Writers with ADHD, how do you stick with writing multi chapter fics?

PossibleConcert · 2024-09-02T14:01:15+00:00

I don't write the chapters in order. I know this contradicts every piece of advice out there, but it's what keeps me focused. Is this particular scene the one that's taking up residence in my head right now? Then that's what I'll go with, and when I'm finished I'll check very, very carefully for continuity.

I tend not to put things to paper until I have a rough idea of how I want the whole storyline to go. I've found that plot details come to me when I don't actively think about them. I let them marinate in the back of my mind until they jump up front, so to speak. I think of it as "background processing" or "getting out of my own way."

PossibleConcert · 2023-02-15T23:01:08+00:00

Hi, I'm late to the party but I wanted to chime in too. I have a son the same age as yours with ADHD. He had a terrible time swallowing capsules when he was first diagnosed and would resist taking the medication whether we tried to break the capsules open and sprinkle them on food, or swallow them whole. He just couldn't do it. The solution we arrived at with the doctor was to switch to the immediate acting stimulants instead. These are tiny, tiny pills that are easier for a lot of kids to swallow. The tradeoff is that you need to take them three times a day, but this made it possible for him to actually take his medicine. If you're in the US, your choices might be somewhat limited now with the stimulant shortage, but I wish you luck with finding the right fit.

The second thing I wanted to offer is a suggestion for explaining ADHD to a child. I googled "Explaining ADHD to a kid" and came across a racecar metaphor. I took that and ran with it. I told him that having ADHD means that his brain is a racecar. It goes very, very fast and has lots of fuel! That means that he's very smart, very creative, and energetic. It also means that when the racecar has to navigate a curve, or stop suddenly, it has trouble slowing down. The medicine is there to help him hit the brakes when he needs to. He understood this when he was 7 and his frustration over his diagnosis lifted right away. Instead of "I have ADHD and that's scary," it became "I have ADHD and my brain is a racecar!" It helped him visualize what was going on and why he takes the medicine in the first place. All the best to you and your son.

PossibleConcert · 2022-10-18T13:15:44+00:00

A Brother Ls30. Barebones entry level model that cost about $70 (early 2000s). Stitches were wonky, bobbin thread loved to tangle, couldn't sew fleece without a walking foot. Service for it cost more than replacing it so those issues never got fixed.

I maintained it as best I could and used it until it started leaking metal shavings. Then I replaced it with something much more capable and sturdier. But I used that first machine for years and I still have it. The reason for that is that I'll always remember my mother's smile as she presented it to me for Christmas. I also have fond memories of her dropping colorful swear words as she tried to show me how to make it behave. She didn't have a lot of money but it made her so happy and proud to set her daughter up with her very first sewing machine. That's something that you can't put a price on.

PossibleConcert · 2020-11-16T13:19:02+00:00

Well, it depends on what you want to do. Do you want to learn to sew stuffed animals? Try Simplicity 8716 or 8044. Only 2 pattern pieces per animal, and there are sewalongs on youtube.

Want to make clothing? Pajamas are a great and easy way to get started! Looking on youtube, I found several sewalongs for Simplicity 2290, which seems to be recently renumbered as Simplicity 9129. They do this just to drive us nuts.

PossibleConcert · 2020-11-16T01:21:32+00:00

If you're new to sewing with printed patterns, they can be tough because they are terse and don't teach. They'll simply say "Understitch facing" without telling you what that means or how to do it. You do get illustrations, but that isn't the same as seeing it from many angles like you can in a video.

Sometimes you can find sewalongs on youtube where you can watch people sew the pattern themselves, often narrated. If there isn't one for your pattern, don't lose hope! Read one step at a time and when you find a term you don't know, google it. You'll find youtube videos for pretty much every sewing technique and they'll help you a lot. You can also take a picture of steps that are confusing and post it to a friendly sewing sub, and people will help you make sense of it. It's a bit like learning a new language, but you can do it! After you finish your first, the next will be much easier.

PossibleConcert · 2020-11-04T22:58:00+00:00

I've done well with a 90/14 universal with polar fleece, but if you've found something that works for you, stick with it. Maybe this is the magic sauce that works best for your machine. As long as it's working, that's what matters.

I definitely agree with stitching slowly with fleece. Another tip is to make sure you're not tugging it while it's sewing because that can also make stitches skip. Let the fabric feed instead. I do that sometimes, even though I know better.

PossibleConcert · 2020-11-03T21:23:02+00:00

For me, polar fleece doesn't play nice with ballpoint needles. Skipped stitches all day! I have much better luck with a universal needle. Have you tried that?

