Can autistic people be good writers?

[Caged Maiden]

@ Kit. I too have suffered from manic depression for about 17 years. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, it can be inconvenient from time to time and make me look like a raving lunatic at others, but it's because of my condition that I get to do what I do.

Mania is fun to ride for a few days, and once you learn to live with it, and accept it for what it is, you can harness it for the powers of good. Thanks for bringing that up. Most people respond negatively when I tell them I'm manic depressive. "Oh, I know you have such a difficult time with..." "When you're feeling better maybe we can..." "I know you are depressed but..."

"Oh my gawd. I'm fine, can we just get on with it?" Haha those are all conversations I've actually had with a friend of mine who must think I'm the weakest soul on the planet. I just can't seem to make her understand that I function just fine, better than most people I know. It's like her assuming a person missing their right hand can no longer write... um it's called compensation. Have you ever watched a three-legged puppy playing? He doesn't know there's supposed to be something wrong with him. He just runs around with the other dogs as happy as ever. However a skittish animal constantly coddled when it gets neurotic is doomed to never overcome it's condition because it's never forced to act normal and socialize. I think medication isn't the choice for me because I've seen people turned into zombies by it, but when you can accept your differences/ weaknesses/ flaws, and learn to live with them, they are no longer disabilities but strengths.

[ScipioSmith]

Wait a moment, the sword guy in the Research forum said in his opening post that he had Asperger's too. That makes five of us. Considering how rare the condition is in the general population, aspies may indeed be overrepresented here.

Six.

I should certainly hope you can still write with apspergers, or I've just wasted six years of my life.

Personally, I've always found that the subltety and characterisation problems are not real problems: while I have trouble understanding real people, I can always understand my characters because I'm in their heads. Facial expressions, well, an overemphasis on describing every little tic on someone's face would murder pacing, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

You might have to work harder at certain aspects of your writing, but that's no reason you couldn't produce a work of genius.

Here's a question for all the aspies out here: how many of you have actually created a character with aspergers, stated in the text or not? My protagonist and his brother both exhibit some of the characteristics, as observed in myself, but its never said out loud because it's a pseudo-classical setting and pyschiatry doesn't exist.

[Ireth]

Amen, Scipio. I'd hate to have wasted the last 15 years of my life. And I haven't created any characters with Aspberger's.

[Anders Ämting]

Wait a moment, the sword guy in the Research forum said in his opening post that he had Asperger's too. That makes five of us.

*raises hand* Here.

I sorta lucked out, though, because I don't have the social interaction issues or problems with subtlety you describe. In fact, I'm pretty good at understanding other people and reading social cues. My problems lie more in the "restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests" part of the disorder.

That's really the tricky part - even if we have the same diagnosis we may not suffer the same symptoms or have the same problems to the same degree. So I'm afraid this isn't really "yes or no" kind of question. Some of us can probably become decent writers, and some of us - unfortunately - probably can't.

That said, I personally find that my problems have become more managable as I grow older, so by all means, don't give up if you still have some fight in you.

Is it safe to say you only have these concerns after you were diagnosed?
What the hell matters what doctors think or diagnose, what matters is if your readers buy.

Well, people react differently to the diagnosis. Some don't like to be labeled or use it as an excuse for their problems, or even aknowlege that there's anything "wrong" with them to begin with.

For others - like me - being diagnosed actually made sense of a lot of things. Suddenly I wasn't just this odd, awkward guy who couldn't understand basic math, couldn't stand change and had a bizarre obsession with swords; there was actually a reason for it all. Growing up I always had this suspicion that my problems were not, in fact, the results of me sucking at life and generally being a failure, and it felt pretty nice to get an official confirmation of that.

For that matter, being aware of the my diagnosis gave me a chance to actually try to manage it while at the same time have realistic expectations and improve little by little. See, when you are a normal person people always expect you to just get a hold of yourself and go out to see some people or something, because it's not like it's hard, right? Wheras I can say: "Actually, it totally is, and here is why."

I do respect those who don't want to be held back or defined by their diagnosis; if you simply accept it as something intrinsic, you can't really do anything about it. But on the other hand, one must also respect that this is an impairment - something that really does cause us real problems in real life. It's not something we can just will away.

[Kit]

Here's a question for all the aspies out here: how many of you have actually created a character with aspergers, stated in the text or not?

I *adore* psychology, and I'm making a point of creating a lot of characters with this and that psychological issue. It's fascinating to imagine how people react to that in a setting where they don't have a diagnosis for it. Sometimes they attribute it to something magical.

Several cultures have considered some forms of insanity to be simply a matter of that person having a window into the otherworld. It could actually be a respected condition.

Being open-minded myself, although I do accept that there is a lot of genuine mental illness out there, I certainly wonder about- for instance- someone who hears voices. Hell, maybe that person really *IS* hearing voices! Maybe some of those people have a line into a world that most of us can't see. That sort of speculation fascinates the hell out of me as a fantasy writer.

I have certainly had a few "paranormal" experiences myself, that if I shared them with "normal" people, they would think I was looped.

