The ADHD Guide to Writing Your Website Copy Without Wanting to Cry
Yes, writing copy is HARD (and you’re not alone in struggling).
To be honest, writing your own copy can SUCK…like pulling teeth from a dragon while the world’s on fire in the background kind of crappy. If you’ve ever sat down to write your website and ended up staring at a blank page, scrolling Instagram, or rage-quitting altogether, just know that you’re not alone! (Truly, it’s happened to the best of us)
If you’ve got ADHD, neurodivergence, or a brain that just doesn’t do traditional writing, here’s the truth: you’re not lazy or bad at writing your own copy. Writing is hard, especially when the stakes feel sky high (like, yanno, writing your business website in a way that makes you money). But with the right tools, a little grace for yourself, and a hit of dopamine during every step, you can make it easier—and maybe a little bit fun!
Quick Tip: You don’t have to write perfectly. You just have to WRITE.
Why Writing Copy Feels Like the Most Boring Homework Assignment Ever
Okay, let’s break down why writing your own website copy feels SO. FRICKEN. HARD:
Overwhelm: Where do I even start!?!?
Perfectionism: Why doesn’t this sound as good as it did in my head?
The Hyperfocus Spiral: You spend hours writing and rewriting one sentence, only to burn out and abandon the entire project.
Sound familiar? (Been there!) Good news: these are totally normal challenges, and they’re not your fault. The bad news: you can’t force yourself to sit down and write (because your ADHD doesn’t work that way), and pushing through without a strategy will make you hate yourself. Let’s fix that.
Quick Tip: Identify what’s holding you back: overwhelm, perfectionism, or hyperfocus. Knowing your specific problem makes it easier to find the solution.
Step 1: Start Messy (Otherwise You’re Never Gonna Start)
Oop, ask me how I know about this one!
Stop trying to write “perfectly” on the first go (because perfection is a myth anyway). Instead, start messy:
Open a blank word document and word vomit EVERYTHING you think you want to say (stream of consciousness highly encouraged).
Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or whether it even makes sense. Just write. (I knoooow this part is hard, especially if you’re a perfectionist girlie, but trust me…turn off autocorrect and just vibe).
This approach works because it gets the ideas out of your head and gives them a permanent place to live. You can always add to this document later with more ideas without worrying about messing anything up.
Quick Tip: I firmly believe that you can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and write without stopping. After 15 minutes, reward yourself with a dopamine hit (snack, kitty cuddles, scroll TikTok, etc).
Step 2: Use Structure to Tame Your Inner Chaos Demon
She’s a bitch, but you can defeat her!
ADHD brains thrive with a plan (even if we don’t necessarily always stick to the plan). If you’re the type of ADHD girlie who LOVES to have specific rules to follow, here are a couple frameworks you can try for your website copy:
PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solve): What’s the problem your ideal client has? Why does it suck? How do you fix it?
AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action): Grab attention, spark interest, create desire, and tell them what to do next.
Writing within a framework gives your brain much fewer choices to agonize over, which means less stress and more progress.
Quick Tip: Write one sentence for each part of the framework to start with. BOOM…instant structure! Plug in additional details from there.
Step 3: Make it ADHD-Friendly (in a Way That Works for You)
Time to embrace your quirks, babe, instead of fighting against them.
You don’t need to fight your ADHD to write copy. You need to work with it:
Write in short bursts of whatever amount of time works for you (I prefer 15 minutes, but you do you).
Use dopamine as a motivator. Blast your favorite music, listen to your favorite podcast, or bribe yourself with snacks.
Play to your strengths. ADHD brains are amazing at conversational, engaging writing. Lean into your unique writing style instead of overthinking.
Step 4: Keep it Simple…or Silly…or Both!
Here’s the thing: fancy writing doesn’t actually sell. Clear writing does. Pretend you’re talking to a friend who knows nothing about your business, and explain what you do in simple, human terms.
Skip the jargon (it’s a copy killer).
Use short sentences and bullet points.
Focus on what’s in it for the reader.
Simplicity is your best friend when writing copy that connects. But don’t forget—simple doesn’t mean boring! Feel free to liven it up with silliness, swearing, or whatever you’d like!
Quick Tip: Ask yourself “Would my bestie (or mom!) get this in 30 seconds?” If not, you need to simplify.
Step 5: Kill Your Darlings (a.k.a. Edit Like a BOSS)
Yay, it’s my favorite part, but also arguable the most difficult. After you’ve completely word vomited on your page, and then given it some structure, it’s time to cut it down to just the necessities. Here’s how:
Step away for at least 24 hours. You definitely want to edit with fresh eyes because you’re going to catch all the things that make you cringe.
Read it out loud (or use a text-to-speech tool) to check the flow of the copy.
Cut anything that feels unnecessary, confusing, or extra. And I mean ANYTHING…grab some metaphorical scissors and get ready to cut away at your copy.
Remember, your copy doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be perfectly YOU and make sense to your audience.
Quick Tip: Done is better than perfect. Don’t get stuck tweaking forever.
Build Accountability Into Your Process (Because Deadlines Alone Don’t Usually Work)
Writing your website copy on your own can feel like shouting into the void. With your ADHD, even the most urgent deadline can turn into tomorrow’s problem. That’s why I always advocate for accountability in your process. Here are some ADHD-friendly ways to make sure you actually finish:
Find a Website Buddy: Team up with a friend or fellow business owner. Cheer each other on, swap drafts, and give constructive feedback. Bonus points if they’re also neurodivergent and get your vibe!
Swap Tasks with Someone: Hate writing? Maybe your buddy hates the thing you love doing. Offer to trade services—your blog writing brilliance for their Canva design skills, for example.
Try Body Doubling: Sit down with someone (virtually or in person) while you write. They don’t have to do anything except be there—you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can get shit done!
Set Micro-Deadlines: Big projects are completely overwhelming, so break your website copywriting into bite-sized chunks. Share your progress with your accountability partner to keep you moving.
Use a Co-Working Space or Writing Group: Sometimes just being around other people who are working helps your brain shift into focus mode. ADHD brains loooove a little peer pressure.
The beauty of accountability is that it turns writing into a team effort, even if the “team” is just you and your cat staring judgmentally from the corner.
Know When to Call in a Copywriting Pro
AKA, me! Even with the tips above, sometimes writing your own website copy feels like an impossible task. That’s where I come in!
I take your brilliant, beautiful, messy ideas and turn them into clear, compelling copy that sounds like you.
Instead of spending hours agonizing over your website, you could just spend that time on things you actually enjoy!
Ready to stop crying over your keyboard? Let’s chat about how I can help!
You’ve Got This, My Beautiful Chicken Nugget!
Writing copy with an ADHD brain isn’t about being perfect, it’s about finding what works for you. So grab your favorite snack, play your hype song, and start messy! And if it still feels impossible? I’ve got your back!
Let’s make your copy bold, clear, and as amazing as you are!
