Creativity Doesn’t Have to Start from Scratch
Blank pages are terrifying. AI gives ADHD brains a head start — without stealing the steering wheel.
Let’s be real: blank pages are the worst.
They feel full of possibility, but also full of pressure.
The minute you open a new document, your brain whispers:
“Make it good.”
“Make it matter.”
“Make it perfect.”
And if you’re anything like me (or most people with ADHD), that voice doesn’t exactly help you get started.
It freezes you.
It makes the creative process feel like a test you’re about to fail — before you even type a single word.
✋ But What If We Don’t Start from Scratch?
This is the part where AI — particularly tools like ChatGPT — can become your creative ally.
No judgment. No deadlines. No red pens.
Just a blank slate that talks back and says, “What if we tried this?”
I used to think using AI for writing or creative work was “cheating.” Like if it didn’t come from me, it didn’t count.
But here’s what I’ve learned after dozens of projects, experiments, and days where I just couldn’t get my brain in gear:
Starting with something is always better than staring at nothing.
It’s not cheating — it’s collaboration.
You’re not replacing your ideas.
You’re giving them a place to land.
🎯 Reframing the Creative Process
The old way of creating — “sit down and come up with something brilliant out of thin air” — doesn’t work for most ADHD brains. It assumes linear thinking, consistent motivation, and a predictable energy level.
LOL. No.
Instead, I started asking AI to help me start messy.
I give it a direction, and it gives me something to react to. That’s when the real creativity kicks in.
🧪 Try This Prompt:
“I want to write/make/design something about [insert topic or idea]. I’m feeling stuck. Can you give me a rough first draft, loose outline, or brainstorm list to get me going?”
It’s low-pressure. No expectations. You can reject everything it gives you — but at least now you’re not starting from zero.
✍️ Real-Life Example:
When I wanted to write about how routines work (and don’t work) for ADHD, I couldn’t find the hook. I stared at the cursor for 15 minutes. Nothing.
So I told ChatGPT:
“Can you write a few rough opening paragraphs for an article about ADHD and routines — like how we love them and resist them at the same time?”
It gave me a version that wasn’t me, but had structure. I edited it. I made it weirder. I added personal stories. In the end, it was 100% mine — but I wouldn’t have gotten there without that initial scaffold.
🧠 Why It Works for ADHD
Here’s the thing most people forget:
Creativity isn’t about brilliance. It’s about momentum.
ADHD brains are reactive and dynamic. We come alive when we’re bouncing off something — an idea, a draft, a half-formed sentence.
AI gives you that thing to bounce off of — instantly, without judgment, and with endless patience.
And unlike a friend or collaborator, it doesn’t need a calendar invite or a favor in return.
✨ Bonus: You’re Still in Control
One of the biggest myths about AI and creativity is that it “takes over.”
But you’re not handing it the keys — you’re letting it open the passenger door so you don’t have to drive alone.
You can say:
“I hate that version, try again.”
“Can you make this more casual?”
“This doesn’t sound like me — try it more like a text message.”
“Add more emotion.”
“Cut the fluff.”
It listens. You steer.
💬 What creative thing are you trying to make right now — a post, a course, a comic, a story, a brand?
Try one of the prompts above and see what happens.
Then come back and tell me how far you got once you weren’t starting from zero.
– Jody