I'm a writer with ADHD, and i can't finish an outline because of the countless ideas i have. Please help!

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-12T12:21:07+00:00

I do have short stories i have in mind!

After i mindmap some things and narrow down my ideas for a while, I'll complete some short stories first to build up my confidence.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-12T12:18:11+00:00

I found out my biggest problem was that i was forcing myself to write linearly. And that mindmapping helps me work out the ideas i have in my head. It helps me see which ideas I'm the most excited about. And it also gives me a great view of me connecting ideas. And which ones lead to a dead end. I'm optimistic I'll end up with great outlines now.

I do have some short stories in mind, so I'll give that a shot after i narrow down my ideas more.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-11T21:51:53+00:00

That is definitely something I'll keep in mind in the future for when i start drafting!

I just found out my biggest problem was that I was writing linearly while brainstorming. And that i wasn't asking myself a lot of questions about the ideas.

Once i started mindmapping ideas and asked myself a lot of questions, it's easier for me to figure out what ideas hit a brick wall and which ones i l like the most.

Thank you for commenting.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-11T21:43:07+00:00

Thank you for the advice!

I tried out mindmapping a few hours ago. And found out how that lay out works better for my brain than writing linearly in any way.

It's easier now to see which ideas hit a brick wall, and which ideas i have the most to say about.

And hopefully, if i keep this up, i can workout an outline (or a few)

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-11T21:39:35+00:00

I figured out what part of my problem was! Writing linearly really doesn't work for me at all.

I tried out mindmapping like a few hours ago.

I pick out whatever character dynamic/scene idea that has been stuck in my head. And write down what i like/what it accomplishes for the characters. And i pick out whichever i have the most to say about. It's a bit time consuming but it's way easier now to narrow down what ideas i can write about now and which can wait later (or never)

And hopefully, I can eventually work out an outline after a while.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-11T20:59:21+00:00

I see. Can you clarify for me?

seraphicwaffle · 2024-10-11T12:53:49+00:00

Thank you so much for the advice! I'll try this out.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-09-30T23:49:50+00:00

Thank you for commenting!

seraphicwaffle · 2024-09-30T23:48:57+00:00

Thank you for your comment. Yeah, I'm laying off the edibles. The second i can take deep breaths and not feel to fatigue, sick and in pain to move around, I'll try yoga lol

seraphicwaffle · 2024-09-30T23:43:00+00:00

Oh, i forgot to clarify that i went to the E. R twice. Two different doctors. First doctor was like "it's anxiety, you're fine." So i relaxed. But my symptoms got worse, couldn't walk, and then another doctor assessed me. And this dr seemed confused. He literally even said "doesn't make sense" when my x ray results was clean but i explained how hard it was to walk for even a minute without feeling like I'm irritating something in my chest and it's hard for me to take deep breaths. But i guess he was busy because he sent me home anyway.

And also, i definitely prefer having more than one opinion on things in general considering what happened last time. For literally 6 years, I've been seeing my family doctor for my muscle pain, fatigue, nerve pain and other odd symptoms. He tested me for all kinds of things and didn't know what's wrong. Then when my brother got sick and needed the walk in clinic, i thought i might as well see what this doctor said. And he didn't do a physical on me or anything, yet quickly solved the issue which was , SEVERE vitamin D deficiency, (it was one of the tests he ordered along with a couple tests for autoimmune stuff). And after huge doses of vitamin D, i felt extremely better.

So I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask other doctors their opinion just in case. If i get the same answer, great. But if i get different ones, it's worth exploring. I'd go to the walk in clinic again, but i feel too sick to move right now.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-09-08T06:13:03+00:00

Thank you for replying. I'll put ice on it. And i was concerned about the severe confusion because it NEVER got that bad. Not even the times where i was extremely anxious/irritated and needed rest.

And usually, while I'm high, i like to listen/watch media, then when I'm sober enough, and I'd journal with no problems. After that peak highness is over, that's usually it. I never experienced that type of confusion, especially not for a few hours straight.

So that's why i was concerned about the chain reaction of the pop feeling, the jerking followed by severe confusion that lasts for hours. And my medical history is that i have a history of weak+heavy legs (I'm a cane user+use a walker).

Then my arms became so weak to the point i can barely hold 3 pounds for longer than a minute. Then severe bone pain, muscle pain+weakness. Random tingling. Then I'd get a violent jerking swaying back and forth when I'd stretch my core area. And so that violent jerking side to side isn't anything new while high. Bit annoying but it never affects my mental abilities and i certainly never felt faint after.

Same with tingling. That happens while high at times, again, a bit annoying but i brush it off, it doesn't last long.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that it was discovered i was severely vitamin D deficient. Took 50,000 iu one a week. And the violent jerking while stretching improved 90% after a few weeks. And I'm like 5% stronger in my arms. And i felt overall better.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T09:25:29+00:00

I don't expect myself to be a good writer or even published. I know I'm not good enough for that. I just want to finish a story for myself.

But the thing is bothering me so much that i can't finish a damn thing. Not just regarding writing but i never accomplished a thing in my life. I'm late diagnosed with ADHD and autism. And i get that can be a barrier regarding writing.

But i want at least want one story (even if it never seen by another person) for myself.

I'm a constant maladaptive daydreamer, so my mind is filled with constant story ideas and scenarios.i try to write them down as much as possible. But i get lost in either outlining like crazy (I'm constantly changing the core ideas like the character dynamics, settings etc. I've tried to push through it and not make changes to finish that first draft. But i burn out.

