I had heaps of WIPs littered around my house. These days, I keep a ‘brain dump’ notebook, where I jot down every plot bunny, no matter how silly. These random ideas often work nicely to fill out the plots of existing stories.

The best ideas turn into half-complete stories on my hard drive, but I hope to return to them one day. Whether I will is an open question.

Okay, not so open. The truth is, my brain is wired to chase dopamine. The minute a project no longer brings that buzz, I’ll abandon it. Only on the rarest occasions do I return to old WIPs.

When Inspiration Strikes, ADHD Answers

Day or night, rain or shine. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve awoken at 2 AM with the drive to write, NOW, and had no choice but to dutifully get up and work.

The same thing applies to research—if my subconscious is working out plotlines and needs to know about polar bear eating habits, I’ll get up to comply, no matter the hour. My sleep cycles are completely shot, but hey, dopamine.

It’s safe to assume I’m running on caffeine fumes while I’m halfway through a manuscript.

Hyperfocus For the Win…

Going hand in hand with the last point, hyperfocus turns me into a writing machine. When I’m in the zone, I’m in the zone. It isn’t uncommon for me to bash out 100k words in weeks.

The story flows, and the elements just click. It’s the best creative buzz out there.

But Also Not

Of course, my hyperfocus swiftly crosses the line into obsession. I feel guilty if I’m not working, and I often only eat because my husband pulls me away from the keyboard or I have to feed my kid. Sleep is a scarce commodity. Who has time to clean? To relax? To do anything except write?

Like many ADHDers, I won’t even get up to pee until I have to run. It’s a thing!

Additionally, the smallest distraction can demolish hyperfocus. I can’t hold a conversation while I’m concentrating. If I have to answer the door, eat, or go anywhere, I might not be able to get back into the zone (and that’s exactly why the peeing thing is a thing).

Returning to hyperfocus can take hours, days, or weeks. And without it, getting anything done is exponentially harder.

This isn’t laziness, it’s different brain wiring. Neurotypicals don’t struggle with motivation in the same way neurodivergents do, so they don’t always understand exactly why we fall into a trance, doomscrolling instead of working. Thankfully, How to ADHD has a great video about motivation that explains it beautifully.

For me, a break in focus is harder to recover from than writer’s block. I’ve found hacks to deal with every other writing-related problem, but when my brain digs in its heels and refuses to concentrate, I have no other choice but to ride it out and do something else.

It’s devastating to want so desperately to write but to be unable to find the right words.

Accountability and Routine are Key

Considering the craziness that is hyperfocus, maintaining a writing routine can be seriously difficult. I still try, though. Mondays are blog admin days. Tuesdays and Thursdays are writing days, Wednesdays and Fridays are for creativity (clay, content creation, etc), and weekends are for family (and covert writing).

When my brain gets especially messed up and my other pursuits are less important than writing, I go so far as to schedule breaks, complete with timers and all. Kind of like a reverse Pomodoro technique.

The security of a routine soothes and boosts creativity. Unfortunately, like distractions, the smallest disruption to my routine can cause meltdowns.

To combat the ‘attention deficit’ part of ADHD, I’ve started relying on an accountability partner. My cousin, Shants (who is also an extraordinary alpha reader and my brainstorming partner), has been a lifesaver in this regard. ADHD flourishes with deadlines, right? So, she’ll say, ‘I need 2 chapters by Wednesday,’ and then I have a workable goal and a deadline.

Also, a big problem with ADHD and motivation is that tasks are too big and overwhelm us. ‘Two chapters’ is a small enough workload to feel attainable.

Have Anything to Add?

What’s your experience as a writer/other creative with ADHD? Feel free to leave a comment, or send me a DM. I love hearing from you!

Until next time.

Yolandie