Writing and ADHD, a Guest Post by Sarah Lampkin
Congrats to author Sarah Lampkin on the release of the third installment in her Dead Dreamer series, To Reap the Spirit! Read on for Lampkin’s guest post ad an excerpt from her new book. And don’t forget to sign up for the Giveaway!
Writing and ADHD
Around the age of 14, my mom took me to a behavior therapist for the first time and that was when I was officially diagnosed with ADHD. After many fights and arguments over grades and studying, we finally had an answer as to why I couldn’t do things the same way as my older sister. It also explained my day dreaming.
Being a young teenage girl, daydreaming is a common occurrence and not something that would raise alarm. But my ability to be so completely lost in thought and in my own world happened far too often and during situations that got me into trouble. For instance, I was constantly lost while in school, as my brain believed my own world was more interesting.
While using my sketch book as my outlet, I started to describe to my parents the stories behind my terribly drawn people…but I wouldn’t stop. There were times when I would start telling a story and no matter what my parents did to change the subject or stop me, I had no control over my own voice.
That’s when a suggestion was made: Write your stories.
I don’t remember who suggested it. I just know that I was never motivated to finish anything until I started writing. It became the perfect outlet for the ideas that were always in the forefront of my mind, distracting me from everything else. That’s when my life began to change for the better. I was finally learning how to live a healthy and productive life with ADHD without medication.
With each new story, I was able to hyper focus on my writing. So, when the time came to go to school or work on homework, I was suddenly able to focus on the work at hand without getting easily distracted by everything else going on. Somehow, writing became the therapy I needed to be successful at everything in my life. Of course, I still struggle with some things, but not as much as I did before as a young teen or child.
Writing was my life saver.
Sanguis daretur. Ignis invocavit.
To Reap the Spirit is the third installment in the haunting Dead Dreamer series.
About the Book:
Somehow Brenna Whit has survived to her junior year at Nephesburg College. Despite all odds, she’s fought against the Gatekeepers and lived. But the battle for the Fade has only just begun.
New pieces have been added to the board.
The Fade opens to the Veil.
And a Shade from the past returns.
With Brenna’s secret out, everyone is after her: dead and living alike. Those from across the sea have come and they’re determined to regain control of their broken faction.
Questions will be answered.
Fires will be lit.
Chaos will reign.
Excerpt:
“You’ve been reckless,” said a voice.
Looking next to me, I saw another one of those things—Reapers. It was the same who had rescued me from George. Her native skin glowed in the night, her long dark hair sitting gently over her shoulders.
“Are you Catori?” I asked, remembering the name from George’s journals.
She shook her head. “Spirit Walkers cannot become one of us. I was her sister. But in all of the time I have been collecting souls, I have never seen this happen.”
Staring down at my body, I asked, “Seeing a Dead Dr—Spirit Walker die?”
The woman placed her hand gently onto my body’s chest. Watching her, I realized what she was talking about. My chest was still rising and falling—breathing.
The woman chuckled, “Your soul is quite perturbed.” I joined her in a dry laugh.
“I’d imagine so. This is all she’s ever wanted.”
Shaking her head, the woman stepped back. “I cannot take this soul. You must fix this.”
“Brenna?”
Will approached my body. “What are you doing? Aren’t you freezing?”
The woman was gone when he called. I could only stand there as Will began to worry.
Amidst his panic, there was only one place I wanted to go. I couldn’t explain it, but it felt as though something was calling to me, beckoning me home. In the blink of an eye, I was no longer standing next to my body.
About the Author:
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Sarah Lampkin is a 2015 graduate from Lynchburg College [University of Lynchburg] with a master’s degree in English. Since graduation, Sarah now lives in Northern Virginia working in the IT field as a Technical Writer while continuing her research for her graduate school thesis. When she isn’t working, Sarah continues her Celtic mythology research and Gaelic studies, while working on the Dead Dreamer series.
Find out More About Sarah Lampkin:
Website: https://dead-dreamer.com/about/