I am having SO much trouble with this, too! I'm currently a graduate student, finishing two Master's degrees.... (well, trying to finish, anyway.) I'm in my last semester, (or so I had hoped). It has been both very rewarding and very agonizing. I have always had a rough time writing, because I get "stuck" on trying to find the perfect word, the perfect phrase, the perfect resource, the perfect [whatever] ,in the hopes that it will make things blend together like a Monet painting. I can usually pull together some great work, BUT it's always late. (I logically know that no matter how "perfect" it is, how perfect can it be if it's late?!) I have failed classes, not because I don't understand the concepts, but because I missed the deadline. Although my ADHD creates difficulties, things tend to fall apart when my anxiety becomes prominent. Despite my efforts to seek treatment for the anxiety and perfectionism, (and continue to manage my ADHD), in January, things came to a head last month when my computer died, the day before a paper was due. I lost not only all of my references and rough draft, but I lost a year's worth of work on my thesis. Needless to say, it has sent me into a tailspin. I don't see a way for me to pass the class or graduate on time, now. I wonder if I can think of the "perfect" word to describe how I feel.

Quote

hey kingofamerica, i can totally connect with the agonizing perfectionism. I am a college teacher and writer. used to be a newspaper reporter. I pushed up against and broke almost every deadline I had as a reporter. didn't have a clue as to what the problem was at the time, other than that I was being too ambitious in my stories .... just in the past few months, got diagnosed and figured out i had adhd and i'm going ... wow! .... I wrote a review in the fall of a book for a school online magazine ... I wrote it well, but i spent way way too long on it ... definitely got lost in hyperfocus .... I am interested in writing a column for a school magazine and what I'm going to do--or what i'm hoping to do--is to experiment with using a timer. I like breaking writing into 25 or 30 minute segments. This is a anti-procrastination technique I use. But it's also a good time-limit technique, i think. At least i'm going to try it ... I will say give myself 3 hours for a column. I'll break that into 6 30-minute sessions. Whatever shape the column is at the end of that 6th session, I need to send it off! I think it's actually better for us adhd'ers to send off work that is flawed that is on time! .... Because I think that will condition us to write faster the next time. I'm partly thinking out loud here. I feel your pain. I've spent my life there .... by the way, as a college teacher, i get asked by students to write recommendations for grad school or study abroad, etc. After years of struggling with this, i have finally developed a formula. And i set a time limit, usually 15 minutes or so, and I type furiously and i follow the format (in my head) of previous recommendations. It usually takes longer than 15 minutes, but it seems i'm getting it done within 30 minutes and that's huge for me. Huge! ... So i want to build on that. Another key for us is to just try to make it "good" or "very good." Not great, just good.

Quote

"I have always had a rough time writing, because I get "stuck" on trying to find the perfect word, the perfect phrase, the perfect resource, the perfect [whatever] ,in the hopes that it will make things blend together like a Monet painting. I can usually pull together some great work, BUT ..."

'First time visitor', joined after finding this thread. I didn't realize that this was a common issue. I'm currently working on my Associates degree (at the age of 41). The above quote describes my issue perfectly! When it comes to research & knowing the material, I'm golden...however the struggle to put it together, in writing, drives me "crazy".

Thank you.

Quote

I have found that the best way for me to write a paper, particularly if it is a long one, is to outline, outline, outline. I will take that outline edit and expand on my ideas subject by subject. This way, if I get stuck on a word or an idea, I can move onto another subject and wait for the inspiration to hit. I developed this system last spring when I was taking honors classes and composition and writing 5-15 papers a week. I have also found that I have certain times in the day where I am more focused on what I am doing than others and not so easily distracted. I generally have until noon before my brain really starts to wander (it is too tired form a late night of youtube to work with more than one concept at once.) Another thing I do is to get up and move when I get stuck. I will stretch and walk away from the computer or turn the radio up and dance for a little bit to shake my brain loose enough to finish what I was doing. I do this if I write the same sentence more than three times. that is when I know to walk away for a second. If I am at a public computer, I will stop, close my eyes, and think of something else and allow myself a little bit of daydreaming time. This can break my mojo for long enough to stop obsessing over one particular word or phrase. I hope that some of the tricks I learned can help they don't always work, but they help me more often than not.

