Introduction to an ADHD Writing Road Map

There will be rips, tears, holes and cursing. You've been warned.

Jan 27, 2024

Why YOUR map? There are 5 million ya know.

We’re all freaking nuts. Whether by nature or nurture (likely both) the idea that any of us end up “normal”, not only irritates me, but I find it rather uninspiring. My brand of nuts has been diagnosed with my mom’s ADHD, but I manage it with a dash of Dad’s OCD. My 23-year-old daughter has the same diagnosis, but she sprinkled on some dyslexia for added dizziness.

If your version of nuts is similar to mine AND you’re a budding writer, I want to help and intend to do it here. If you’re starting to listen to podcasts and read craft books, you’ll have already heard, every writer is different. “Pantsers versus plotters” and all that. But, when you’re learning all these new strategies and trying to decipher what will work for you, AS you’re writing your first book - how will you know what works and what doesn’t work until you have a big freaking mess on your hands?

Like everything else in my life, I dove in head-first with all the best intentions, completely fucked it all up, and shall now pass on all my hard-earned knowledge here, in hopes that I can steer you around a few pot-holes, over the flooded rivers and past the traffic jam of helpers and hitch-hiking drunk monkeys.

First… are we on a similar trip?

Some of the lovely ADHD treasures I’ve noticed in either myself or others are listed here… The crossed-out ones I either grew out of, have mostly managed, or was lucky enough to not get. How many of these can you relate to?

A work in progress. - Super Sonic Distraction Powers: Easily distracted by the smallest of things, like a squirrel doing calculus outside the window.
Hyper-Focus Time Traveler: Constantly losing track of time and occasionally finding yourself in a time warp where yesterday feels like tomorrow when diving into a task you love.
Procrastination Nation Mayor: The uncanny ability to turn a 5-minute task into a week-long saga of avoidance and creative excuses.
This guy visits instead of sleep sometimes, so that’s extra fun! - Infinite Thought Carousel: Thoughts spinning faster than a that merry-go-round from the 80s we all barely survived, making it impossible to focus on one thing at a time.
Yup. Task Tigger: Simultaneously jumping between five different tasks at once pretending it's an Olympic event, completing one task and half-assing the others.
This too. Selective Hearing Grandmaster: Mastering the art of selective hearing, especially when someone dares interrupt the Golden Flow of Productivity.
Happens randomly without warning. Drunk Monkey Inner Voice: While listening to you, my brain has its own conversation against my will. Ex. “You want to hear this so pay attention. I’m trying to, stop distracting me. Crap I missed the first thing she said. Listen harder. I am listening! Now I’m behind, oh no, now what did are they even talking about?”
Got some funny and not so funny stories for this one! - Accidental Mirror: The subtle and hard to control art of copying your fellow conversationalist’s mannerisms, accent, and tone. In long term relationships, you may find you too like the crappy off-brand instead of the one you once thought was your favorite. (See also People Pleasing) ~~Extreme version - You may find yourself mirroring those close to you so effectively you forget yourself entirely.~~
Work in progress! - Pigeon Holing People Pleaser: On purpose and completely unaware. The ridiculous notion that you are in control and responsible for another’s happiness.
Grew out of this one - Impulsive Decision Architect: Building a life of spontaneity, one impulsive decision at a time, because who needs plans anyway?
~~Coffee Consumption World Record Holder:~~ ~~The official coffee bean sponsor, fueled by caffeine to combat the never-ending energy rollercoaster.~~
Mostly overcame this one by activating my sprinkle of OCD and gave everything a place, everything. - The Forgetfulness Maestro: Forgetting where you put your keys, wallet, and phone so often that it's like playing hide and seek with inanimate objects.
Attempting to tame this one to work FOR me. - Hyperfocus Jedi: Mastering the art of hyperfocus on the most irrelevant tasks, like organizing your sock drawer during an important meeting. OR Relishing in the Golden Flow of Productivity where you complete a week’s worth of work in ten straight hours forgetting to eat, pee, drink, or blink.
No comment. - Deadline Daredevil: Thriving under the pressure of a looming deadline, because nothing says productivity like a last-minute adrenaline rush.
~~Daydreaming Gold Medalist:~~ ~~Winning gold in a daydreaming marathon, where your mind takes you on epic adventures while your body stays put.~~
~~Epic Paper Airplane Engineer:~~ ~~Constantly finding new and innovative ways to turn important documents into paper airplanes.~~
Tamed by southern upbringing. (Unless pissed and in private.) Public me can smile and nod with the best of them. - Word Vomit Wizard: Unable to filter thoughts before they escape your mouth, resulting in a constant stream of verbal randomness.
Gotten better with age and is usually subject dependent. (Also, often depends on how slow you’re talking or how much I care.) - Attention Span of a Whiskey Toddler: Don’t give your toddler whiskey.
I’m a Champion Leg Wiggler (Why can’t this burn more calories??) - The Perpetual Fidgeter: Turning any stationary moment into an opportunity for a full-body workout of fidgeting, tapping, and chair spinning.
See, they’re not ALL bad! - Sudden Dance Party Instigator: Transforming any situation into a dance party because life is too short to dwell in the shit.
I’ll share a calendar strategy for this one in another post. - Serial List Maker (and Forgetter): Creating lists for everything, only to forget where you put them or what they were for in the first place.
~~Quiet Hater~~ ~~- You want me to think with all this QUIET? HOW?~~

Sound familiar? Sure, but what about that map you promised?

Many of the above super fun issues directly related to my completed manuscript detours, but I didn’t figure that out until I was positive, the ocean was within site only to discover all that sand was the dessert. I’ve course-corrected and can hear the waves now… so I figure it’s time to procrasti…. I mean help y’all. But, this was the intro, so next stop…What if it’s a full stop?

If you wanna join the ride, with a seasoned cartographer (those are the map making people right?), subscribe below. Or above? I don’t really know the buttons on this new ride yet.