Resources for Writing with ADHD

Writing with ADHD comes with a distinct set of superpowers and a specific set of challenges. From the joys of being able to occasionally produce massive word counts during hyperfocus or the ability to world-build with incredible detail after a research binge, to dealing with procrastination, rejection sensitivity, and decision paralysis, ADHD has had a significant effect on how I write. But I’ve found so many resources that help.

Of course, ADHD can manifest differently for different people, and this post is based on my own personal experiences. Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t!

Here’s My 4 Favourite Resources for Writing with a Neurospicy Brain

1. Finch: Self-Care Pet

So this one isn’t directly related to writing, but I’m a firm believer that self-care is crucial in order to write. Finch is an app you can download on your phone where you take care of a little penguin (or I guess its a finch haha) by completing self-care tasks like “get out of bed” and “drink water.” There’s also soundscapes, breathing exercises, and other mindfulness techniques. The little dopamine hit of getting gems when you complete a task really helps to power through a To Do list and I’ve found myself completing more things since I started using this. Also, you can add your own tasks to the list including things like “spend 15 minutes writing” to help you build writing into your routine. I’ve found this app really helps to break through the ADHD paralysis that happens when I’ve got too many projects on the go and no clue what to prioritize.

2. 4thewords

Coincidentally, I wrote about this one in my post on writing software a while back. I still adore 4thewords and it’s my favourite writing software for drafting. This is a platform that gamifies writing for word counts. You fight monsters and complete quests by writing! There’s endurance battles where you have to keep writing for a set amount of time in order to beat a monster, and there’s word count battles where you have to write a certain number of words to win the battle. On the days it’s hard to make progress on writing, I find this incredibly helpful…’cause who wants to lose a battle against a Viyusa? Haha.

3. Pomodoro

The Pomodoro technique is one of those tried-and-true methods for accomplishing tasks with ADHD. The idea is that you set a timer, spend 25 minutes on a task, then take a 5 minute break, then repeat. It prevents tasks from feeling overwhelming when you tell yourself you’re only going to do it for 25 minutes! Pomofocus is my go-to online pomodoro timer for when I do this.

4. Coaching, Accountability, and Body Doubling

All right, admittedly this one isn’t really a resource but this is the SINGLE MOST HELPFUL thing I’ve found. For me, my brain thrives on deadlines where I’m accountable to someone else. Whether it’s a writing group or a book coach, somehow the notion that I have to submit pages by a certain day is a guaranteed way to kick my brain into gear.

And if you haven’t heard of body doubling, it’s a term for essentially just having someone around while you work. Often my writing friends and I will silently sit on video chat while we write or accomplish other tasks and it really helps!

What are your favourite resources?

Those are the ones that work best for me! Do you have ADHD too? Let me know in the comments what your favourite resources and techniques are. What works for you?

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