glider18's Wonderful World of Autism

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Thank you Batz for sharing and for your words of encouragement. As for your plot---wow, it should be incredibly interesting indeed---and challenging (in a fun way) to write. It sounds as though you have the motivation to complete it. And, having multiple books sounds like a good way to go with it. It is interesting how after you write out a summary of a plot, you have some areas that you still have to figure out. I have had that happen with my story---which will be in several books.

Something to think about: Sometimes when we write complex works like yours, and mine, we might want to think about the story in reverse. Think about the ending you want---at the end of the last book. Then, think about several different ways in which you could get to that ending. Each of those possibilities can be analyzed by you---then you can select the one that is the most effective for your story. I often feel like many novels and motion pictures are dealt with in this way. Of course, many times though, an author begins the story and then contemplates several different endings. But, I think the writing in reverse method is something you might think about. However, it sounds as though from your plot summary that you have most of the plot figured out. And it sounds like an excellent plot that would require careful reading. One would not want to miss out on crucial details in their reading. That is kind of how my story is.

Your mention of a schedule for writing is the correct method. I have a book by an expert on writing novels who says that we need to maintain a strict schedule in writing novels. Therefore, if one hour in the morning is your time to write---it should always be one hour in the morning.

How is my novel coming? Well, I seem to be stopped at 150 and some pages at the moment. But, my motivation is strong. I am going with my wife to Chicago (she has a business conference) in a couple weeks. The kids are staying with grandparents. We will be there for a week. So I am going to use the time she is in conference through the day to work on my novel. Hopefully the hotel room environment will be nice for me to work on it.

No need to apologize for your post---it was interesting. Thank you.

I thought of how my book ends by accident. I can see a movie trailer of both my books in my mind, which helps me come up with ideas which fill the book up. I'm so glad that I have a visual mind. Would you like me to PM you my brief story plot? I feel a bit apprehensive to post it, because I don't want my idea stolen.

Hi Pensieve---that is a great way to visualize the novel with the movie trailer. I have sometimes thought of my story as a movie coming on, but not as a trailer. I will try to imagine that as I try to get to sleep in a few minutes. I hope I can dream my trailer. Thanks for that idea.

As for your novel summary---pm would be great. I will share mine too---although I am not too sure on my ending yet---I still can't figure out exactly what the climax and resolution is going to be.

pensieve wrote:

I thought of how my book ends by accident. I can see a movie trailer of both my books in my mind, which helps me come up with ideas which fill the book up. I'm so glad that I have a visual mind. Would you like me to PM you my brief story plot? I feel a bit apprehensive to post it, because I don't want my idea stolen.
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You can PM it to me and glider if you want to. I'm interested of what your novel's about. I'm sure glider won't mind too.

As for me, yesterday I saw Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It was an exciting movie, but man, some things had no relevence to the movie, and the movie had the worst ending to me. Like the robot humping the girl or the showing of one guy's underwear and butt. Do we really need to see that? And the humor seemed forced to me. It seems as if they wanted to please serious people, but at the same time they wanted to please comedic people. And the ending--oh the ending. I won't tell you what happened since it'll spoil the movie.

glider18 wrote:



Yeah, for complex stories thinking about the ending of the last book first is best for me too. I thought out most of the general plots and the main characters of each book, I just have to work on the cultures and details of each time period in the books. I actually have two books just for this saga: The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference and How to write Science Fiction and Fantasy. These should help me construct my world further and provide me inspiration.

A thing I might think that'll help in writing a complex story: Some writers say it's easier to write about a place you've made up if you draw a map of it. They say it's better because you can visualize it and you can plot each culture's location(s), district, street, and building of the town. Then when you write the story it'll be more consistent than instead of writing it by memory or an outline. Of course, this is what I heard, but I'm going to try it after I think about my cultures. As of right now i'm thinking of putting Celtic, Ancient Egyptian, Hittite, and Japanese cultures in the story. I'm thinking of the others, but I know for sure I don't want to put Norse culture in there (so many stories are based off of Norse and Northern Medieval Europe.) Well then again, I can put some aspects of Norse in my culture.

As for working on my writing, I bought a planner so I can get my chores and writing done. I'm probably start in the morning since this sounds like the best time for me to start outlining, researching, and--of course--writing. Should be fun. I think God answered my prayer on this one.

Glad to hear you're going to Chicago. You'll have lots of time to write your novel. It can also be a great time for more inspirations to come into your next books.

Yes Batz, I am hoping the Chicago trip will be beneficial for me to make progress on the novel. I believe it will. Those books you have on writing science fiction sound nice. My story has science fiction elements to it, but in many ways it is a horror story with fantasy mixed in. But, if I had to label it, I would call it Sci-Fi/Horror.

