If you wrote an autobiography
envirozentinel
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I've actually written one. The publisher liked it and shortlisted it, but the team could only pick 3 out of 30 and so although she pitched its merits to her staff it didn't make it. But she says I must try other publishers, as she said she said I clearly have a gift for writing.
It's a general story about growing up from the pre-school years and covering every part of my life including the PTSD which eventually led to my AS diagnosis and everything since. It includes some anecdotes about my BF, some poetry, a tribute to my beloved Min Pin Benji who helped me emotionally through an incredibly tough time, and some excerpts from my fantasy book for kids, and from my blogs. There's also a large part describing the spectrum in detail, and tribute paid to a number of folk who are on the spectrum and who have made the world a better place.
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Last edited by envirozentinel on 06 Nov 2020, 4:18 am, edited 1 time in total.: added info
envirozentinel
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Quoting myself, my aim would be to create a book that anyone can read and enjoy who is in the hobby, but at the same time I will be hoping to reach those who are on the spectrum who do not know it.
The problem is I can't write a book like this unless I know I am on the spectrum... Or I would be writing something like "Life as a BAP". HAHAHAHA! I think the word "Bap" is hillarious! It is funny every time I say it. Why are certain words hillarious when I say them? Not many aords do that. "BAP!" HAHAHAHA!
Sorry. I am not making fun of people who are BAPS. I just find the sound of the word funny.
I don't know what a BAP is. I only know those Scottish bread roll baps!
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Dear_one
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an autobiographical story about a mental breakdown and recovery by a probable Aspie. It was turned down by 119 publishers before selling 5 million copies. It even has tips on writing, which has a lot in common with stand-up comedy. The fine points of how the story is told matter more than the basic material.
If I were to write a book about my life with autism I don't think it would be an autobiography. Words are a necessary chore to me and not my way to communicate my memories and inner world as my deep think is not in words. I have often enjoyed reading about others stories and learned something in from them, but some I thought were so deluded I'm not sure what I thought. I believe every human needs to be known and be understood and accepted and validated, but an autobiography seems so personal and yet impersonal at the same time.
I'm not sure I understand why so many people on the spectrum feel such a strong urge to invest so much time and energy into writing their personal story. Is it the process and journey or self-discovery itself regardless of the end product? Or is it the hope of acceptance and validation. Is it a selfless gift to the world - to the unknown readers who the author will never know even read your story or how it effected them. Once someone reads your story, it no longer becomes yours, it becomes another story which disturbs me somewhat if they get it completely wrong. Does that bother anyone? For those who have invested themselves into writing their personal story please enlighten me.
Last edited by aquafelix on 06 Nov 2020, 8:14 am, edited 3 times in total.
In my case, I think it could hopefully carry some relevance to the autistic community but telling the story of being raised in a dysfunctional family. My father was a heavy drinker and was mentally absent my entire childhood and youth, and my mother abused me (threats of suicide, gaslighting, and so on). My father also physically abused my mother in front of me and appears to have raped her on at least one occasion. Writing an autobiographical story about how to survive that from an Aspie point of view could hopefully provide some guidance for both parents and children.
Well it's your book; you should write whatever you want people to know.
If I were to read such a book, I would want to read something fresh. A lot of people with AS have discussed the same stuff over and over again (like how they "always felt different"). Everybody always talks about eye contact and cliché social interactions. So a new perspective would be nice.
It seems people rarely talk about the physical, bodily experience and emotions. So I would want to read about sensory experiences and the emotional experience of meltdowns, shutdown, change in routine, etc. Also any AS-specific therapy you've had. And your opinion about AS being removed from the DSM. And I'm always interested in reading about diagnostic evaluations.
My type of book if I could and would write one.
One that pierces the veils of alexithymia and the utter overwhelm past anxieties and mental encumbrance of daily living and existence?
Attempts to describe learning disabilities/processing disorders, sensitivities/insensitivities/reactivities, subtle stuff internal/external real time stuff, weirdness and differences of EF...
With little to no attachments or priorities over personal social emotional self-other woes or cheers and how stressful life or existence circumstantial accounts and stuff?
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my book would be a true story which others would read as fiction or the writings of a delusional fantasist,
not because what i would write would be based on delusion but my life has had some very bizarre events
which can only be described as delusion to the onlooker, even though they are completely true.
I guess that's what you get for helping someone in politics. Instead of thanks. I got gang bullied on an international scale. but there ya go. i still live.
AnonymousAnonymous
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Mine would be too much of an epic for readers to take seriously, so no.
However, a potential one could focus on my adolescent years and how I had no proper masculine figure to guide me through that particular period in my life.
I was diagnosed when I was 13, approximately one year after my father passed at the age of 43.
He passed the day after I turned 12 and when word spread at my school, a pair of bullies saw it as an opportunity to make my middle school years even worse. Two teachers decided to join in, believing I made it all up to try and get attention for myself.
When I was diagnosed, I had no idea what my specialist was talking about.
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