Quote

I agree with the idea of generalizing the idea and narrowing on the subject and what do I need to write about..Many times I write my middle of the paper first so I can make it easier to write the introduction and the conclusion. I find if I try to write the introduction I can get in my own way. Many time in writing my papers I need an extension because i start I decide I hate it and throw it away This is frustrating . and i still have 3 more classes to finish before I get my BSN . If I am really stuck , I will go outside , walk, walk, walk and walk getting really sweaty if that doesn't work I will go do something else I until I get a flash in my head and write it down . Unfortunately when I am in school, My family never sees me because I am always reading and writing my papers and I keep telling myself I nedd to finish it. I also stopped worry about the A's and with my Math I was thrilled with My B"s (I hate math )My GPA 3.9 and now it is a 3.6 ; but I figure it will be ending soon. More to come I don't know I'm not sure my husband could live through it.

Quote

Despite my efforts to seek treatment for the anxiety and perfectionism, (and continue to manage my ADHD)

Hey, you're right-it's anxiety. I hadn't even realized that. The stakes feel so high when I'm applying for one of the few jobs that look possible.

I began taking Adderall last year. I'm wondering if it's making the hyperfocus too intense. Before this, I seemed to work faster.

Quote

As for the q of whether there's a word for this problem, I bet that German either has one or you could invent one using it, since the language pinpoints interesting feelings through glomming existing words together.

Timer: good idea. Exercise: a must for any ad/hder, I think. Maybe, besides my regular workouts, a sprint around a few blocks would help!

Outline: wow. I never know what I'm gonna write until I write it. My own technique (which works for some students too) is for a first draft, to block my internal censor by whatever means possible, such as blasting loud music while I work. Caffeine helps; I've taken nips of vodka. The draft looks dismal and I don't care. Then I organize it , the worst part by far, then play with wording--which used to be fun.

I've had students who use voice-activated software or visual mapping programs (Inspiration is one).

Quote

Hey All, Let me share something I heard: James Albert Michener author who wrote Hawaii, Texas, Centennial, and more once said, " I am not a great writer. I am a great re-writer." ( He is not to my knowledge an AD/HDer rather just a man who writes, then rewrites and rewrites his huge thick novels.)

I remember this and use this as comfort and mental support. I need it because I always dread to the point of fear of rewriting anything I put on paper. I don't think it is perfect, but I cannot stand to read my own work then correct it. But get this, my life's dream is to be- yep you guessed it - a writer. Go figure. I got so stressed over recent requests to create a writing sample to submit to join a virtual team to see if I qualify, I gave myself a debilitating migraine. Which I have not had in two years. I muddled through. Did the first draft. Had my friend read it. Then I revised it. I will send it off tonight. I will let you all know if I even get the job.

I appreciate this forum. Reminds me of my days in college when I surveyed all my friends who got A's to see how they studied for tests. Everyone had their own approach. I needed help. SO, I kept trying things until I found a combination that worked for me.

I see overcoming the perfectionist writing the same way. My life partner encourages me just to do it. (Nike?) So, when I get a draft completed, I change topics or activities to mentally switch gears. That way I turn off the mental critic. I don't get stuck. Rather I try to say too much. Spill it all when there are word count limits involved, I write 750 but the sample is to be only 500. Guess my challenge is getting focused. I am writing a sample without really knowing the topic or style wanted. My writing challenge is a bit different.

One strategy: Have a good mental comeback for the inner writing critic in your head is helpful as well. Have a mantra you can say that makes you feel good and want to keep writing. As a newbie, entering minto my dream job, This could be the beginning of a great new career. Keep at it. For me, I smile and keep going. If you are writing on a specific topic like many of you on a thesis, you ARE the expert, nobody knows the stuff like you do. Take pride in what you write. Or Keep a sign up in the room with the Deadline date on it, or maybe the alotted time you need to write today. Or maybe which topics you need to complete for the day. Try different things to help you move through the process.

Another Strategy: When I cannot settle on a word but need to keep moving , keep writing, I put one or two choices and some space inside brackets to indicate I could not decide on the best choice. Maybe I need to use the thesaurus later. This allows me to run with my thoughts at the time and not get side tracked falling into the research mode on words that cut off my creativity while I am [ energized/focused/ in the flow of the moment which I don't want to interrupt ] with things to put on the page.

Another strategy: Prioritize the time or topic for writing. Put it on the priority list for the days thigns to do. I get overwhelmed by me easily. I use a 3X5 card for daily to do lists. I got the idea from the ADDmag. I put 5-6 things on it. Sometimes things pop up which I write ont he back. Using a smaller list has led to greater daily successes since I have been home. Previously, to do lists ran 26 or more items for a day and I never reviewed the list. I actually carry around the 3X5 card and look at it. I also have a major word document of things I need to do in the next few months that I look at once in a while.

