Discover ADHD writing strategies that work for you
Get the words on the page. ADHD writing support. Accountability.
One of the greatest challenges of ADHD is this resistance many of us have to structure. It feels too confining. We don't like being told what to do, how to do it, what timeline to
follow. And yet everyday we throw dirt on our accomplishments because we aren't following the 'normal' path. We freeze up, get overwhelmed, underwhelmed, over produce, under
produce...
It's not that we get a thrill out of being contradictory. We are simply resisting something that doesn't feel good for the way our brain and body works.
So how does this show up in our writing?
- The ADHD brain doesn't easily organize and structure thoughts and information due to executive function challenges
- We sit down to write and we can't perform (distractions, brain fog, overwhelm, pressure)
- Our creativity takes us on a wild and exciting story chase and then we have trouble reining it in
- ADHD tricks us into mistaking a feeling for an idea
- ADHD is often accompanied by perfectionism because we think we are being judged, and deep down we believe we are not good enough so we continuously edit and rewrite to make sure it's good enough
- We crave a feedback loop and because writing is often a solitary process we feel dopamine deprived
How can an ADHD writing coach help?
ADHD-Friendly Structure and Accountability: Together, we’ll break down your writing into clear, achievable steps and set
realistic goals. I’ll help you create routines that play to your strengths, keeping you focused and motivated without the overwhelm.
Focus Strategies to Beat Procrastination: Together we will unravel what is holding you back. Quite often it is a limiting
belief or learning how to understand motivation in an ADHD friendly way.
Tools for Organizing Your Thoughts and Ideas: We’ll use visual tools like mind maps and outlines that make sense for ADHD
brains. I’ll guide you step-by-step to structure your thoughts and give your writing a logical, engaging flow without feeling lost or scattered.
Overcome Self-Doubt and Build Motivation: Together, we’ll work through negative self-talk and perfectionism. I’ll help you
find the joy in small wins and shift your mindset to see progress instead of only focusing on what’s left to do.
Techniques to Manage Idea Overload: We’ll set up practical systems to capture and prioritize your flood of ideas while
keeping focus on your main project. With strategies in place, you’ll stay on track and keep your creativity energized.
Build Momentum and Conquer Writing Paralysis: We’ll set realistic standards so you can tackle projects without feeling overwhelmed or held back by perfectionism. By focusing on small, satisfying achievements, you’ll develop a rhythm that makes writing enjoyable and productive.
Why I am the best person to help you
I have over 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and writing coach. I have led workshops and taught writing 1:1. I am also a certified and accredited ADHD coach who knows (from personal experience) what you need. There aren't many people out there with my specific qualifications - you may find amazing ADHD coaches, you may find brilliant writing coaches... but it won't be easy to find one who has both of these skills!
Do you know that people with ADHD perceive time differently. It's called time-blindness. Instead of being able to effectively break down time (days, weeks, months) into chunks of time, they basically think about it as 'now' or 'later'. One way to hack this is to take the word later out of your vocabulary. Name the time. Don't say, I will write later. Say, I will write today at two o'clock.
Writing for work
Does your job require you to write emails, reports, marketing material, proposals? Do you find yourself procrastinating, scrambling right before the deadline, running on adrenaline?
Maybe you get it done but are left with the feeling that you could have done better.
It's exhausting, this sense of untapped potential. Not knowing exactly what to do about it, mixed with the anxiety that tasks are piling up, or your next performance review will remind you again that good writing is a requirement of the job only makes the situation worse. Let's not get started on that critical voice in your head.
There is a way out of the cycle!
Less inside your head, more on the page.
Writing a book
Are you an aspiring novelist, or nonfiction writer? Those with ADHD are great when it comes to brainstorming creative ideas, often times getting carried away by the 'rush', only to stand by as the project gets shelved a short time later when the dopamine fix has died down.
Perhaps you have successfully made it past this point but struggle with pages of great writing that feels overwhelming and disconnected.
You want to finish the project, you know it has the potential to be successful, but you've hit a block.
Methods as simple as talking it through, getting organized (I'll help!), and feeling accountable will get you writing with purpose.