7 Hacks For Neurodivergent Writers

Let's rip the bandaid off. Being a neurodivergent writer is hard.

I mean, writing is hard. Being a neurodivergent person is hard. A neurodivergent person who decides to be a writer is undertaking a grand, treacherous quest. Sometimes I wonder how the hell even I manage to do it. How do any of us au/DHD kids – especially those of us who are late-diagnosed – manage to do something that even many neurotypical people throw in the towel on?

Yet somehow, we still have this dream. We pursue it, even when it's hard, painful even. We keep going, and we write the book. We publish our stories, our poems, our essays. We get the book deal, or we strike out on our own and build an author platform from scratch. We start our own magazines and indie presses. We organize book festivals and conventions and live readings and create a place for other weirdos to share their art with a world that so desperately needs new narratives. In short: as neurodivergent writers, we can do hard things – and we can accomplish so much.

But in order to get there, we need to have a serious discussion on what it takes to succeed as a neurodivergent writer. The cold hard truth is that the majority of traditional writing advice floating around in the ether simply does not work for us. It's not a matter of discipline, or laziness, or not "wanting it" badly enough. It's that we are Macs expected to work like PCs. Just as you cannot turn a Mac into a PC, you cannot force an au/DHD brain to work like a neurotypical brain. This means that we must build writing practices that work with our brains instead of against them.

So much of figuring out writing (and life) as a neurodivergent person is just throwing things at the wall and hoping they stick. We usually figure out our own special way of doing things through trial and error. Even if if might seem odd or counterintuitive to other people, the only thing that matters is that it works for us. The creative process is no different. So, while results may vary, I am here to present you with seven hacks that have helped me as an au/DHD writer.

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1) Accept that you will not be able to write every day. (And give yourself grace for that.)

The standard advice of "write every day" is, simply put, not attainable for most neurodivergent writers. (There are exceptions to everything, of course, but if you happen to know any au/DHD writers who manage to write every single day, I would love to meet them and beg them to reveal their secret.) Some days, practicing basic self-care is an accomplishment all on its own, let alone sitting down and using what limited spoons you have to create something. You should make your best effort to prioritize your writing, but the reality is that there will be times when it's just not possible. When that happens, don't berate yourself for being "undisciplined" or compare yourself to other writers who appear to have it more "together" than you. (Besides, you never know what goes on behind the scenes; some authors who seem to be on top of the world might struggle to get out of bed every day.) Show yourself compassion. Your WIP will still be there waiting for you tomorrow.

2) Plan time to write and use a timer.

Wait, didn't I just say not to judge yourself for not writing every day? Yes, yes I did! That being said, we do still have to figure out how to Get The Writing Done one way or another. If you struggle with task switching (hi, it's me here on the Struggle Bus), utilize a timer to block out a chunk of time that is just for you and your writing – preferably a physical timer and not your phone, which is full of enticing distractions that will leave you feeling like shit when the buzzer goes off and you've not written a single word and now you have to load the laundry and send the email and think about what to make for dinner and oh god when was the last time you cleaned the fridge and have you showered yet today? No? Well, the entire day is wasted, so you might as well order Door Dash and spend the rest of the evening bingeing The Golden Girls on Hulu even though you've seen the whole series one hundred times because you desperately need the nervous system regulation and the dopamine.
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Sound familiar? Or is it just me?

While there will be days when writing isn't feasible, on days when it is, think about the time you make for it as a gift to yourself. You wouldn't squander a gift, would you? Especially not one from you to you!

Below, you will find a photo of the timer I use. It lives in plain sight on my desk so that I never forget to use it. I like it because it lets me write in the tasks that I need to accomplish and has little novelty buttons to switch when I'm done. It also tells me the time so that I am doubly sure to stay on track. And as a little bonus, the color scheme matches the school colors of my alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin. (Hook 'em, Horns!)

4) Don't feel pressured to write the "correct" way.

Chuck the outline if it feels too stifiling. Write your chapters out of chronological order. Skip the character worksheets and let them come to you naturally as you punch out a first draft by the seat of your pants. Experiment with different story structures. Write multiple POVs. Genre hop. All of the "rules" you learned in high school English class or in your creative writing workshops in college? Apply what I like to call The Captain Barbosa Principle: treat them as guidelines, not set-in-stone commandments.

4) Utilize writing groups.