[Devor]

There were a number of people with Asperger's in my wedding party (nobody can quite agree on how many). Amazing people, and I don't say that lightly.

The symptoms are literally a list of strengths and weaknesses. I think you have to treat them as such. Play to your strengths; find ways to mitigate your weaknesses. Not just in your writing, but in your writing process, too. For instance, you can't interpret facial queues? Go find some books about them and novels that use them a lot and steal some of their phrasings. Make up for the weakness with extra focus.

And of course, you need to remember that the diagnosis is just a tool for understanding yourself better. Really don't make too much of the label. Labels are never good when you make too much of them.

[Queshire]

I haven't made a character specifically with aspergers yet, though my characters, essentially being extensions of myself, undoubtably have some of features of it. I would really enjoy reading a story about someone with Aspergers that actually gets it right. It really annoys me when they say a character has aspergers but it's nothing like the real life version.

[gavintonks]

This sounds like ATD syndrome call it a big name and charge your medical aid a fortune. How was it diagnosed, with a finger? Licked to see which side dried the fastest, a dna gene map or hi answer this question if you get it wrong you have a disease?

The exact cause is unknown. Although research suggests the likelihood of a genetic basis,[1] there is no known genetic etiology[10][11] and brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.[1] There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.[1] Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function. The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.[12] Most children improve as they mature to adulthood, but social and communication difficulties may persist.[7] Some researchers and people with Asperger's have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that it is a difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured.[13][14]

So you felt like sitting on your own a bit more, and your parents say is there anything wrong? doctor says yes and everyone is happy, but you will grow out of it with the right drugs and age
we listen to far too much medical nonsense

[deilaitha]

Some of the most brilliant people in the world are autistic. You can do this.
Have a close friend or family member sit down with you and help you develop a description of emotions. Interview people, ask questions. Don't think of yourself as emotionally handicapped. Approach it as something you need to research.
I have bipolar disorder and so for me wild emotions are all I know. I've been told my characters are angsty and without clear motivation. Inconsistent in their display of emotions. While I get that characters need to be consistent, my personal experience has not reflected that. It's something I have overcome with hard work (and medication lol), and my writing has only improved because of my struggles.

By the way--you say that you have no idea how "real people" think. Are you not a real person??? You mean "non-autistic" people. Your experience in life is as valid as anyone else's. You may have trouble learning how to reach a non-autistic audience, but I am confident with research and the help of friends that you can do it. Hang in there friend--I'm guessing that you will take this obstacle, overcome it, and be an even better writer for having gone through it.

As someone else who has faced unique challenges, you have my full support. I believe that you can do this, with all my heart.

[gavintonks]

hre it is you never had enough hugs

Autism sufferers can often experience high levels of anxiety caused by sensory overload. While some would-be solutions focus on removing this sensory stimulation and distraction (like the Study Nook) others aim at dealing with the stress caused. The Squease Vest is an inflatable vest which, it's claimed, can help to alleviate anxiety through deep body pressure.

The Squease Vest is said to be light and discrete that it can be worn all day
The Squease Vest is also available with a compatible hooded sweatshirt
Studies have previously found that deep pressure releases naturally calming chemicals in t...

The vest, which will be launched to the public this week at the Autism Show at London’s ExCel, is said to be the first such remedy which is discreet enough that it can be worn all day and used as required. It uses the tried and tested method of deep pressure to calm an over-stimulated and overwhelmed wearer.

Looking a little like a bullet-proof vest, the device features zip and velcro fastenings and has air pockets all the way around it. An attached hand pump allows the wearer to apply and regulate soothing pressure by pumping or releasing air to deliver a hug sensation. Soft edging and a zip cover prevent irritation to the skin and elastic strips, which run vertically along the flanks of the vest, allow movement.

Studies have previously found that deep pressure releases naturally calming chemicals in the brain, along with endorphins which stimulate happiness. As such, occupational therapists use a number of methods to deliver this "big hug" sensation to people with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders.

However, such solutions have traditionally been somewhat cumbersome. While heavily weighted clothes, therapy blankets and swaddle-like wraps are significantly more practical for modern life than Temple Grandin's Hug Machine, they are often still not ideal for use out and about. Equally, tight-fitting therapy tops deliver a constant "hug" rather than just applying it when required.

The Squease Vest, which is also available with a compatible hooded sweatshirt, is said to be light and discreet enough that it can be worn all day. It is suggested that the best results come from inflating the vest for periods of around 20 minutes at stressful times and that when deflated, the vest sits loosely around the wearer's body.

"The vest is inflated by squeezing a hand pump, allowing the wearer to regulate and apply soothing pressure in everyday situations that may lead to anxiety, stress or sensory overload - whether that is at home, at school, or on-the-move," say its makers.

The Squease Vest is available online for £245 (around US$380) and with the Squease Jacket for £295 ($457). While the hooded top is currently available in blue or grey color schemes, different styles will be on offer later in the year.

Source: Squease Wear via Daily Mail

Here's a quick video explaining how the Squease Vest works and the problems some Autism sufferers experience.