Embracing My Writing Process

Crafting a piece of writing, no matter how large or small, is akin to assembling a puzzle. A maddeningly beautiful, intricate, and oddly satisfying puzzle.

The same details that frustrate you are the ones that make the process rewarding. Finding and slotting in each piece. Revealing the larger picture bit by bit. Every movement bringing you closer to something whole.

Imagine, as you are completing this puzzle though, that the pieces are constantly rearranging themselves, there’s a hurricane going on outside the window, and you second-guess the placement of every piece even though it’s clearly in the right spot.

This is exactly what it's like to face a writing task with ADHD and OCD—and why a writer's creative process is both important and personal.

What is the Writing Process?

Loosely defined, the “writing process” is a series of actions taken by writers to move from initial ideas to a polished final product. Sounds simple enough, right?

A quick Google search of the term will bring up endless references to the five writing process steps. Any elementary school teacher worth their salt will instruct their students in these crucial stages of writing: prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing. As an elementary school teacher myself, I focus on a linear progression through these steps as a way to simplify things:

However, writers know that this process is rarely linear. In fact, it more than likely looks like this:

How one moves through these five steps can vary widely from writer to writer.

Writing is like following a recipe. The five essential steps are like the ingredients—all are important to create a good final product. But the magic is in how a writer, similar to a chef, uses and adjusts the ingredients to create something distinct.

In other words, there’s no single perfect method for either cooking or writing. Just as different chefs prepare a dish uniquely, every writer approaches the process in their own way.

What’s an ND writer to do? 

Now consider this from my perspective as a neurodivergent (ND) writer. Writing is hard enough without adding in the struggles associated with a mind wired differently than others.

In my case, ADHD makes it difficult to focus for very long as I am constantly distracted. Often, there are so many ideas ricocheting in my brain that it’s hard to pin them down and make sense of them.

Then there’s my OCD that won’t allow me to complete a sentence without analyzing every single word choice. This perfectionism thwarts any chance of finishing a project quickly.

Together, they create an internal tug-of-war—my brain moving either at warp speed or in slow motion. 

But thankfully for me, one condition is usually dominant at a given time. The trick is figuring out which one it is and using that to my advantage. For example, if my ADHD is firing on all cylinders, I have to make a point of minimizing distractions or I’ll never accomplish anything. That may take finding a quiet spot to write and using an outline or notes to focus on the task at hand. Or if the ideas are just ping-ponging in my brain, I might decide to use that time for brainstorming or free-writing because there’s no way I’m going to put any coherent thoughts on the page. 

On the other hand, if the mental red pen of OCD is lurking around, I try to force myself to keep moving forward by utilizing the comments feature in whatever app or program I am using. I jot down my editing notes rather than taking the time to do it right at that moment. Or I choose not to fight it and edit the day away.

Since I don’t know which mindset I’ll have for writing at any given time, it can be impossible to plan writing-based accomplishments. That said, every writer—especially us ND writers—needs to work with their brain to determine the process that helps them best.

Figuring Out Your Process

A deeper dive into “writing process” on Google will lead you to a plethora of blog posts and articles focusing on the “plotters vs. pantsers” debate. Whether you are one or the other (or a combination) will likely influence your process. 

For example, a plotter is apt to create a thorough outline at the beginning of their writing process. A pantser, however, would probably rely heavily on revising to make their story more cohesive. 

But let’s forget about the labels. After all, a writer’s process is as unique as the writer is. So, when considering your own writing process, think about these questions:

How do you organize your ideas?

Some writers jot things in a notebook. Others email themselves or use the Notes feature on their phones. Maybe you’re a spreadsheet person!

What do you write with?

Some physically write long hand on actual paper. Others use a computer to write in Word, Google Docs, or writing software like Scrivener.

What are your writing routines?

Some writers need music or a TV in the background, while others demand total silence. Some people write at home, a coffeehouse, or a library. Many writers work for short periods; others can sit for hours.

When do you revise and edit?

Writers may revise and edit as they progress through a manuscript, or they may need to complete an entire draft before thinking about those steps.

What Mine Looks Like

For me, I can only write in complete silence. I keep pretending that I can sit in front of my TV with my laptop and get something accomplished, but I’m only kidding myself. (So being home is usually not helpful!) And when the ideas are really flowing, I tend to go with them, so it’s important to have a good support system since oftentimes plans get changed and chores get ignored!

Many of my writer friends use Scrivener to organize, write, and finalize drafts. While there are many wonderful features of Scrivener, I prefer a less complicated software program called Novelize. Not only is it easier to use, but it’s web-based, so I can access my manuscript from any computer. Sometimes, though, when I’m working through a complicated scene, I will write on Google Docs to utilize the “comments” feature and then copy and paste into Novelize when finished. I don’t know why, but this works for me.

I also edit as I write. I am aware that this is a giant “no-no,” but I can’t help it. First, my ADHD distracts me or I simply forget my train of thought in the middle of a scene. Then my OCD requires me to reread everything up to that point to get my mind back in the groove. And of course, once I do that, I have to pick apart every sentence until it’s perfect. Otherwise, I can’t continue.

It's All Part of the Process

Sometimes things we do as writers don’t appear to be part of our process, but they most certainly are.

Picture this.

I am trying to write a blog post (maybe this one!), sitting at a table in the corner of my local library. I have already reviewed my notes, clicked on a few links for articles I saved on the topic, opened a new Google Doc, and placed my fingers on the keyboard. I know my subject. I know what I want to say about it. All I need is the perfect opening line to set the tone and expectation for the post.

But the words are not coming. 

Instead, I check social media (twice), look at my work emails in case something urgent popped up in the last ten minutes (it’s Sunday), take a walk in the fiction stacks to see if my friend’s book is there (it isn’t), and watch an elderly man page through a newspaper reading the obituaries (how cliché). 

To an outsider, it might look like I am stalling or doing nothing. But in reality I am allowing my brain to drift and meander without me trying to control or direct it. My mind seems otherwise occupied but since I set myself up to begin writing and then allowed it to wander, it was doing the hard work of thinking deep in there. (Sort of like when a smart phone keeps the location services on in the background.) And guess what? The opening came to me.

This part of the process may not have been earth-shattering or amazing or even remotely interesting, but it allowed me to get started. And while it's not a perfect process, it’s mine.

Embrace It, Don’t Fight It

Many successful writers are asked about their “process.” There are many different responses because everyone’s process is unique. But what is interesting about process—in particular the creative process—is that, unlike many other professions, writing doesn’t come with a recommended method. Nobody can say, “Hey, this works best. Do it this way.” 

Because writing is just that subjective.

Nobody knows your brain like you do. And your writing process might not look like anyone else’s. But if it works for you, don’t fight it. Go with it. Plan for it. Don’t apologize for it. And, most of all, don’t stress about it. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s that the only “right” process is the one that gets you writing.

What is your writing process? Do you have any tips or tricks that work for you that might ring true for other neurodivergent writers? I’d love to hear from you! 

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About the Author:

Karen is a writer, teacher, audiobook lover, and Wordle enthusiast from New Jersey. When she's not completely distracted by something shiny, she fixes broken stuff around her house. But her favorite activities are spoiling her granddaughter, traveling to warm climates, snort-laughing with friends, and sipping a good cosmopolitan. Visit her online at www.karenkinley.com.