Taken almost entirely from the neurodivergent writing guide by Rua Mae Williams et al, though I hope to expand/refine with my own thoughts and experiences as I have them.

Inertia can be at start (blank page, head empty), or for stopping or switching tasks
Entropy is the external static counterpoint to inertia
Quantum entanglement means that I am not bound by the rules of classical rhetoric. I can write in a way that feels chaotic and non-linear. If someone wants me to write classically, it's up to me if I want to revise my writing to meet that criteria. I'm not bad, my writing is not worse, for not meeting neurotypical expectations.

Mental

Don't aim for perfection
Start where the inertia is smallest
Write yourself questions to answer for different parts
Acknowledge in a note what isn't working/is frustrating about a section and come back later
Identify sources of fear or uncertainty. Address it as possible, acknowledge the limitations and move forward.
If you really hate the material, reframe doing the work from dread to spite. I'll fucking show them how smart I am!
Find a personal connection to the material to help ground
Acknowledge that sometimes the work we're doing feels insignificant given the state of the world, then move forward with the goal of at least making this tiny corner of the world a better place
Can you connect this work to the larger struggle somehow, even if that connection doesn't appear in the work?

Environmental

Cleaning a space can help organize and quiet the mind
Set a clear physical boundary around study/writing space
Keep a doc open for random intrusive thoughts so they don't get lost
Consider doing some work in a different location like a coffee shop if that would help
Environment includes time as well as space: use pomodoro
Put study time on your calendar and stick to it, even if the time isn't spent productively
But if you consistently can't work at a specific time, try a different one

Body

Recognize physical sensations while working in the space. Lean into them, ignore them, change the environment as needed
Consider writing on paper, mind mapping by hand, drawing ideas instead of converting to words, recording audio or video, image collage
Instead of writing straight prose, have a conversation with yourself
You're allowed to be comfortable, but not too comfortable
Use rituals to help produce focus state
Take a walk, exercise can help thinking
Read the document aloud/use TTS
Print it and mark it up in pen
Use editing tools like comment and suggestion rather than editing in place
Edit out of order

Social

Study group! Body doubling/accountability, shared deadlines
Ask people for specific feedback (structure, word choice, grammar, citation formatting)
Use Feynman Technique to help ideas coalesce and communicate more clearly
Give each other grace

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