Writing Memoir with Aletha Shapiro (Episode 138)

Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity!

Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30

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Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30

In Episode 138 Angela chats with Alethea Shapiro and announces last week's Neurodivergent Narratives Contest winners and reveals your next prompt!

Simon Scott

Jun 06, 2025

Transcript

An episode that shared its story with the world!

In Episode 138 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Alethea Shapiro, who is currently in England as she writes her memoir, to discuss why memoir is probably the hardest or most demanding genre to break into in terms of how good and polished your writing skills need to be.

Plus, we announce our amazing winners from our fourth writing contest!

Here are our top two entries.

OUR WINNER 🥇
"She Wants Her Floodplains Back"
by Hedda Asklund

THE RUNNER UP 🥈
Home Is Where The Heart Is’
by Ryan Gillis

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

Read The Winners

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

We read our winners from the fourth writing prompt for Neurodivergent Narratives and announce our 1st and 2nd prize winners.

Why Memoir Is So Demanding (If You’re Not Famous)

Memoir requires introspection, structure, and emotional honesty, all at once.
You must shape real life into a coherent story with meaning, not just a series of events.
Readers expect literary quality, emotional depth, and strong narrative arcs.
Without a public platform, your writing must carry the entire weight of the book—there’s no “celebrity curiosity” to fill in the gaps.

Why Genre Fiction Can Be Easier to Break Into.

Genres like romance and mystery are built around well-known formulas and reader expectations:
- Romance: meet-cute → tension → conflict → resolution → happily ever after.
- Mystery: crime → investigation → twists → reveal.
These genres provide a roadmap, which helps writers focus on execution rather than invention.
Readers of these genres often seek familiarity and satisfaction, not literary innovation.
Because the structure is shared, you can get better by copying, testing, and iterating, and there’s a massive market to enter.

Make a Choice: What Kind of Writer Are You Right Now?

Option 1: Write for Fun + Self-Publish

You're writing because it feels good and you have something to say.
You’re open to experimenting, learning by doing, and sharing your voice without pressure.
You may self-publish or blog your work.
Key insight: The more you write, the better you get—and that’s enough.

Option 2: Commit to a Literary Career

You treat writing as a serious craft—memoir is your art form.
You find joy and pleasure in studying structure, style, and voice.
You seek out editing, workshops, critique, and growth over time.
You may aim for traditional publication or hybrid publishing with literary integrity as your guide.

Neither Is "Better"—But They Are Different Paths

Confusion happens when you expect literary outcomes from casual effort, writing casually but feel guilty for not being “serious.”
Be honest about your goals and capacity, especially if you're neurodivergent and balancing energy differently.
Decide what success looks like for you, not for a hypothetical industry gatekeeper.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. But clarity is kindness to yourself and your reader.

Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: The “Family Secret” Contest

Write where you are. No, literally.

PROMPT: Write about a secret—real or imagined—that upends a family.

⚠️Your micro-drama 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, June 11th 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.