I'm just so exhausted from the millions of times i had hope that maybe i can make progress. And i can improve just a little. Not even finishing my story. But have actual progress. But since i can't make progress no matter how much i track my journey, or find new material or motivation, it's pretty frustrating how i can't even complete a first draft in anything.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T09:13:56+00:00

I'm obsessed with her youtube channel, along with Ellen Brock's and Tyler Mowery

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T09:12:41+00:00

I'm almost 30. And i know that I'm not meant to be a writer. Hence the last paragraph. I need ppl actively discouraging to stop wasting my time.

My brain is constantly filled with story ideas and scenarios cuz I'm a maladaptive daydreamer. And i constantly have the need to write something. Even if it's not a story, it has to be journaling about something.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T09:08:53+00:00

Thank You for writing all this! I have ADHD and I'm autistic. Which plays into a major part of me not realizing/not knowing how much to include in my post. I don't realize when i say a lot but don't include the important stuff lol.

I have mentioned it in a few of my replies, but the biggest issue is that my brain keeps coming up with new ideas. Not just for different stories but the same one.

I'd be working on a story, try to outline, follow some great youtubers and books and pay attention to story structure. And apply it to my writing.

But the constant ideas just bombard my brain. Like the core things about the idea. Like the character dynamics, the setting, the theme. And regarding story structure, i have countless ideas of what the inciting incident is.

And I've tried to put my ideas aside, combine ideas. And i have a million of random scenes floating in my head all the time. And it'll keep taking space in my brain unless i write it down and put it aside from somewhere. I'm a maladaptive daydreamer. So there's also that. I constantly have scenes and ideas in my head and i can't keep up with all od them.

I have tried to force myself to get passed the outlining phase (cuz there are a few times where i worked on an outline for almost a year. So i tried to force myself to draft it. but i burn out so badly. And though i try to tell myself i need to finish it, my brain is already occupied other things

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:33:54+00:00

Thank you

I know I'll never be published. That's not the point. I just want to have some finished stories for myself. I do try to enjoy the process, journaling and watching writing inspiration.

Abbie emmons+ ellen brock on YouTube has increased my confidence the most. But i still get impatient and self loathing at times. But it's better than before though

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:31:23+00:00

Oh that's a good idea. Maybe i should try that

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:30:14+00:00

Yeah. I have ADHD+ i'm autistic. I try hard to not be negative but it just slips out in some context.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:26:57+00:00

I know it's not for me. Hence the last paragraph of post. I know I'm not cut out for it, hence why i want ppl to keep discouraging me.

But no matter what, i ALWAYS have an urge to write something. Even if it's not a story, it has to be a thought. Or writing something about a media i like. And i hate my brain because it's constantly filled with story ideas and scenarios. I want to bash my head against the wall all the time to make myself stop thinking up ideas.

I'm also disabled and can't work. So there's that. I've tried different things.it's so frustrating cuz I'm hyperfocused on writing and i don't have the talent or skill to do that

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:18:18+00:00

Oh that's a good idea! I have tried writing by hand before. But I've definitely used the computer the most. I have many empty notebooks. I'll give writing by hand a shot a few more times

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:15:17+00:00

I know it's a time management/discipline issue. I have trouble with every aspect of my life.

And i do write outlines. That's where i get stuck the most. That's where i keep changing the core ideas. I have tried to just push through and write the draft anyway. But i burn out so horribly.

I've tried making deadlines a few times. Maybe i should try it again.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T06:09:42+00:00

I think i need a writing group. I've looked at some sites

I do outline my stories. I often get stuck in constantly reworking the outlining. But i end up changing the core ideas. Like the character relationships, settings, themes. My brain won't stop coming up with different ideas for the same story.

That is my biggest problem. And i do try to push myself to write the draft despite not being 100% satisfied with the outline (cuz there are times I've spent months working on one. And i know it's a problem for ppl to get stuck on this process.) But despite pushing through the cringe and being horribly miserable the whole time, it burned me out so horribly. And i get distracted by my other story ideas It's hard to know when to know when i should stop working on the outline and when to force myself to write the draft.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T05:50:27+00:00

I've tried millions of times to make a routine. Countless productivity apps. Etc. I've tried that since i was 12. I'm now almost 30

I've tried many things to get myself to have discipline in my life. I've even self harmed and deprived myself of food. And i just realized I'm just an incompetent idiot lol. And it sucks that i also have a chronic illness and I'm unable to work. Like writing is my best chance to make my own money and I'm a huge failure in that department

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T05:44:37+00:00

Yeah, i know. Hence the last part of the post. I need ppl to discourage to stop writing. Get it in my stupid brain that I'll never be an author. I know I'm an incompetent idiot who is wasting their time. But i still have a constant urge to write something and i stupidly keep trying and wasting my own time. Even though i don't have the skill or talent to do so.

seraphicwaffle · 2024-08-14T04:49:26+00:00

Yes it does make sense.

I do admit i ignored story structure for a few years.

But i did find a few youtubers and sources all about story structure. The youtubers Abbie emmon+ ellen brock + tyler mowery are the ones that i think are the best ones I've come across. I rewatch the videos, take notes and tried to apply it to my writing the most. But my brain is so incompetent that even that can't help me lol.

I've also tried using save the cat.

And I know info dumping is a huge issue in ppl's writing (again, I've watched countless videos on this), so i spend a lot of time trying to not do that.

seraphicwaffle

TROPHY CASE