I was only recently diagnosed as ADHD, we are talking being 57 and finding myself in the wrong job, having problems daily, being stress. That's another story. I consider the discovery of the ADHD a mystery solved for me. I am taking a low dosage of Adderall. My memory and recall improved immediately on the job. In addition, I can sit and focus on a subject for hours, unlike ever before, except for building web sites. Many things including a very fluid work history suddenly make great sense to me.

I ramble. I apologize. Being home alone is hard for me. Keep up the good work . You are good people writing good things. Flex try new things. Deceive yourself with false deadlines. Try to do things differently to get different results.

Meffie

Quote

Seriously writing for an ADD/ADHD person can exhausting and extremely painful . You aren't the only one who hates to read what you write. I have been known to write a paper for school ; and re-read it , scrape it and then start over. I do hope you get the job you want; but if it is so stressful how will you meet deadlines? I want to write songs; and finish my BSN

Quote

I really relate to this post as well. I've been teaching for years. I started out as an English teacher because I've always enjoyed literature and language, but discovered that while I loved the research process, I absolutely hate the writing process. I've never felt like I was a good writer and even now will stress out over writing an email (I am sweating as I type this) and then will procrastinate until the last minute and just throw something together knowing that it's not good, but at least it's done.

I went back to school and got my masters degree in library science and am currently working as a librarian in a career college and considering getting another masters in educational technology. But the thought of having to write and publish scares me because I feel so inadequate.

Quote

I can understand the writing anxiety -- I used to have papers down pretty well and then I took two years off of school. This last year writing and I have developed a deep love-hate relationship. Here's a few ideas that I have found working.

1) Write as detailed an outline as you can before you write the actual paper. Include references to the exact quotes/information you plan on using. Then as you write the paper, re-structure (or in my case delete!) as needed.

2) If #1 doesn't work for you, try defining the main subtopics you want to talk about. Then create one master document for the whole project and another document for each subtopic. Then write each subtopic as if it were a separate paper and break up the page/word limit so that each section has its own mini-limit. When done, copy-paste everything into your main document, polish the transitions and voila.

3) For both cases, write out what you have to say the best that you can, allowing yourself to go over the limit as needed. Print. Take a colored pen and TEAR IT APART. Go back and correct/edit as needed, print, and tear the paper apart again. Repeat as needed. If you get stuck with how to rearrange large chunks of the paper, literally tear the sucker apart--ie cut a draft into "blocks" then rearrange so that it flows more or less as you wanted and tape together. The main theme here being use lots of drafts and let the perfectionism come out in rewriting.I find very few things come out "just perfect" on the first try.

This being said, an email can take me up to an hour to write, and my writing process this year has involved several barely-made deadlines and lots of time staring at a blank page going "it ain't happening", so you can take this with a pinch of salt.

FC

Quote

this thread. I'm still getting familiar with the forums here. But I can relate so strongly to all of the above that I had to comment. I love research, and now that I've just recently been diagnosed with ADD I think that it actually helps me in that area. When I was in college I could move easily from article to article and keep note cards and I was still processing it even when I wasn't actually reading it. I would slowly start to see where all the little pieces fit in the big picture. But writing was sometimes a nightmare, and since I was an English major I had to learn to deal with it. Sometimes it meant doing a poor job on papers that didn't matter as much (weren't worth as many points, were for a class I wasn't as interested in, etc). But I found that even my less-than-perfect papers were pretty good. I just had to DO it. And that's the hard part.

I recently became a paralegal and I do a lot of research and writing. While I still struggle with getting the writing done, I've found that the very formal, structured writing of legal memos is what helps me the most. It is already organized for me. Maybe having a template for other writing would help others who struggle. Not an outline of your paper, but a template for the type of writing you're doing. I know most academics will already know the structure of their paper very well, but even when I write the same type of memo over and over I find I need to see the template to remind myself where I am an what I need to do with the information I have. Whenever I get stuck, I ask myself what the purpose of this section or paragraph or sentence is. That helps me focus my thoughts and sometimes gives my mind time to come up with the right words when I'm not trying to force it to happen.

I often find myself thinking ahead instead of focusing on the sentence or point I'm trying to make. So I jot down a quick note of it and try to keep myself on point. Or I will even skip to that section and write/type what I'm thinking before I lose it. I have to do more revisions because the flow is terrible when I work that way, but I don't do outlines very well.

Quote