The map idea is a good one. I had originally made a map of the housing subdivision for my main character, but I changed the location when I started the writing of the novel---so that map is obsolete. Now, after you mentioned the map, I should go back and make maps for the settings. One thing I have done, and this may sound bizarre, I have bought the blueprints for the mansions that are used in my story. Three of the mansions are houses I used to obsess over when I was a teenager. And two of them were no longer shown in the house plan books---so I called the companies and they sold me them. One of them I have around 8 copies of blueprints for, and the other I have a couple copies. The third mansion I obsessed over is still sold---I got four copies of that one. The fourth and fifth mansions I got off of Ebay at cheap prices. So there I have it---the Five Mansions of my story. The Five Mansions are connected via the time portal even though they are located far away from each other in places like California, Florida, and here in Ohio.

And now to sound even more bizarre. One of the main characters takes a trip with a relative in an old travel trailer. The travel trailer will be an important component in the story. So, in 2004 I bought a 1961 Airstream Overlander (26'). Now, I have been slowly fixing it up to the way it will look if ever a movie is made on my story. I had the front sofa reupholstered in a 1950s/early 1960s style impressionistic style tropical print. I have also had wall to wall carpet installed to cover the old tile that was showing its age. I have bought a retro stereo with turntable that fits the era of the trailer, and I have put in two old genuine 1950s/early 1960s style tables. And I bought an old antique lamp (quite gaudy) with a big old lampshade for the one table. I have a new retro set of old dinnerware, and various other fixtures inside the trailer. The trailer sits underneath a carport near the swimming pool in the yard. I have a couple pink flamingos alongside a little concrete block sidewalk I made. The idea was to make it look like a campsite. I also have a firepit nearby. Besides being like a movie set, I plan on working on my novel in the Airstream when I get to that part of the story. Unfortunately, I don't have the money to build the five mansions .

In my basement, being constructed on a series of plywood bases measuring 26' by 26', is an HO scale model of the town that will be used a lot in the story. It will include a Main Street, and amusement park, and a tall hill with a cave/sky lift/inclined railway. The town sits alongside a lake. I have over 200 HO scale model structures---some built, some nearly built, and some not started---but I do have them all. There are many motels/hotels, restaurants, museums, theatres, shops, etc.

So I guess in ways, these things serve as my maps. There is also a circus in the story. And, I have several HO scale model circus tents made of real canvas fabric. I just need to erect them on permanent board bases because the stakes are nails---and are to be actually driven into the board/ground.

Well, sorry for rambling on here. But as you can see, I am quite eccentric here. But it is driving me to finish this novel and get into the next novel in the series. God has been good to me, and I feel like He is allowing me to continue working on this project in an enthusiastic way. In my religious beliefs, I have felt that God has blessed me with autism in that I have enjoyed my special intense interests.

Ah, right! Don't forget to PM me the details. We should meet for lunch or something.

To get you in the mood, here is my most recent display of public humiliation... er, I mean clogging:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkMpcnK90gY[/youtube]

That's a nice video Fiddlerpianist---nice clogging. Thank you for sharing. You definitely have gifts. Yes, let's meet for lunch. I haven't met anyone from the WrongPlanet in person like several others here have. I have been trying to find some good places to eat there from researching the internet---so maybe you could make a suggestion for a lunch spot.

Okay, so I have ADHD besides AS. The problem is, like most people with it, I tend to fall off task and not concentrate on it. I go from one task to another without finishing it, and once i do it's hard for me to get back on the original task. Like for instance, I started outlining a story, but after a few days I bought oven-bake clay and started to wad it. I wanted to finish my story, but every time I go to the computer (I have a writing software in it) I find the internet more attractive, so I go on there, or I find my mp3 player (always liked to listen to music), so I listen to that. When I've homework to do or when I'm researching on a paper I go to the internet to look at interesting things instead of what I should research. I do get my homework done, but it's more like a last minute deal with the teacher. And my chores: I get preoccupied with the computer and TV and books my room's a mess. Even if i'm grounded I tend to become distracted with noises and put it off. With books I can't read a couple pages at a time before I'm distracted to do something else or have the urge to move, and after a read a section I put the book down and stop reading for weeks, even months before I read it, and even then I might read another book. And I have to do something or move around or else I get bored and sleep. It's like I can't get anything done at anytime. The world's spinning around in my head, and it seems enticing all the more. And I probably don't know enough about life skills because of ADHD and AS.

So I checked out two books that'll help me to organize and concentrate on my tasks--Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults and Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults Workbook. Skimming through it, I found it's really useful for me. So back to work after this.

I consider ADHD and autism as gifts from God, but it seems I don't get anything done because of it. I seem to be in my own world, yet at the same time I'm attracted to the outside world. I mean I like the creativity autism and ADHD give me, but it seems as if I can't seem to make it.

I shouldn't say things like that though. With every negative comes a positive, and with inattentiveness comes creativity. Just have to try harder, and reading these books should help me. Just pray it works.

Sorry for the negative comment. Glad I feel better though.

