The ADHD plot twist: making sense of ADHD as a writer

This is something of a confession. Something I’ve never shared publicly. I’ve hesitated to say it even privately. Slightly embarrassed, I suppose. 

However, having gone on a bit of a journey with this, it feels like a good time to write about it. 

This time last year, I got diagnosed with ADHD. I know. It sometimes seems that everyone is getting a diagnosis. 

Mine came after one of my children got a diagnosis (both now have one). 

This post is for anyone, writer or otherwise working in this industry, who’s also neurodivergent, or anyone who’s ever felt like their brain doesn’t quite follow the usual rules.

The writing struggle is real: how to beat procrastination and get the words down

Revising this latest book has been tough – and that’s with an outline. The story is there, the chapters mapped out, but the act of sitting down and actually doing it? That’s the hard part.

I’ve always found that writing doesn’t get easier just because you know what comes next. 

How to write a novel when you have no time

One of the biggest challenges for most writers is finding the time. In my 20s and early 30s, I could sit for hours and devote entire weekends to writing without distractions. But life changes. Responsibilities pile up, free time disappears, and you have to adapt.

For a while, I thought I needed long, uninterrupted stretches before I could write. Otherwise, what was the point? I told myself that anything less than 90 minutes was pointless—but in reality, I was just putting blockers in the way.

I’ve since learned that writing a novel doesn’t require marathon sessions. It can be done in snatches, even 20 minutes here, a paragraph or two there.

If you feel like you don’t have time to write, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean you can’t finish a book. I’ve spent ages thinking about this and collected some strategies and wisdom from authors on how to write a novel when your schedule is packed.

Five ways to create unforgettable characters

When I think back to the characters that have stuck with me, long after I’ve closed the book, it’s not just their roles in the story that come to mind. It’s their quirks, their unique voices, and the way they seem so vividly alive. 

Creating truly memorable characters isn’t about making them flawless or heroic; it’s about giving them details, contradictions, and depth that resonate with readers. I've thought about this a lot and put together this list of 5 effective ways to create memorable characters in your writing that you might find useful when writing your novel.