508 | Channeling your ADHD Energy into Writing with Edward Savio

In today’s episode, Eric is joined by Edward Savio!  Edward is a dad, has ADHD, wrote a musical, and grew up in Connecticut; after Howard University, Edward moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting, where he became a 10-year overnight success!  Savio’s first novel, Idiots in the Machine, was picked up by Sony Pictures from the academy award-winning producers of Forest Gump.

After more deals with Sony, Disney, and others, Edward shifted his focus  writing novels so he could spend more time with his family.  He wrote his first three novels in the home overlooking San Francisco Bay, where Danielle Steel wrote her first two breakout novels.  He also once nearly drove Val Kilmer off a cliff!  

• Learn more about Edward at his website: EdwardSavio.com (click here!)

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Questions/Topics: 

• [00:01:32] Introducing Edward
  • Mentioned here: Book - Idiots in the Machine (click here!) 
• [00:02:50] How Edward became successful and a writer and managing ADHD 
• [00:04:45] Routine, resistance, novelty, and plateauing
• [00:06:03] How to revisit a project that’s been put away for a while 
• [00:09:10] Misunderstandings in writing and why inflection matters
• [00:10:50] Struggles with transitions 
• [00:14:09] Getting help and taking action 
• [00:15:04] Edward shares some of his writing process and mitigating distractions 
• [00:21:23] Systems, built-in overhead, and a question about calendars 
• [00:25:37] Planning for and putting fun stuff on your calendar, and guilt when not engaging with goal-directed behavior 
• [00:29:04] “Do you know how many people said they wished they worked more?” and a creative person’s struggle 
• [00:31:04] “I want to make sure [...] my writing does not overtake my ability to interact with people.” - Edward 
• [00:33:00] Goals, good ideas, and basketball in the office 
• [00:37:43] Tips for when your brain is faster than you can write and organizing thoughts 
• [00:41:51] When you don’t want to write, do this. 
• [00:42:52] What else has Edward been up to? 
  • Mentioned here: Book - The Velvet Sledgehammer (click here!)
• [00:47:11] Closing thoughts & where to find more from Edward 

Resources & Honorable Mentions:

• ADHD reWired: Episode 497: Succeed in College with Hannah Choi (click here!)

• Book: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware (click here!)

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