On Writing, ADD and…What Was I Talking About Just Now?

I remember the moment vividly, although it happened five years ago. I was driving up to Henderson Harbor, New York, as I now do nearly every weekend between April and November to help my significant other with his seasonal business, when I heard a commercial on the radio. 

Male Announcer: “Do your thoughts sound like this?” His question was followed by the sound of a radio being quickly changed from one channel to another, from rock to country music to news, with static in between. 

Delighted to feel understood at long last, I exclaimed aloud, “Yes!” 

Male Announcer: “Then you may suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD.” 

Oh great, I thought– something else for me to research and seek treatment for, as if seasonal allergies, depression and acid reflux weren’t enough.  After stewing over this for a time, I realized that I hadn’t listened to the rest of the commercial to see what the ad was for, which I guess pretty much proved the announcer’s point. 

I’d heard of ADD before that moment, of course, but mostly as something that occurred in children who ingest too much sugar and preservatives—not as something that I, as a mature, responsible adult on a reasonably healthy diet, might have.  And yet, after hearing that commercial and subsequently doing the research, I came to the startling realization that yes, I was indeed a textbook case of ADD.  In fact, the condition pretty much explained everything I’d struggled with over the last few decades, from career to relationships to housework to the unbelievable number of gloves, umbrellas, sunglasses and even jackets I’ve lost.  

It also explained why I’d abandoned several half-written novels since my teens, why I tend to prefer writing short articles and fillers, and why I find Twitter so immensely entertaining.  I could now understand why I’ve had so many unrealized dreams and undeveloped ideas over the years, and why I get so bogged down when it comes to details and baby steps and discipline.  And ADD especially explains why, in this world of so many choices, so much information and so many forms of entertainment and distraction, I so often feel like a kid in a carnival fun house—confused, lost and uncertain what to do next.  Serve me up some of that serotonin or dopamine or whatever it takes to stay focused. 

So far, however, my research hasn’t led me to any satisfactory forms of treatment.  The medications they have for ADD sound a tad scary, and I never seem to remember to  meditate on a daily basis.  But knowledge is power. And the more I learn about the condition, the more I can learn to work, write and live with it.  After many years of feeling frustrated with myself, this fact alone brings me a sense of peace and optimism.  

I share this story with you today in case you, too, have been hard on yourself for not writing consistently, or for procrastinating on something you know you want to accomplish.  Maybe you have valid reasons—perhaps even medical ones.  Do your homework, try to learn as much about yourself as you can and, most of all, try to be patient with yourself. 

Oh, and if you hear a commercial that sounds like it pertains to you, try to pay attention to it. 

Here’s to your writing success. 

Mary Anne

Monday Miscellany for October 26, 2009

Hello:

I’m bringing you a handful of contests in this week’s Monday Miscellany.  Be sure to let us know if you win any of them!

Here’s to your writing success,

Mary Anne

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So You Want To Be A Travel Writer? Writing Competition

The British Guild of Travel Writers has announced that as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, it is launching a new travel writing competition for unpublished travel writers.The competition is open to all writers aged over 18 who have not been published [paid work] in the travel field. 800-word article with the theme: A Very Special Place. Closing date is December 31, 2009. First prize: Four-day travel trip to Istanbul, Turkey.

For more information, go to http://www.bgtw.org/2010/index.php

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Review Fuse’s Book 1st Chapter Contest – November 2009

This contest is open to all authors. All submissions must be posted and assigned critiques completed by November 30, 2009. Your chapter must be 10,000 words or fewer. You may post additional chapters to this site for critique, but only one chapter  will be eligible for the contest.  $50 first place prize.

Find out more at http://www.reviewfuse.com/blog/2009/09/book-1st-chapter-contest-november-2009/#

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Abbey Hill Literary seeks short fiction submissions in most genres that incorporate one of the writing challenges listed on http://www.ahliterary.com. Prizes total $425 USD, entry feeis $10, or $20 for single entry PLUS critique. Length: up to 1500 words. Electronic entries preferred. Current deadline: 11/30/09.

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Elle Magazine and Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron present The Love, Loss and What I Wore Contest

What item of clothing makes you remember your first love, your worst love, your best friend, your mother? What were you wearing when the most embarrassing thing in the world happened? Or the most wonderful? What clothes changed your life or your identity? Bras, bikinis, bomber jackets, tube tops, stillettos—whatever. Tell us your story in 500 words or less and you may be selected to win a trip to New York to see your story adapted and performed for one night in Love, Loss and What I Wore, the new off-Broadway play by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron. Submit your entry by October 31, 2009.  Hurry to http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/Love-Loss-and-What-I-Wore-Contest/Official-Rules-for-the-Love-Loss-and-What-I-Wore-Contest-at-ELLE for more details.

What’s This “WriteSuccess Marketplace” About?

When designing the new WriteSuccess blog site, I initially created a “WriteSuccess Store” category primarily to post links to books, courses, programs and products I’ve found during my online travels that I hoped would help writers launch and/or develop more successful writing careers. 

And while I still intend to do that, I’ve decided to expand the category to make it even more interactive and, hopefully, useful to writers of all kinds and at all levels of experience;  rather than simply a store for writers, I now envision this section as a marketplace–a place where you, as WriteSuccess readers, can showcase your own books, products, courses, sites and services for writers, as well as ask about or share writing resources with each other.

What does this mean?  It means that if you have any product or service that can help advance the career of any writer, we’ll share it here.  Are you a publisher? Proofreader? Coach?  Have you written one or more books about writing or for writers?  Do you teach a writing course or offer a writing workshop?  Then send me information via email at MaryAnneHahn1@aol.com , and we’ll post it in the store so that other WriteSuccess readers and visitors can learn about you and your product or service.

Or is there something you would like to know more about?  Would you like advice from other writers about the best books, programs, courses or forums out there?  Then post your questions to the WriteSuccess Marketplace and see what your fellow WS readers have to recommend. 

Does this sound like it will be a fun and helpful service for you?  Or do you have other ideas of what you would like to see posted here?  By all means, let me know!  This is a brand new concept and direction for me, so I am wide open for suggestions!

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