How to Keep Track of Story Ideas: ADHD Writing Tips & The Power of a Story Snapshot Template

If you're anything like me, your brain generates story ideas constantly. It doesn't matter what you're doing—writing something else, folding laundry, trying to fall asleep—boom, there's a new character, an enticing location, or pieces of dialogue that must be written down. The ideas often take on a life of their own, demanding that you follow them down the path to who knows where.

But here's the catch: these ideas are slippery. They disappear if you don't grab them fast enough. And even when you do manage to scribble them down, they are often driven by a feeling or something stimulating,(Hello dopamine!) but then you have trouble converting that into a storyline. 

That's why I created a "Story Snapshot Template"—an ADHD-friendly writing tool that serves as essential story idea organization for neurodivergent minds. I use this writing strategy in two ways:

• To keep track of random story ideas so they don't vanish
• To use as a first step when I'm ready to start working on a new piece

It's a writing template I recommend to all my coaching clients because it's fast, flexible, and really helps you clarify your idea while jumpstarting your creativity.

Think of it as a mini-brief for your story idea—a low-pressure way to explore the bones of your idea without locking anything in. It's kind of like speed-dating your story: you're just trying to get to know it, not commit to it (yet).

This story planning template includes short, casual answers to prompts like:

• Who's the protagonist?
• Who's the antagonist (or what's the central conflict)?
• What's the beginning, middle, and end (in the roughest sense—just a few lines)?
• What are the themes you want to explore?
• Where does it take place?
• Any strong scene ideas or images that keep popping up?

You don't need to write essays here. Just notes, bullet points, or half-formed thoughts. The goal isn't perfection—it's discovery through organized creative writing.

This kind of quick, exploratory structure works with, not against, the ADHD mind. Here's why these creative writing strategies are so effective:

• It lowers the barrier to entry. You're not outlining or drafting yet—just noodling with your writing ideas management system.
• It gives you containers for your chaos. Instead of 47 Post-Its and random Notes app files, your story ideas live in one organized place.
• It generates momentum. Answering small, focused questions helps build dopamine and makes the project feel more real—crucial for ADHD writer productivity.
• It keeps you on track. As you write your answers, your brain naturally starts generating more ideas, but you have a template structure to guide you.
• It tests your idea's strength. If you can't answer most of the snapshot questions, that's okay—but it may mean the idea needs more incubation (or it was just a fun distraction).

Easy access anytime. You can come back to it because this ADHD organization tool creates a simple filing system on your computer.

I know what you're thinking: "This template sounds great for when I'm at my desk, but what about when inspiration strikes while I'm picking out avocados?"

Here's the beauty of the Story Snapshot approach—you don't need to fill out the whole template in aisle 7. When an idea hits you out in the world, capture the essence quickly in whatever way you can:

• Voice memo to yourself: "Thriller about a grocery store clerk who notices the same customer buying suspicious items"
• Quick phone note: "Protagonist = night shift worker, Setting = 24-hour market, Conflict = something's not right about the regular customers"
• Even a single word or phrase: "grocery store thriller" or "night shift secrets"

The key is getting something down so the idea doesn't vanish. Later, when you're back at your computer, that's when you open up your Story Snapshot template and flesh out what you captured. You'll be amazed how much your brain remembered once you have that initial spark to work from.

This two-step process—quick capture in the moment, detailed exploration later—is perfect for how ADHD brains actually work. You're honoring both the spontaneous creativity and the need for structure.

But here's the million-dollar question: How do you remember to actually transfer those phone snippets into your template before they get buried under grocery lists and random thoughts?

The trick is creating a simple weekly ritual. I call it "Idea Archaeology"—spend 15 minutes digging through your phone's notes, voice memos, and random jottings. Look for anything that sparked your creative brain during the week.

Choose a time when you know you'll consistently be in the same place: during your morning coffee routine, after dinner on Wednesdays, or your lunch break at work every Friday. The key is picking something that's already a habit.

Here's what makes this work for ADHD minds:

• Anchor it to an existing routine (much easier than creating something brand new)
• Set a phone reminder for that specific day/time
• Keep it short (15 minutes max—any longer and you'll avoid it)
• Make it pleasant—grab your favorite drink, put on good music
• Don't judge—some ideas will be gold, others will be "what was I thinking?" Both are totally normal

During this mini-session, the gems get the full Story Snapshot treatment, the maybes get filed for later, and the obvious duds get deleted. You'll start to love this process of exploring your ideas and getting organized—it becomes like opening presents you forgot you gave yourself. This way, your brilliant grocery store thriller doesn't get lost between "buy milk" and "call dentist."

Freewriting is amazing. It's messy, cathartic, and a great way to explore tone, voice, or scenes you can't get out of your head. But at some point, if you want to build a cohesive story, you need more than raw inspiration.

That's where story development tools like the snapshot shine. It helps you zoom out and ask: "Where is this going?" before you get 10,000 words deep and realize you don't actually know.

I believe freewriting should be done with intention—meaning sit down and freewrite around a particular scene or character to generate or explore. But don't skip the planning and story template just because it feels restrictive or hard. It's true, an ADHD brain may struggle with story planning due to executive function challenges, or may feel that an outline restricts their creativity. But this is the ADHD brain saying, "I feel better running free, I feel comfortable wandering until I find my way." Of course you do—you have a divergent brain.

But I designed this writing template for ADHD writers to make this step easy and enjoyable. I created it as a pre-step to outlining, so you don't feel overwhelmed down the road and quit what could have been a brilliant piece of writing.

This technique isn't just about ADHD organization tools—it's about clarity in creative writing with ADHD. It helps you keep track of fleeting ideas and acts as a solid launchpad when you're finally ready to dive into your next project.

So next time you're taking a walk, talking to a friend, or working on your current book and a brilliant idea pops into your head—don't change what you're working on to accommodate this new idea. Use these ADHD writing strategies: flesh it out, see if it has legs to stand on, and put it somewhere safe for when you have time to honor it.

Whether you're looking for ADHD writing tips, story organization tools, or simply better writing ideas management, this template bridges the gap between chaotic creativity and organized storytelling. It's one of the most effective creative writing strategies for neurodivergent minds because it works with your natural thinking patterns, not against them.

Want my exact story snapshot template? Drop me a message or sign up for my newsletter—I'll send this powerful ADHD writing tool straight to your inbox.