Balancing ADHD and Book Writing

Balancing ADHD and Book Writing

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol and still chase big creative dreams like writing a book? This episode zeroes in on exactly that, as Amy Liz Harrison chats about juggling ADHD, motherhood, and the huge task of getting a manuscript finished. Speaking as a sober mum of eight and a bestselling author, Amy tackles two massive roadblocks many neurodivergent writers face: weight and mess.

She shares how pregnancy, breastfeeding and fluctuating clothes sizes affected her confidence, admitting, "I have been everything from a size zero to a size 18," and how she chose the long-term goal of breastfeeding and writing over obsessing about the scale. Her practical fix? Buy bigger clothes so you can sit comfortably and focus on the book instead of your waistband. Amy then moves into the chaos side of ADHD.

She reminds anyone living in clutter that "housework, tasks, and messiness, that is morally neutral," and challenges the idea that a messy home says anything about a person's worth. From trash cans and laundry baskets in every room to relying on paper plates when life gets hectic, she shows how small, unconventional systems can protect precious writing energy.

Throughout the conversation, Amy keeps bringing things back to the idea that writing a book is temporary, but the impact can be lasting. She encourages clear communication with partners, honest self-talk, and a willingness to make short-term sacrifices like postponing weight loss or letting go of perfectly folded laundry.

If you've ever thought, "I can't write a book until my life is perfectly under control," this episode might have you rethinking that belief and asking: what could change if you treated your book as a short-term project and your self-worth as non-negotiable?