Neurodivergent Narratives - Writing Prompt #9

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” —Rainer Maria Rilke

It’s a new calendar year and while the date change might be arbitrary it can still be a reason to commit to a new habit. Yesterday, one of the Neurodivergent Narratives participants shared a bit of writing with me where she disclosed writing was her special interest. (It’s mine too!) but worried it wasn’t special enough because so many people write and many people surely write better than she does, but she claimed it as a special interest because for her it is a survival skill. This struck such a cord with me because writing is a survival skill for me too. I struggle with alexithymia and writing helps me to figure out how I feel and what I think. It helps me stay sane and regulated.

I’m going to be honest with you. When we interview a guest about Magic The Gathering or exotic Shrimp Breeding, I often wish THOSE were my special interests. Matt’s incredible collections of Autistic Superhero toys seem so much better than my collections of books and journals. How come I’m the kind of Autistic that has writing, reading, and alphabetizing books as my special interest? Why couldn’t I get rollercoasters or bridges?

Becoming the best writer I can be is my special interest and maybe it’s yours too, or maybe you just see how being a better writer could be a survival skill. If that’s you, maybe an arbitrary flip of the calendar year could be inspiration enough to join us in the Neurodivergent Narratives writing circle. There is no course to study, no deadlines, and no assignments. It’s just a space to practice without pressure. Every week, Paid Supporters get exclusive prompts, thoughtful writing advice, and the chance to connect with a community of writers who just get it. This week’s prompt might just be the spark that lights your creative fire.

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