How many unfinished projects sit on your hard drive right now?

We all know the feeling. You get a spark of inspiration at 3 AM. You map out the entire idea. You start with intensity. Then time passes. The dopamine fades. And that brilliant idea becomes another file in the “doom pile” of things we started but never finished.

But what happens when you refuse to let the idea die?

What happens when you hyperfocus on a single story for five years straight?

Watch and/or Listen to the Full Episode!

The Context & Sponsor Integration

My guest today proves that finishing a massive project with ADHD is possible. Steele Z.H. is the author of the debut novel “What the City Said.” He didn’t write this book in a weekend. He spent five years crafting a complex, gritty world that reflects the struggles of modern America.

We talk about how he managed to keep his brain engaged for half a decade. We discuss the realities of mental health, the struggle of masculinity, and why trauma sometimes forces us to level up.

This season of The Vibe With Ky is proudly sponsored by Sucreabeille. They are an indie perfume house that understands the power of storytelling. They don’t create generic scents. They create stories in a bottle.

If you are part of the neurodivergent family, you need to check out my collaboration scent with them. It is called Why Did I Walk Into This Room?. It smells like cherry pie, cinnamon, and pure acceptance. It is my daily go-to for grounding myself when my brain feels scattered.

The “Chapter” Strategy for ADHD Brains

Writing a novel sounds like climbing Mount Everest without oxygen. For an ADHD brain, the idea of sticking to one narrative for years seems impossible. Steele found a workaround that played to his strengths rather than his weaknesses.

He didn’t try to write one long, continuous slog. Instead, he broke the book into 26 chapters, treating each one as its own individual story with different characters and genres.

Steele explained it like this: “I tried to mash so many different genres into this… the kid story, if you just focus on that, that’s like a coming of age story. And then the detective story is like a murder mystery story.”

By shifting the genre and focus every few weeks, he tricked his brain into thinking he was starting a new project. He satisfied the craving for novelty while still building toward a single finished product.

The “Two Miles” Analogy for Trauma

We often look at difficult situations as roadblocks. We think that if life were easier, we would get further. Steele challenged that perspective with a concept he calls the “two miles” analogy.

He said: “If you had to go two miles, you would drive. So going the two miles would be quicker than going one mile if you walked.”

The logic is simple but profound. A harder situation (two miles) forces you to adapt and use a faster tool (the car). A “easier” situation (one mile) might leave you walking and taking longer to arrive.

Trauma and difficulty force us to adapt. They force us to find tools and strengths we would never pick up if the road were easy. Steele’s own journey of moving back home during the pandemic wasn’t a setback. It was the “two miles” that forced him to sit down and finally write his magnum opus.

Masculinity and the Mask

One of the most compelling characters in Steele’s book is Detective Julian Yang. Steele uses this character to explore the heavy burden of masking. Yang is a closeted gay man working in a hyper-masculine environment in the 90s and 2000s. He overcompensates by trying to be the toughest guy in the room.

Steele noted: “He does everything he can to be like, no, I’m this masculine detective… and he puts all of his work into his job to solve this case, to prove something to himself.”

This resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt the need to hide a part of themselves to survive in a workplace or social circle. We mask to feel safe. But that mask often becomes a cage.

Get the Book!

Steele’s book is available now. If you like gritty stories that tackle classism, corruption, and the gray morality of survival, you need to pick this up.

  • Book: “What the City Said”
  • Author: Z.S. Henrix (Steele Z.H.)
  • Get it here: Amazon Link
  • Follow Steele: @steele.z.h.

Stop looking at your difficult circumstances as a reason to stop. Look at them as the reason to drive.

If you are facing a “two mile” day today, do not try to walk it. Find the vehicle. Find the adaptation. Use the difficulty as fuel to get there faster than you would have on an easy day.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed mental health professional. I am a guy sharing my story and the stories of others. Please seek professional help if you are struggling.

Much love. Good vibes. – Ky