Able-bodied/Neurotypical Writers and Our Stories

A lot of disabled and/or neurodivergent people don't want able-bodied/neurotypical people writing stories with us in them.  I understand why.  Writers tend to cling onto stereotypes, write about real people without getting permission from the people they're writing about, don't interview people with the actual disability/neurodivergence, and on and on.

The writers who aren't willing to do what it takes shouldn't write our stories.  Some writers will spend weeks researching cars from the 1960's but not interview one person with the disability their protagonist has.  The writer checking off "diversity boxes" is less likely to do what it takes to create authentic neurodivergent characters.

But, there are some writers who are able-bodied/neurotypical who will do the work involved.  They will hire sensitivity readers.  They will interview actually disabled/neurodivergent people.  They will make balanced characters and listen to feedback at all stages of manuscript creation.  They are compassionate.

I know that able-bodied/neurotypical authors who write disabled/neurodivergent characters often make it bigger (obtain higher advances, get more movie options, etc.) than disabled/neurodivergent authors writing our own stories.  It sucks.  But, any author who is doing things "right" will also be a passionate advocate in the publishing industry for brilliant disabled and/or neurodivergent writers; any writer who uses a marginalized group in their work and fails to promote and fight for that group shouldn't touch that group's narratives.  They won't ally themselves with ableist organisations and will struggle with us to widen doors for our success in any way they can (that includes putting clauses in their movie contract that disabled and/or neurodivergent characters will be played by disabled and neurodivergent actors).

While we don't need books with ableist, problematic portrayals and tropes, we do need more books that reflect authentic, whole experiences of our community.  If the next book with a disabled/neurodivergent protagonist that makes it big comes from a diligent, passionate author who does things right?  I'm okay with it.

"Real" Disabled Writers

I saw a conversation on social media about disabled artists needing more resources.  I nodded along as I read, having seen this play out a hundred times in various forms.
About halfway through the conversation, I paused.  Someone said something to the effect of, "Writers with Bipolar and Depression aren't real  disabled writers because the nondisabled populace is accepting and supportive of them and people expect writers to be depressed."

So, some people being (somewhat) more supportive in certain circumstances and in certain ways negates a disabled and/or neurodivergent writer's needs?  Negates their disability and/or neurodivergence entirely?  Makes their creative output not part of the disability community?  What utter bullshit!

The sentiment that Condition X, Diagnosis Y, or Disability Z is not as deserving because it's supposedly not as stigmatized smacks of Oppression Olympics.  People with mental illnesses and/or neurodivergences are often not believed, not taken seriously, and so on.  Wishing for a bigger spotlight on disabled/neurodivergent writers is a good thing, wanting to steal another person's candle because you consider them not as worthy is shitty.

Why the hell are we spending time bitching about the faint light our neighbors may be getting and not banding together to procure larger portions for us all?  Focus your energy and frustration on creating something better, not destroying someone else.  We are all in this together.  This is our community, enrich it!
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One last note:  There is NO hierarchy of disability/neurodivergence.  People who acquire their disability/neurodivergence are not "better" than those who were born with theirs.  Physical disabilities aren't more chic than cognitive ones.  Quit that.

Someone Wrote It, Already!

"There are no original stories/concepts left," someone says.
"But they haven't been told/covered by you," another replies.
We know this exchange between writers.  One person states the first line, often as a lament, while the other leans on their crutches in determination (or cheer) and recites the second.

Once the battle is won within the self, the writer begins the work for themselves (and their readers).  Then, the waiting public can start the doubts all over again.

Minority authors (and women) often face the Already Been Done (ABD) criticism from many types of people interacting with their work, regardless of how unique the concept is or how beautiful the prose.  A book about a disabled artist?  It's been written.  Coming out as homosexual in the Bible Belt of America?  Got it covered!  Yet another cancer story?  We have enough.

If one well-known piece of literature exists pertaining to a struggle or life of a minority person, people consider it Already Been Done and discard it as such.  A lot of the same people dismissive of these stories will generally applaud another coming-of-age story about a (cishet, white, neurotypical, etc.) guy.  Why is one "unimaginative and derivative" but the other is "paramount literature"?

It stops people from telling the stories they want to tell, from books and essays getting to the readers who need to know they aren't alone or that they're valuable enough to write about.  It also gives everyone less variety to choose from.
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If you receive feedback that your work has been written before:

1. Consider the titles the person lists in comparison.  Are they recent?  Do they have your slant, or just your topic?  How is their writing style?  Analyze.
This will (mostly) put your fears to rest.

2.  Consider the source.  Do they have varied tastes?  Are they outright dismissive of you and/or your work (maybe a bit cruel)?  How many times have you been told this, just once by this person or by five different people?  What is their background?

Always find multiple people to give you opinions, never let one person deflate the passion you possess.  If nearly everyone you trust tells you that your story is too much like another, examine it then.  Maybe you just aren't taking the right slant or you're distancing yourself from the hard parts.

Remember:  There are no truly original ideas anymore, but there are original "voices".  Use yours.

The Writer's Journey

It's difficult, being aware of your mortality or possessing copious limitations.

Sometimes, being disabled/neurodivergent means complicated medical histories--surgeries, specialists, medication lists longer than a grocery list, susceptibility to illnesses, doctors disbelieving and misdiagnosing.  We often have to be careful with ourselves.

For people with chronic pain or illness, pushing themselves can be risky to their health.
People on the Autism Spectrum can become exhausted with too much stimuli.
Those with memory issues may have extra difficulty when they take on too many projects.
It goes on.

