To add to the excellent responses already provided -
Short answer:
Do it if it’s something meaningful for you, and not because of any expectations about potential outcomes.
Long answer:
Looking back at my own experiences and those I’ve spoken with and read about, the period immediately following identification/realization/diagnosis is one where folks on the spectrum (and their friends and family) tend to have a high level of interest in learning about the spectrum and accessing whatever resources may be available – websites, blogs, podcasts, videos, books as well as joining groups, whether they be online forum/discussion groups like this one we’re in right now, or groups that cater to a specific area or demographic (which often have a mix of online and “real life” events).
Writing about my experiences as well as sharing them, in addition to reading and listening to others about their experiences has been helpful to learn more about myself, the world I live in, and the diversity thereof.
With that said, I will say that there has been an inflection point around the mid-2010s, whereas afterwards, there has been a blossoming of autistic memoirs. There are relatively few books pre-2010, a modest number in the early to mid 2010s, and by the late 2010s, it has become a rather popular genre, with a large number of books coming from long time autistic book specialist JKP, but also mainstream publishers and also many self-published books.
For self-published books, many unfortunately have very limited circulation – often friends, family, and acquaintance may purchase a copy, but it can be otherwise hard to put it out there, especially if you aren’t prepared to spend time and money in promoting it (which may include purchasing a number of copies yourself to be put in bookstores whereby the stores only pay you back if the books sell).
In summary, while each person and their experiences are unique, the ability to make an impact in the world of autistic lived experiences is increasingly limited. Many of the more successful (in terms of sales) recent books have come from folks with an established presence (whether via social media, or being someone known for their accomplishments or work in a specific field).
Something you may want to consider is who is your intended audience? Depending on who it is, there may be other mediums that may be more effective.
If you’re wanting your colleagues to better understand you, and there’s a newsletter in your company or trade association, perhaps publishing a short article there with 2-3 examples of how you see / experience things (with the potential of a follow-up piece) may be a better option. To be honest, this is actually much more likely to have an impact, and a meaningful one. It’s a lot easier for folks to take an interest when there is some sort of affinity.
Similarly, are you wishing to share your entire life story, or are there parts that you feel are more interesting or unique as a result of your intersectionalities? Perhaps in that case, writing everything out, but seeking publication of excepts in an anthology/collection may be a better choice.
And of course today there are lots of folks who use social media in various forms, and some are comfortable using them as a means to share their stories and interact with others. At least one book I’ve read is actually a collection of blog posts, so it’s possible for forms of sharing to cross over.
Best wishes and may you make an impact!
