How to Stay Engaged as a Neurodivergent Writer

For years, writing felt like something I had to wrestle into submission. I wanted to blog, send newsletters, show up consistently—but I couldn’t seem to stick with it. I’d forget, freeze, or start and never finish. I thought it was a discipline issue.

Turns out, it was a brain-wiring issue.

After being diagnosed with ADD at 63, I started to understand why writing consistently felt so hard—and how I could approach it in a way that finally worked for me.

What Writing Looks Like for Me Now

These days, I write daily. Not always for my business—sometimes just to think. Journaling has become my anchor. I’ve built simple rituals around it that help me stay grounded and avoid the pressure of perfection.

In the mornings, I pair journaling with my coffee. I sit at my desk, open my notebook, and let the words come without judgment. At night, I do a version of slam journaling—just dumping my thoughts before bed. It clears my mind and gives me closure for the day.

This rhythm didn’t come from discipline. It came from gentleness.

Strategies That Help Me Stay Engaged

Here are a few things that have made writing easier—and more joyful:

• Create rituals, not rules. Pair writing with something comforting: tea, music, candlelight, a favorite pen. Let the act feel good.
• Write snippets. You don’t need to write a full post or caption in one sitting. Capture a sentence here, a thought there. It adds up.
• Use a brain dump notebook or app. I’m still refining my capture system, but even just having a place to drop ideas helps.
• Start ugly. Let it be messy. You can always come back and shape it later. The important part is beginning.
• Forgive the gaps. Consistency doesn’t mean daily. It means returning. Come back when you’re ready.

What I Wish I Knew Sooner

That writing doesn’t have to be linear. That perfection isn’t the goal. That the scattered bits still matter—and are often the most real, honest parts.

And that writing with a neurodivergent brain isn’t broken—it’s beautiful. It’s textured, raw, surprising. It just needs a softer container.

Let’s Talk

Do you struggle with writing as a neurodivergent creative or late-diagnosed woman? What helps you stay engaged—or what gets in the way?

I’d love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Let’s build a gentler way together.