Many ADHD writers I work with as an ADHD writing coach struggle with what I call a “toxic relationship” with writing. Whenever they even think about writing, they feel dread, shame, guilt, avoidance… And a host of other negative feelings. Sometimes, when they get stuck, they can get themselves to write again, by pushing through and using sheer force of will and discipline. But that only makes the problem worse: writing becomes associated with suffering, negativity and hard labor. And that’s how we get stuck, maybe even permanently, when writing as ADHDers! The solution? ADHD writing experiments!
I recently talked about this with the lovely hosts of the Neurodivergent report podcast (you can listen to that episode here or wherever you listen to podcasts). So, when they asked me what one thing is that ADHD writers should start doing today to make writing more easy, I didn’t have to think long about my answer: experiment!
Experimentation and writing routines for ADHD
If the pressure of “shoulds” and your rigid image of what a “real writer” is have turned your writing into a source of pain, stress and shame, it’s time for a new story! Discipline isn’t going to get you out of this, joy and play will! (You can learn more about how to use play to become more productive in this blog post.)
Now, I hear you thinking, “If ADHD writing experiments are the solution, we should dive deeper into those, shouldn’t we, Susanne?” And I couldn’t agree more.
The previous posts in this Writing Routines series talked a lot about why it’s so hard to start a writing routine with ADHD, mistakes to fix in your writing routine, making your writing routine ADHD friendly, and creating a successful writing routine with ADHD. In this post, let’s go into 15 easy ways to use experimentation to make writing fun again!
What are ADHD writing experiments?
I think ADHD writing experiments can be a fantastic tool for ADHD writers to overcome at least some of their challenges. Instead of committing yourself to something big, instead of feeling like you need to figure everything out before you can get started, or you need to design an unchangeable routine you can stick to for the rest of your life – make things small and playful.
This can mean, as we discussed on the podcast, that you track your productivity and feelings around writing with every option you try out to see if it works for you. But it can also mean not committing to anything right away and instead building your practice one step at a time, with a standing invitation to change anything you like. This way, ADHD writing experiments can take the pressure off and make it much easier to start writing. If you feel stuck, experimentation is where it’s at.
5 Experiments to start writing (again) — easing in
Let’s start with 5 ADHD writing experiments to ease back into writing. If you haven’t written (in a while) and it feels too hard to get started, find ways to dip your toe in. Often, when we get back to writing, we set the bar very high for ourselves. We think, for example, that if we start writing, we need to hunker down and start something we can finish. That way, your high bar actually becomes a barrier! So instead, start using ADHD writing experiments. Here are five ways in which you can use experiments to get back to writing.
- Play with a new idea for a project
- Allow yourself to go down a research rabbit hole (on a timer)
- See how much you can get done in 10 minutes
- Play around with/watch videos about new writing software
- Use a modality that you’re more comfortable with than writing (speaking, creating powerpoints…) and fold that into your writing practice (as discussed on the ND Report podcast episode)
Do any of these ADHD writing experiments seem doable? Choose the easiest or most exciting one for you, then try it out straight away.
5 Experiments to start a sustainable writing routine
There’s a lot I can say (and have said previously, in this blog series, my writing routines YouTube playlist and a workbook I developed that you can grab below) about building a writing routine with ADHD. It’s such a big topic, and so important for so many people! But when it comes to ADHD writing experiments, the real trick is to let go of the idea that a writing routine needs to be static and unchanging. Changing it up can make it feel fresh again, which will really excite your ADHD brain! Here are five ADHD writing experiments you can do this week to improve and refresh your writing routine.
- Experiment to see which time of day is your best time for writing (Remember: There’s no ‘best’ time, only what feels best for you right now. Experiment without judgment!)
- Try different writing locations
- Try out different lengths of time for your writing sprints (10/25/30/45/60 minutes) (see this blog post for more on writing sprints)
- Experiment with different activities during your breaks
- See if working with a writing buddy can make you more productive (if so, my body doubling sessions might be a great option for you!).
These ADHD writing experiments can help you learn more about how you work best, so you can build a writing routine that works for YOUR brain. Just choose one of these experiments and plan time for it in your calendar.
5 Experiments to make your writing feel new again
If there’s one thing our ADHD brains are motivated by, it’s novelty. That’s why so many of us end up with a graveyard of unfinished projects: when we get to the messy middle, our brains would much rather start over! (This is also something I discussed on this podcast episode, which you should really check out!) But actually, there are many things you can experiment with to make your current project feel new again, instead of throwing it out and starting again. Here are five ADHD writing experiments you can do right now to refresh your motivation:
- Change the font and color
- Change up your writing locations
- Print off your text and work on paper for a while
- Read your writing out loud
- Experiment with different sensory inputs (a new beverage only for writing time, for example)
Feeling a little spark of curiosity? Pick one of these to try in the next day – even just for 10 minutes.
Final points: Make experimentation your default!
Building a writing routine with ADHD does not mean creating a system that will work forever. Experimentation is not a one-time fix, it’s an ongoing journey of discovery!
Think of these ADHD writing experiments not as a to-do list, but as a toolkit you can revisit whenever you feel stuck or disconnected from your writing. Your relationship with writing is dynamic and so you should be able to help yourself evolve over time. You’re not being flaky or inconsistent. You’re working with your brain to be your best writer-self!
So I invite you to keep reflecting, keep experimenting and keep improving. That’s how you bring joy and excitement back into the writing process rather than staying stuck in old systems and beliefs that no longer work for you.
Talk to you soon!
– Susanne
Kick-start your writing routine for free!
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