I'm part of two online writing groups. One is larger and more casual, the other is smaller more structured. Since joining, I have completed a novella, three short stories, and am now getting the chance to work on an anthology for bi+ writers. Having a supportive group of fellow creatives to offer accountability and encouragement is helpful (I would argue vital) for all writers, but au/DHD writers can really benefit from the extra accountability and encouragement. Having regular meetups, whether online or in-person, can also help provide the structure necessary for a successful writing practice that is often a challenge for us to create on our own. Plus, you have the added benefit of meeting some cool people.

For my fellow introverts, never fear; in my experience, it turns out that most writers are introverts, so we have an understanding of one another. I suppose spending all that time observing other people gives us plenty of fodder for the fictional worlds we love to meticulously build up in our heads!

5) Attend literary events. (Keep the novelty alive!)

I regret to inform you that if you're serious about building a career as a writer, networking is a requirement. Thankfully, it doesn't require stuffing yourself into uncomfortable and unflattering corporate wear and using LinkedIn-speak while mingling with strangers in a stuffy convention center that's plaguing your sensory processing and where the only available refreshments are weak coffee and stale donuts. Networking as a writer is actually, dare I say, fun? (Most of the time.)

Go to a reading at an indie bookstore. Attend a free writing workshop at your local library. Check out an open mic at your favorite coffee shop. (Even if you're not ready to read your own work out loud to an audience yet, listening to other writers read can give you a shot of courage – and you can also learn some valuable live reading/performance skills by observation!) The more you push yourself to get out there and meet other writers, especially in your preferred genre(s), the more confident you'll become. The more connections you make, the more opportunities you'll have to build your platform and launch your career. And, of course, you'll have a shot at making some rad new friends.

I'm fortunate enough to live in a town with a booming literary scene and plenty of spaces for artists to meet and mingle with each other, but not everyone has the same level of access. The good news is that there are lots of online writing communities and even virtual literary events to attend. (See Hack #4.) Make connections, try new things, and keep the novelty kicking to avoid the Dreaded Dopamine Crash!

6) Practice practical self-care.

This might be the most difficult challenge for us neurodivergent writers. While some consider au/DHD hyperfocus a "superpower," my controversial opinion is that it isn't. Sure, there have been times when hyperfocus has granted me the ability to write 10,000 words and start work on a side project all in one day, but at the end of that day, I realize that I haven't eaten in eight hours, didn't go to the gym and have therefore missed my exercise day for the week, have to put the laundry on for another wash because I forgot to load it into the dryer, and never cleared out my email inbox or returned that phone call that was on my to-do list for the day. Then the shame spiral starts, and everything that I did accomplish doesn't feel like enough, because now I feel like a failure as a functional human (and am now too hungry to cook dinner, and resort to spending extra money on food delivery to feed myself).

How do I get around this? By avoiding the hyperfous to begin with. This is easier said than done, of course, but with time and patience it can become part of your routine and symptom management plan* and enable you to be as healthfully productive as possible. For me, that looks like:
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• Using my timer to help with task-switching.
• Taking full advantage of both my physical planner (the act of writing things down helps them stick in my brain) and utilizing digital calendars and alarms.
• Keeping easy snacks near my desk so that I don't miss hunger cues and keeping my water bottle full at all times to make sure I stay hydrated during my work day.
• Playing immersive writing videos on YouTube to give structure to my writing time. I have an entire playlist that I keep on hand with different videos for different projects!
• Making sure that I have plenty of dopamine-inducing novelty items in my space, like scented candles and artwork around my desk.
• Giving myself rewards. For example: "If you stop writing after 1.5 hours, that will give you enough time to get this other X task done, which means you'll have time at the end of the day to dye your hair!"

*Note: It is vitally important that you follow the treatment plan worked out between you and your healthcare team first and foremost. If you've been prescribed medication, please make sure to incorporate it into your self-care routine, and never stop taking it or alter the dose before consulting with your doctor.

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7) Don't give up.

As I said at the beginning, writing is hard even for neurotypical people. Being neurodivergent is hard, and being a neurodivergent writer is an achievement in itself, even without fancy publishing contracts or MFA programs or hitting the NYT Bestseller List. On the days when you feel like everything is stacked against you, even (especially) your own brain, take pride in yourself for showing up anyway, even if all you manage to crank out is one paragraph. It's something. It's something that many people say that they're going to do, but never actually do it. But you have, and that's worth celebrating. Other neurodivergent writers have come before us, and many more will come after us. Let's set a good example for them by showing up for ourselves and for each other. Keep going. Don't give up.

Do you have any hacks of your own to add to this list? Join the party and drop a line in the comments!

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