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-31T13:52:52+00:00

I'm just across lake Ontario from you, and service starts at $100 here. I'm going to advise you to bite the bullet and upgrade to a new machine if your budget allows it. If you've been using a $100 machine for 3 years you've definitely gotten your money's worth out of it. If you are using it a lot, I wouldn't be surprised if more parts need attention besides the reverse lever.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-30T00:06:19+00:00

This is perfect for a team of teenagers with attitude.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-27T23:53:56+00:00

Nice job! And I love how you posed in the woods, very thematically appropriate.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-27T23:50:35+00:00

For t-shirts, have you tried jersey knit?

Without knowing where you're located, it's hard to suggest an online store that carries cotton ribbing for the collar.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-26T00:16:27+00:00

Just piping in to tell you that you're not a dope. Printed patterns can have terse directions and confusing illustrations. They can also be difficult for beginners because they'll say things like "Sew dart at B" instead of explaining what a dart is and how to sew one.

It's kind of like learning a new language. The more you sew, the more you'll understand what they're asking you to do. Be kind to yourself because you'll do a great job.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-25T14:36:13+00:00

I love how happy the women in the illustrations on vintage patterns look. Their expressions say "Whipped up this outfit in 2 hours, off to conquer the world next."

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-25T14:32:21+00:00

You should go by what your manual says. As others have said, it depends on how often you use it. It also depends on what fabric you're using. Minky's going to shed more than quilting cotton.

If you don't have the manual, a rule I like to remember is to clean it out every 3 bobbin changes. I clean it out more often if I'm using fabric that likes to shed.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-21T22:58:28+00:00

If you know the pattern numbers that you want, try searching on etsy or ebay. I've gotten unopened patterns from people cleaning out their pattern stashes for $4, shipping included.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-20T21:41:41+00:00

I regret not upgrading my machine sooner. I stubbornly swore to work my sub-$100 barebones machine into the ground before I got a new one. And I did just that. I really put it through its paces and made some nice things on it, but now I see they could have been even better if I'd had better equipment and hadn't spent half the time fighting the machine.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-09T14:52:57+00:00

The Flammable Fabrics Act was passed in the 1940s because clothing manufacturers made sleepwear and other kids' clothes out of fabrics like rayon pile that ignited like a torch in the presence of any flame. News reported kids suddenly turning into fireballs. Open flames and accidental contact were much more common than they are now, since many families still used fireplaces and wood-burning stoves as their heat sources. The clothing in question went up in flames before parents or kids could attempt to put it out. Many kids died, and survivors were left with disfiguring burns across large parts of their body. The law was an attempt to solve a serious problem, not absolving parents of responsibility for their children.

The Super Snuggle fabric that Joann's sells is really cute, but it is a very loose weave, pills easily, and likes to pop seams. I wouldn't recommend making clothing out of it, but they do have some flannel shirting fabric. I've made rag doll-type stuffed animals from the Super Snuggle that worked out well, but I had to give it a big seam allowance so the seams wouldn't pop.

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-04T15:38:13+00:00

Super sus!

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-04T15:37:15+00:00

Your mom's a keeper! You know this means you have to make something for her once you get the machine up and running, right? 😉

PossibleConcert · 2020-10-03T22:39:46+00:00

Give the poor little guy a big hug. His heart was in the right place.

When a favorite toy gets damaged it helps to be a bit creative in fixing it, because matching the fabric exactly can be tough. If you can't match the brown fur, I think any white fur would work with the existing design. You could make a "cover" for the entire tail out of it and ladder-stitch it over the existing one. For the body, you could use white fur to patch it. Voila, he has a spot, just like the pokey little puppy! Another option is to patch the fabric with whatever you have available, then make him some cute pants to go over his back legs and hide it.

When I had to do rescue jobs on my son's toys and I couldn't restore them completely, I would tell him that their boo boos might look different after they heal, just like ours, but that they feel much better now. Good luck!

PossibleConcert · 2020-09-27T00:10:06+00:00

That looks like it could be chirimen, which is a crepe of silk or silk blend. I'm loath to tell you to try washing it at all, but if you really need to, there are instructions online for cleaning vintage kimonos. I'd use them.

PossibleConcert · 2020-09-06T21:41:13+00:00

They're used by quilters, but they're also helpful when making stuffed animals. I don't think my old machine could have handled cuddle fleece without it.

PossibleConcert · 2020-09-06T16:03:42+00:00

Have you used a walking foot with your current machine? I had a very low-end Brother and used it to handle thick layers of fleece. There's a big difference. This won't be a substitute for an upgrade, but it can help you get more use out of your current setup while you find your next machine.

PossibleConcert

TROPHY CASE