The Write Anyway Podcast

Effective Writing Strategies for ADHD Writers: Beyond Habits

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, host Rachelle Ramirez, a developmental editor and ADHD coach, explores why traditional habits fail for ADHD writers and presents alternative strategies that better align with the ADHD brain.

These include designing flexible systems, using external reminders, emphasizing an interest-based approach incorporating elements like challenge, novelty, and urgency, and finding adaptable methods to move thoughts into action.

Learn practical tips such as breaking tasks into manageable steps, using gamification like the 'string of pearls' challenge, and adapting writing routines to energy levels. This episode equips ADHD writers with tools to enhance their productivity and creativity while acknowledging their unique challenges.

00:00 Introduction to ADHD Writing Challenges

01:32 Why Traditional Habits Fail for ADHD Writers

02:49 Understanding ADHD and Dopamine

06:29 Flexible Systems for ADHD Writers

09:32 External Reminders and Environmental Design

14:13 Initiating Writing Tasks with Interest-Based Approaches

16:21 Making Revisions More Engaging

22:37 Conclusion and Final Tips

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, hosts Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez tackle seven common writing rules, aiming to debunk and reframe them as flexible tools rather than hard and fast decrees.

They discuss how strict adherence to advice such as 'write every day,' 'write what you know,' 'draft first, edit later,' 'show don't tell,' 'kill your darlings,' 'write to the market,' and 'open in the middle of the action' can stymie a writer's creativity. By balancing these traditional guidelines with practical realities and personal preferences, Anne and Rachelle provide insights to help writers maintain their authentic voice and creative flow.

The episode concludes with information about the Pages and Platforms Black Ink Friday Sale, which includes significant discounts on masterclasses, coaching sessions, and manuscript evaluations.

00:00 Introduction: Debunking Writing Rules

02:10 Rule 1: Write Every Day

03:57 Rule 2: Write What You Know

05:01 Rule 3: Draft First, Edit Later

06:52 Rule 4: Show, Don't Tell

08:23 Rule 5: Kill Your Darlings

10:03 Rule 6: Open with Action

11:23 Rule 7: Write to Market

13:36 Identifying Bad Writing Advice

14:33 Special Offers and Conclusion

In this episode of the Write Anyway podcast, host Sue Campbell chats with Patricia Marshall, founder and CEO of Luminare Press, about the different approaches to self-publishing: DIY publishing, assisted publishing, and hybrid publishing.

Learn the pros and cons of each method, and get insights into costs, processes, and what kind of authors and goals each approach is best suited for. Whether you're looking to keep full control and manage all aspects yourself, or prefer to hand over parts or all of the process to professionals, this episode aims to guide writers in making informed decisions about turning their manuscripts into market-ready books.

00:00 Introduction to Self-Publishing Options

00:34 Meet Patricia: Insights from Luminare Press

02:18 DIY Publishing: Pros and Cons

10:52 Self-Publishing Assist: Pros and Cons

14:10 Hybrid Publishing: Pros and Cons

18:23 Choosing the Right Path for Your Book

23:47 Avoiding Scams in Publishing

24:44 Conclusion and Resources

Certified book coach and editor Nicole Bross discusses strategies and tools for neurodivergent authors with our own ADHD coach and developmental editor Rachelle Ramirez. Nicole is the author of 'A Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers,' a guide aimed at helping neurodiverse authors overcome challenges like lack of motivation and disorganization. She emphasizes understanding the root causes of these issues, using various techniques such as changing work environments, visual organization, and finding the right accountability partners. Nicole also advocates for pre-emptive outlining to break down larger tasks into manageable ones, thereby reducing the feeling of overwhelm. The episode offers actionable insights and tips for both ADHD and non-ADHD writers.

00:00 Welcome to the Write Anyway Podcast

00:09 Meet Nicole Bross: Strategies for ADHD Writers

00:48 The ADHD Writer's Challenge: Finding Motivation

01:58 Tips and Tricks for Staying Motivated

03:12 Understanding Accountability: Internal vs External

05:32 Finding the Right Accountability Partner

09:58 Overcoming Overwhelm and Disorganization

12:39 The Importance of Outlining

15:51 Tools and Techniques for Organizing Your Writing

17:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

 Rachelle and Anne discuss the importance of creativity and writing during challenging times. They explore how writing can help individuals personally by enhancing self-esteem, resilience, and mental health, and collectively by fostering empathy and connection. Writing different types of narratives—be it fun stories or political essays—remains significant, even when the world feels tumultuous. Every form of storytelling, whether a memo, a romantic novel, or an essay, can be a powerful tool for personal expression and societal impact.

00:00 Introduction: Writing in Dark Times

00:14 The Importance of Creativity Now

00:33 Struggles and Doubts of Writers

01:27 The Value of Art and Writing

02:10 Personal Growth Through Writing

03:46 Connecting with Others Through Stories

04:11 The Impact of Fiction

10:38 Writing as a Form of Activism

13:24 The Power of Memoirs

14:00 Conclusion and Farewell

Demolish Your Comfort Zone: Why Comfort Kills More Dreams Than FailureEpisode Description:

Why does success elude you even when you're putting in the time and effort? The brutal truth: You're choosing short-term comfort over long-term results. In this game-changing episode, Sue Campbell interviews Art Turock, the "Comfort Zone Demolition Expert," about why stepping outside your comfort zone isn't enough—you need to demolish it entirely.

