Why accepting my AuDHD diagnosis

has made me a better Writer – by M.A. Hunter

In the last 15 years I have written over thirty full-length novels, with my 27th (THE WOMAN ON PLATFORM 8) published on 31 March 2025. I’ve topped the Kindle charts, made enough in royalties to require annual self-assessment with HMRC, and attended various writing festivals. In addition, I have a full-time job, a mortgage, am married and have two children. If you were asked to imagine what a neurodivergent character looked like, I wouldn’t fit that mould. But in the last two years, I have been formally diagnosed as both Autistic and with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

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It is estimated that more than one in seven people in the UK is neurodivergent***, and that number is increasing year-on-year as more become aware of the common traits and challenges that exist for those born with that neurotype. The volume of people seeking assessment and diagnosis for these conditions is also increasing with NHS waiting lists years long in some parts of the country.

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Autism and ADHD are both recognised as disabilities in the UK because of the significant, lifelong challenges inherent with these neurotypes: communication difficulties; staying focused; easily distracted; hypersensitivity to stimuli and perceived rejection; requiring routine. Becoming a professional writer would appear to be a poor choice for someone with such struggles.

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I can quickly become overwhelmed by unclear communication, changes to my routine, and am hypersensitive to both noise and light. Attending writing festivals where I’m expected to socialise with other authors in loud and confined spaces fills me with dread and leaves me wiped out for weeks, which is why I’m very particular about where and when I attend festivals. Conversely, I love being on and moderating panels in front of a large audience, and you can’t do one without the other, so ‘small talk’ becomes a necessary evil despite how much of a challenge it presents. And don’t get me started on how I feel physical pain when I read bad reviews of my books.

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And since my diagnosis in December 2023, I’ve accepted that I am different, and that it is okay. Heck, I would argue I am a better writer because of the differences in how my brain processes information. Alone in a room with just a keyboard and my playlist and I come alive.

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It was only after my diagnosis, and accepting my traits and differences that I realised just how many of the characters in my previous books probably also have neurodivergent challenges. And so, I made the conscious decision to write a character who is openly autistic. The Woman on Platform 8 is my first to feature an openly autistic character, because there are not enough openly autistic characters accurately portrayed in literature at present, and I not only want to raise awareness of divergent neurotypes, but also to encourage acceptance. Whilst more people are starting to understand what autism can look like, thanks to social media and shows like Atypical, The Good Doctor, and Patience, there is still a lack of acceptance of how much more challenging life can be.

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There are so many stereotypes of how autistic individuals look and behave, but there is no one way for an autistic character to be written, and so I want readers to understand that how my protagonist reacts to certain situations and describes her challenges are unique to her. She may not mirror readers’ own experiences of autism (whether they are autistic or know / care for an autistic individual). And that’s okay. She is a character unlike any I have written before, and I hope her story will help shine a light on the importance of understanding and acceptance.

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The average Sunday Times Bestseller is committed to writing one book a year, so it always panics me when other authors ask how quickly I write, because when I tell them I write 2-3 books a year, their faces drop. And when I add that I also have a fulltime job and a young family to support, I quickly become the most hated person in the room. They can’t understand how it is possible, but I write about two thousand words in a little over an hour each morning before I start work and produce a decent first draft within nine to ten weeks. But I can’t understand how their brains can’t see the characters and scenes slotting together like a jigsaw puzzle. I know I wouldn’t have this creative ability without Autism and ADHD, and I wouldn’t swap my brain for anything.

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I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a vivid imagination; all my primary school reports stated as much. It means I have new ideas for books all the time. Once my agent and editor have helped me choose which idea to pursue, I’m able to map out the story, scene-by-scene, like watching a Netflix drama on a screen in my head (I even picture the actors who would be used in the potential television adaptation). I write bullet points of what happens in each scene / chapter as I go, and when it comes to writing they serve as a reminder of what happens in the scene and all I have to do is describe what I’m seeing on the screen in my head. During that period, I’m able to shut out the real world with music pumped through noise-cancelling headphones, and hyperfocus on the story.

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I have spoken to many authors about my writing process, and many resonate with my experience. I’d go so far as to say that there are probably more authors with neurodivergent minds than not. Our need to create stories to entertain is deep-rooted in our DNA; it’s what we were born to do. If you can find the environment that works for you, you might be surprised how productive you can also be.

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M.A. Hunter is the author of several psychological thrillers and The Woman on Platform 8 is published in ebook, paperback and audio book on 31 March 2025. M.A. Hunter will be appearing at CrimeFest Bristol in May 2025.

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*** Local Government Association