Michael T. Hare

Today, I’d like to share my well-put-together ADHD writing schedule with you.

1. Write my book.

1.5. I need coffee first.

2. Write my—

2.5. My dog is thirsty.

3. Write my—

3.5. Offer my brother some Taco Salad.

4. Write my—

4.5. I want a bagel.

5. Write my—

5.5. And cream cheese.

6. Write my—

6.5. I should share this chain of events in the family chat.

7. Write my—

7.5. I forgot my coffee.

Go to bed feeling accomplished for some reason.

If you’re a writer with ADHD, my list (which actually happened, by the way!) probably reminds you a lot of your own attempts to write. Nevertheless, I have some advice on how to stay focused as an ADHD author. Keep in mind that everyone works differently, so I can’t 100% guarantee these will help, but I’ll do my best.

1. LOCATION: Get somewhere quiet, empty, and devoid of distractions. I find my best writing gets done at night when most of the house is quiet and I have brain space. Another option is to go somewhere you’ve never written before, like that coffee shop down the block or an extended family member’s house. I’ve found both of these solutions to be helpful in my writing.
2. FOOD: Sometimes, a standby snack can help us reach our writing goal—coffee counts for this! Before you write, grab yourself some peanuts, carrot sticks, or even a little candy. As writers, we often encounter ‘gap moments’ when we need to think—which is usually when we get distracted—and when that happens, occupy yourself with that snack; it’s essential to keep the brain moving in a ‘gap moment,’ despite how hard it might be.
3. INVOLVE GOD: In the writing craft, we sometimes forget that God is still in control, but we should commune with Him even in our storytelling. Just because you’re one little human working on a manuscript doesn’t mean He can’t see you. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:6. If God cares enough about sparrows to know them all, how much more do you think He cares about you? Certainly, A LOT, and if He cares about you, He also cares about your desire to write. “May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!” Psalm 20:4. Pray and ask God to narrow your focus and help you overcome ADHD; you could also write down a prayer and recite it before a writing session. Whatever you do, involve God!

This post is for overcoming ADHD when it’s obstructing your writing, but don’t think I’m saying that ADHD is bad. A myriad of brilliant minds have come from the ADHD circle, and the so-called ‘disorder’ helps us in various ways—such as coming up with unique ideas nobody has thought of before. ADHD is a gift, just one that needs to learn its place—you wouldn’t use a sword to cut up a carrot, would you? Okay, maybe you would, but you get my point: ADHD is good for a writer. It just needs to be rounded up sometimes when it gets out of control. Fun fact: Jim Carrey and Ernest Hemingway are among the many successful individuals with ADHD.

P.S. These tools shouldn’t just be for ADHD authors, but for any author looking to improve their focus on writing! We all struggle, and we all deserve help and encouragement. However, authors with ADHD have much more trouble focusing than authors without, and so I wanted to offer them some hope; being an ADHD author myself, I understand!

Best wishes,

Michael.