What You'll Learn:

• The crucial difference between holding people accountable vs. inviting accountability
• Why "interest" will sabotage your writing dreams (and how commitment changes everything)
• The "colossal deception" that keeps writers stuck in self-limiting patterns
• Art's proven system for overcoming fear of rejection (that landed him 125+ Fortune 500 speaking gigs)
• How to identify the hidden "short-term payoffs" that derail your long-term goals
• The identity shift that transforms aspiring writers into published authors

Key Quotes:
"Comfort kills more dreams than failure ever will."
"Discomfort is the price of freedom."
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, just results."

Perfect for writers who:

• Feel stuck despite "trying hard"
• Struggle with procrastination and self-sabotage
• Want to finish their book but keep choosing other priorities
• Need accountability strategies that actually work
• Are tired of staying in their comfort zone

Guest Bio:
Art Turock is a longtime executive coach for Fortune 500 companies and author of the new book Demolish Your Comfort Zones: Six Unconventional Practices to Crush Your Hidden Limitations. At age 55, he took up sprinting and won silver and bronze medals at the USA Track and Field Masters Championship. His quote about commitment vs. interest appeared on Starbucks cups nationwide.

Resources Mentioned:

• Art's book: Demolish Your Comfort Zones
• Art's website: artturock.com
• Write Anyway newsletter: pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

Content Warning: Brief discussion of food and dieting from approximately 19:00-22:00.

Book Marketing Secrets from Alex Hormozi's $100M Launch with Tim Grahl

In this episode, marketing expert Tim Grahl breaks down the strategies behind Alex Hormozi's record-breaking $100 million book launch and shares actionable takeaways for authors at any level. Learn about:

• The innovative "donation" model that drove massive sales
• How Hormozi demonstrated his book's principles through the launch itself
• Practical ways authors can scale these strategies to their own level
• The power of customer-financed acquisition for growing your reach
• Why building genuine relationships is crucial for book marketing success
• Specific tactics for both fiction and non-fiction authors
• Tim's "Books & Beer" networking strategy that any author can implement

Tim also shares insights from his 17+ years helping authors market their books and discusses his work with Story Grid, where he applies deliberate practice principles to help writers improve their craft.

Featured Guest: Tim Grahl

• Founder of Story Grid
• Author of Your First 1000 Copies and The Shithead
• Book marketing consultant who has helped authors hit the NYT bestseller list

Resources Mentioned:

• storygrid.com
• Story Grid YouTube Channel
• Tim's latest novel: The Shithead

Subscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe

Are you paralyzed by the fear of negative reviews? In this episode of Write Anyway, hosts Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez share a powerful exercise to help writers overcome their fear of criticism. Learn how writing your own worst one-star review—and its positive counterpart—can actually free you to write with more confidence and clarity.

Key takeaways:
• How to use the "worst review" exercise to identify and face your writing fears
• Why negative reviews can help you better understand your ideal reader
• Real examples of one-star/five-star review pairs from both hosts
• Why not every book is for everyone (and why that's okay!)

Whether you're writing fiction or non-fiction, this practical exercise will help you push past perfectionism and write for the readers who truly matter. Join Anne and Rachelle as they demonstrate how embracing potential criticism can actually strengthen your writing practice.

Subscribe to our newsletter at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe for weekly writing insights and tips.

Do you ever feel tempted to throw in the towel on your creative projects just to feel the sweet relief of freedom from responsibility? In this solo episode of The Write Anyway Podcast, mindset coach Sue Campbell dives into why that feeling of relief might be a trap—and how it can sabotage your creative goals and personal growth.

Sue breaks down:

• The two types of relief: circumstantial relief and engineered relief, and why they feel so good (but aren’t always good for you).
• How your inner saboteur can mislead you into giving up on valuable projects in exchange for short-term emotional comfort.
• The long-term cost of avoiding discomfort in your creative journey—and how it leads to abandoning your creative potential.
• Why tolerating discomfort is essential not just for writing, but for becoming the person and artist you want to be.

Learn how to reframe discomfort as a necessary step toward growth and discover what might be waiting for you on the other side of creative resistance.

Subscribe to the Write Anyway Newsletter for mindset and marketing tips at pagesandplatforms.com/subscribe.

Struggling with your manuscript despite reading every writing craft book? Developmental editor Lori Puma reveals what 70+ writing books left out.

Learn about Story Foundation, the Invisible Story, antagonist networks, and scene sequencing.

Perfect for first-time novelists facing common problems like lack of conflict, repetitive plots, or manuscripts that won't come together despite multiple revisions.

Includes tips on creating dynamic antagonists, building cause-and-effect chains, and troubleshooting story problems. Get Lori's free ebook "What Craft Books Left Out" at loripuma.com.

Keywords: writing craft, developmental editing, story structure, novel writing, antagonist development, scene structure, first novel, writing advice, manuscript revision, plot development.

00:00 - Introduction: Why traditional writing books might not be enough
01:00 - Meet Lori Puma: From editor to craft book detective
02:00 - Story Foundation: The missing piece for first-time novelists
03:00 - Symptoms of story foundation problems
05:00 - The Invisible Story: What happens off the page
07:00 - Common antagonist mistakes and how to fix them
09:00 - The Princess Bride example: Antagonists vs. antagonists
11:00 - Shaping sequences: Creating cause-and-effect chains
12:00 - How to get Lori's free ebook and connect