Autism And The Myth of Success (Episode 146)

Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity!

Autism And The Myth of Success (Episode 146) - Writing Prompt #34

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Autism And The Myth of Success (Episode 146) - Writing Prompt #34

In Episode 146 Dr Angela and Christina Sokora Jovovich talk the myth of 'success' and announce last week's Neurodivergent Narratives Contest winners and reveals your next prompt!

Simon Scott

Jul 04, 2025

Transcript

An episode that rewrites what “Success” means for autistic writers!

In Episode 146 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon is joined by Christina Sokora Jovovich, a gifted autistic writer, poet, and fiber artist, to dive into the meaning of “success” through the lens of neurodivergent experience.

This conversation explores how writing can be both a healing tool and a radical act of self-definition for neurodivergent people. From redefining creative productivity to unmasking through memoir, Christina and Angela break down internalized ableism, the pressure of neurotypical success standards, and the value of sensory-soothing creative practices like knitting and journaling.

All this, and we announce our amazing winners from our eighth writing contest!

Here are our top two entries.

OUR WINNER 🥇
Goldilocks - Girl Misunderstood
By Bragitta Ozhga

THE RUNNER UP 🥈
Konstantin Levin
By Louise Lomas

Congrats to our winners! You can see their stories here .

Read The Winners

Here’s what we cover in today’s episode:

How the neurodivergent brain resists conventional “productivity” advice like “write every day”.
Why creative rituals like knitting aren’t distractions—they’re essential nervous system regulation tools.
The myth of external success (publication, money, recognition) vs. the reality of internal success (healing, expression, connection).
Spoon theory and how neurodivergent people can intentionally build energy through special interests.
How the need for a concrete audience affects autistic writers and their process.
What predictably comforting environments and sensory supports (like pets) do for autistic creativity.

Christina Socorro Yovovich is a writer of poetry and creative nonfiction. Her poetry has been featured in literary journals including Blue Mesa Review, River Styx, and Mothers Always Write, while her nonfiction work has appeared in publications such as The Hunger, Cagibi, and MUTHA Magazine. Christina is currently working on a memoir exploring the complexities of parenting while living with bipolar disorder. Her writing is known for its emotional honesty, lyrical depth, and insight into the lived experience of mental health and motherhood.

Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ Contest

A contest with some mystery to it.

PROMPT: There's an unexpected knock at the door! Use that as the jumping-off point for a piece of writing.

Use the classic horror trope of an unexpected knock at the door as the jumping-off point for a new piece of writing. Let the question of who—or what—knocks guide your narrative in the genre of your choosing.

⚠️Your mystery may not be any longer than 500 words.

This isn’t therapy.
This is voice reclamation.

Submit entry.
Let Your Voice Be Heard.

💌 Good luck, writers. We’re saving you a seat.

Submit Your Entry

THE ESSENTIALS:
🖊️ Open to: Everyone
🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, July 9th at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK
💷 Prize: £10 each week
📘 Publication: Winning entries go on our Substack and in the annual Neurodivergent Narratives anthology

THE RULES:
No Plagiarism
No Hate Speech
No Explicit or Graphic Content
Submit as many times as you wish
You do not need to be present or subscribe to participate
Entries after the deadline will not be considered
All decisions are final
Full Contest Rules are here.

Use the hashtag #whocanitbenow? on social media to share this contest.

Submit Your Entry Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbKx9Hz1PzV7-7V9eEV70_Dj4L_5HetAopjzmbZjVhA-yuCA/viewform

Resources:

📸 Instagram: @cyovovich
📚 Published Works: christinasocorroyovovich.com/list-of-publications
🎧 Christina’s Podcast: Watch and Listen Here
🎧 Podcast Guest Appearance:
“Discovering a Grounded Joy” on the Therapeutic Knitting Podcast
Listen Here
🧶 Featured Article in Ply Magazine:
“The Woolly Animal of Dawn”
Read the Piece
Join her on YouTube for a Knit and Chat:
Check out her guest sermon at my Unitarian Universalist church: