How ADHD Writers can create intentional urgency to build momentum.
Part 5 of our series on Motivation for ADHD writers
A few days after my first book was sold on proposal, I hopped on a Zoom call with my assigned editor to discuss next steps.
At one point, she pulled up the timeline and said something like, “I just wanted to double check…do you really think you want the deadline for the first draft of the manuscript to be three months after the contract is signed?”
Gently and professionally, she continued, “Are you sure about this? Most authors ask for at least six to nine months to write their manuscript”.
I explained my reasoning to her and cited that I planned to take a break from coaching 1:1 clients and group programs and focus most of my energy on writing during that time. I shared how this made the most sense for my business.
This was all true but what I didn’t explain was perhaps the most important reason I wanted a tight timeline. I knew it didn’t matter how long I was given. I’d probably write it in three months anyway.
If I gave myself nine months, I’d likely spend the first six overthinking, procrastinating and feeling stuck until the deadline loomed close enough to feel threatening. I didn’t need space, I needed momentum.
That conversation reminded me how differently ADHDers have to work to get things done. Urgency, when used intentionally, can be a powerful tool for ADHD writers.
Ways ADHD writers can tap into urgency as a motivational tool
External deadlines can be incredibly helpful for maintaining momentum, but they’re not always built in, especially when you are in the proposal stage of a non-fiction book, working on a fiction manuscript or focusing on a personal writing project.
For ADHD writers, this lack of structure can make it hard to get started and keep making progress. The good news? Urgency can be intentionally created. Here are some ways to tap into urgency as a motivational tool when, no one’s waiting on the finished draft.
Enlist help with your project
Most ADHDers struggle with deadlines that feel arbitrary or too far away. We can record countless timelines in our planner, but if no one else knows about them, our brain is going to continue to convince us that they aren’t important. External accountability can be key when we need to put more meaning around a self-imposed deadline.
One way to do this if you are working on a manuscript, is to recruit beta readers and set an expectation around when they can expect to receive your draft. Often writers wait until they have work ready for review to recruit readers, but it can really help create momentum to do it the other way around.
Share your schedule publicly
If you are trying to commit to a weekly Substack but often open your account only to realize months have passed since you last published an article, it may help to harness the power of a public declaration.
Consider adding a line to your info section like “every week on Wednesdays”. Letting others know your goals helps create structure and just enough pressure to help us find the motivation to move forward.
Commit to an upcoming writers retreat or conference
If like me, you have a half-written proposal or manuscript languishing in your drafts that hasn’t been prioritized for months, scheduling an industry event might help.
Choose an event that’s far enough away to realistically finish a “good enough” version of your project, then focus on being as prepared as you can. Remind yourself that you never know what possibilities exist in a room filled with industry experts. If you are hoping to network with potential agents, being ready with a proposal or your manuscript puts you in a position to be prepared if opportunity presents itself.
No one can guarantee a specific outcome from an in-person event, but the “what if” can be enough to move your project forward. Regardless, of what takes place, if it helps you take more action in the months prior, that’s a huge win.
On that note, I’m personally looking to put a few writing events on my calendar for the end of this year or next. If you have any suggestions for events you’ve loved. Let me know in the comments below.
ADHD doesn’t mean we can’t finish things, it means we often need to approach progress differently. While traditional timelines and gentle pacing work for some writers, many of us thrive under conditions that create just enough pressure to push past inertia. When urgency is used intentionally, instead of reactively, it can help us access the clarity, momentum, and follow-through we often struggle to find.