Can Autistics be writers?

[Misty Avich]

Not everyone's imaginative enough to be able to write a fictional story. My NT husband lacks imagination and would not be able to think up a fictional story. Sometimes I ask him to tell a ghost story when we're cosy in bed but he says he just can't. I love listening to someone telling creepy stories.

 

[MROSS]

The 2004 book, 'The Midnight Disease - The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative Brain' - by Alice, W. Flaherty offer discussions on Autism.

 

[Judge]

"This list comprises fictional works where one or more of the central characters are Autistic. Many have explicitly Autistic characters, and others are coded as Autistic. In the latter case, where possible, the author has confirmed the character is coded Autistic. Each book has been written by an Autistic author."

Fiction

 

[MROSS]

A search was conducted applying the terms: 'postmodern' 'metafiction' 'autism.'

The search results were interesting, and offered links about authors on the Autism Spectrum who've written works applying metafiction, meta-narrative genres - that is genres which can be associated with postmodernist styles.

Metafictional styles appeal to the interest in irony common with the Autism Spectrum.

Metafictional styles must be carefully applied to stories in order to generate an ample reader interest.

 

[Wolfiedog]

Definitely the best writers.

 

[velociraptor]

I have been a technical writer, written on photography, written on cooking, and do some blogging. Not much in the way of fiction, but I do like to write and I'm told I'm a competent photographer. I don't think being on the spectrum precludes being creative. Indeed, we can come at things from unusual directions because we often process and think differently.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I have been a technical writer, written on photography, written on cooking, and do some blogging. Not much in the way of fiction, but I do like to write and I'm told I'm a competent photographer. I don't thine spectrum precludes being creative. Indeed, we can come at things from unusual directions because we often process and think differently.

I actually got an award for my technical writing in the Air Force. One of my Proposals actually became the standard example of how to write a Proposal (and I feel compelled to say "No, not a wedding proposal")

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I’ve had scientific papers published and one nonfiction book published.

 

[Outdated]

Does being a playwright and music writer count as being an imaginative author?

Tim Minchin - Matilda and Groundhog Day.

 

[TBRS1]

You won't find ANY profession that autistic people haven't been successful at.

Period.

 

[Dagan]

*raises hand high*

Also............................................................

I wrote this post.

 

[maycontainthunder]

Well, I'm diagnosed and write. Where I moderate (on a writing forum) there are several on the spectrum there.

Autistics tend to have wide imaginations and be very creative; perfect for writing.

 

[Shevek]

The most dreadfully unconvincing characters I've ever seen in a published book were from an AS author. I write non-fiction, but it must seem like fiction because it is about doing things more logically but less traditionally.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

I’ve written some interesting stories before. One of my favorites is a crossover of Blue’s Clues and Pikachu where Pikachu had been lost in the woods for days and its hunger made it hallucinate that everything inside the Blue’s Clues house was food and it starts devouring everything in sight. I even gave Mr Salt the first name of Sodium which my friend thought was both hilarious and clever.

 

[Ame568]

Thanks everyone! I don't know what more to say; when I came up with this poll I was feeling depressed and like I couldn't write or that I'm not actually autistic because of what a person said, ("autistic's can't be writers"). Silly of me I know but still couldn't help feeling that way. So again, thank you all!