Hi Batz---don't feel bad about the comments. We all go through challenging things---I admit it. The important thing is that you recognize it, and that you realize your gifts in autism and ADHD. Those books sound like helpful reads---I will pray that they work for you. I find it is important to vent sometimes on challenging issues like this. And even though you see your comments as negative, we should see the fact that you see the gifts that you have. That's how I deal with my life with autism. Even though there are challenges, and I focus on the good things/gifts. Thanks for posting this.

what up how ay doin im a tplar opposite. i specialize almost in putre intiutive with reading amanual speal spectrum,find better way to do stuff w/o fact or guidance.interrest psycholy,and parasychlgy ie ghosts,demonaolgy,dangerous stuff, dont mess with a demon they can KILL uliterally.ie ive learned dominace and, repairing peoles emothinsbarriersi m a high lvl empath ie a sensitive on the same things that wont hurt u inside emotionally will get to me even other peiople s problems,i comes down however i feel that how everyonc\e feels around me in close vivicinity, my friend see me as a emotiononal or what i cLcall mpsycic barrier it ur hshield like in halo that protects ur body ur in ciore hwats makes u eaht are i call it my inner danctuary or temple interesting think bout it. i love music.

Glider, I hope that your doing okay and all today? myself, not that bad just, somewhat disenhcanted with how sometimes you feel you get lost in the shuffle amonst people at times.No, not here on WP but, elsewhere on the net and so forth. Well, I'm making the best of my scenario as, I've returned a great deal of books back to the library whereupon, I hope to find myself some more material regarding AS..

ProfessorX reporting out..

I watched the same political speech as my mother during elections and mom's first reaction was "Wow, what a well written speech" Mine?

"Well he didn't say anything intelligent as all. The speech was written nice but it didn't say anything positive."

I should be a political analyst and shoot down politicians for a living, all I see is fat heads full of hot air. THANKS TO AS, I refuse to be brainwashed by the trends of society!

*Hugs self*

Thanks glider for the encouraging words. Despite my challenges with autism and ADHD, I tend to look toward the positives, and as for the challenges... I've simply got to improve my skills in those areas.

Okay, so now I have time to outline that short story. Been distracted lately, but I can do it, just got to focus on the goal and take it little steps at a time, starting with all the characters. You know that works best for you instead of tackling one setting first then a character or two then an event for the plot. If I can just tackle a little at a time, then I should succeed it this outline, then the rest would be easy.

Well today is a beautiful day in my town. Not much noise except for the air conditioner, and more time for me to concentrate on my short story. Haven't done anything lately, but thankfully I stored it into my writing software MyNovel. It helps me organize my thoughts, characters, places, settings, and events into my story. And if I need to add one more character or anything, it's a cinch to do. Better though, is a diagram editor that comes with it so you can visualize your events', characters', etc. relationships to each other.

This software creates an outline for you, but it also has a word processor, so you don't have to switch to Microsoft Word and back.

I think outlines are best for autistic people since we need order in our lives, and having order in fiction is no different. I write better if I tell my story from an outline instead of writing without one. I know how to plan it and everything, and besides, without it I would be crying about how to write every sentence. Outlines, to me, produce better stories.

I'm not saying there are only advantages to using the outline method, but I think there are more positives for it than negatives, especially if you compare it to writing spontaneously.

Well, better work on my outline now.

Thank Batz for the comments. It does make sense for us to use the outline method. I have been distracted lately too on my story. I am hoping that the week I will be in Chicago will be beneficial for my writing. I should have a lot of alone/quiet time in the hotel while my wife is in conferences. I hope you keep up the good work with your project.

Hi ProfessorX---I am trying to relax, and I am hoping that the Chicago trip will allow me some time to get rid of some of the anxiety I have been having from time to time. I hope you will be doing better with the "lost in the shuffle"---I believe I can relate to that. I often feel like I am on the other side of a window looking in at the rest of the people.

Hi SplinterStar---I see you give thanks to AS for not allowing you to be brainwashed by society's trend. I do believe it is important for us with AS to be our own selves and not try to become what we are not.

Here is an updated list of those of us that see good things in our autism:

Glider18
Garyww
SpongeBobRocksMao
Millie
Pensieve
DeLoreanDude
GeomAsp
BobTheMartian
Inventor
Sunshower
Outlier
Poopylungstuffing
Morgana
Fiddlerpianist
WaterWater
AnAutisticMind
Starr
Scorpileo
ProfessorX
Danielismyname (your poetry is a gift whether you think so or not)
CanyonWind
Sora (I think you have described autistic gifts in your life whether you realize it or not)
Itsallrosie
Gaya
Dustintorch
Ghfreak13579
TheDoctor82
Lionesss
ooOoOoOAnaOoOoOoo (in finding something positive about social aloofness)
Dianitapilla
Lita101 (I added your name because you stated that you want to find the good things in autism---that is positive)
Batz
Joshandspot
Prim8
SteveeVader
Tory_canuck
Alba
Odin
SplinterStar

Thanks Glider, even there have been times where I've felt disenchanted at times, I still maintain a sense of hope as it pertains to life with Aspergers..

Forgive me. I am way behind on this thread. You are describing something that has been on my mind a lot recently praying, "Lord please make sense of this for me. What was this originally supposed to look like? How do I fit here, or do I?"