But, we all try to push ourselves because we're taught that's how we reach our goals.  We push, strive, and sweat until we ache with it, until we shake with exhaustion and tears.  If we don't, we don't really want to succeed, we're just lazy and don't deserve it.

Some of us have a more tenuous life span than others.  When people feel like they're racing a clock, they tend to push too hard, jeopardizing their health faster (and more often).  It creates a catch-22:  Race and risk your life or take it easier and don't accomplish what you want/need before you die.

So, what do we do when one day of furiously fast work can set us back days or weeks?  We prioritize, figure out the task most important.  We start small, with only a five-minute task if needed.  We know our limitations and honor them, not pushing to the point of injury or illness.  Progress does not have to be made every day, either.

If you're a short story writer, start writing Twitter-fiction or shoot for one short story a month.  The writing will add up.
Poets can write haiku or other short forms.
Novelists can start by paragraph... sentence if they must.
Creative nonfiction writers can write in micro-journals.

It doesn't matter where the starting point is as long as the journey happens.  It doesn't matter how slow it goes, if it's moving.  Some writers take years off between projects and no one thinks less of them, their journeys are just more leisurely.  There are benefits in downtime, too.  Just keep the path in mind, and visit it whenever you can.

There are no true destinations in the writing life anyway, merely way stations.

Disabled/Neurodivergent Literary Links (Part 2)

Please see the Links of Interest tab for a full list of disabled/neurodivergent literary links.

Last week, I blogged about publications related to, or seeking work from, disabled and/or neurodivergent writers.  Most publications in that post have been around a while.  And, while each is important and amazing, it can seem like the Disability Literary Community (sometimes referred to as DisLit or CripLit Community) isn't progressing.

Well, new things are happening!  Want proof?  Here are more resources new (the last year or two at most) to the disability literature scene.

1.  Monstering Magazine is a literary magazine for disabled/neurodivergent writers who identify as female or nonbinary.  They are also actively seeking multi-marginalized disabled women/nonbinary people to join their staff.

2.  Tiny Tim Literary Review will have their first quarterly issue out by year's end.
From their Submittable:  The goal is to normalize chronically ill/disability narratives in addition to humanizing medical professionals through their stories. We'll be taking in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction work primarily.

3.  The Deaf Poets Society is an online literary and art journal for disabled and neurodivergent writers.  The website has audio guidelines and text descriptions for all images.  It has gotten some serious press coverage.
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In 2015, the AWP Conference & Bookfair came under fire for their less-than-stellar accommodations for disabled writers.  As a response, a group decided to form the AWP Disability Caucus to "allow for disabled individuals to network and discuss common challenges related to identity, writing, and teaching while professionally leading a literary life".  Because of the caucus and other individuals, the Association of Writers & Writing Programs is improving their accessibility.

The Disability Literature Consortium also began in response to how things were (and also, still can be) at the AWP Conference.  The site has DisLit news and resources for disabled/neurodivergent writers (some I don't have on here).
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Poets and Writers with Disabilities is a Facebook group for disabled/neurodivergent poets and writers.  It is currently able to be explored by people who aren't members of the group so nonmembers can get a feel for who everyone is and how it works.  While being able to check it out without membership is beneficial, certain people may not feel comfortable discussing their disabilities and health in a space so open...

On Twitter, #CripLit is an excellent hashtag for all things disability literature/writing.  There is also a monthly #CripLit Chat.
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Well, that concludes part two!  Did I miss anything (old or new) that's amazing and not-to-be-missed?  Let me know!

Disabled and/or Neurodivergent Literary Links

Please see the Links of Interest tab for a full list of disabled/neurodivergent literary links.

Disabled/neurodivergent culture is alive and thriving, especially in the realm of literature.  To prove it, here are awesome literary magazines focused on disability/neurodivergence or are adjacent to them in some way.  And a literary contest about disability.

1.  Pentimento Magazine A literary magazine for the disability community which includes caretakers, friends, family, medical personnel, and the disabled people themselves.  *Pentimento is "temporarily in suspension".  Thank you Michael Northen for the update.*

2.  Kaleidoscope Magazine From the website:  "The material chosen for Kaleidoscope challenges and overcomes stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. We accept the work of writers with and without disabilities; however the work of a writer without a disability must focus on some aspect of disability."

3.  Doll Hospital Journal Print literary journal of mental health.  Interested in how mental health and the ideas around it intersect with race, class, sexuality, etc.

4.  Breath & Shadow holds the distinction of being the first online literary publication dedicated to disabled people.  All (or most) of their staff is disabled, too.

5. Wordgathering is a journal of  literary work and disability. (As of 12/1/16, this link now goes to their website instead of their Facebook.)

6.  Bellevue Literary Review From their website:  "We are devoted to publishing writing that brings together the perspectives of patients, caregivers, family members, students, healthcare professionals, and the general public, allowing for deeper understanding of others’ experiences."

7.  Hospital Drive Literature and art on healing, health, and illness.

8.  Barking Sycamores is a publication for neurodivergent writing.  It has an annual print edition and publishes a variety of work, including hybrid pieces.

9.  PEN 2 PAPER: A Disability-Focused Creative Writing Competition All entries must have a disabled character or have a disabled theme.  They accept poetry, fiction, drama, comics, and nonfiction.  No entry fee.

Edited 9/13/2016:

10.  Amygdala Literary Magazine From the website:  "Amygdala's goal is to build a sense of community by creating a platform for people to bring mental health issues into dialogue. We seek to achieve this through original works including: creative non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and art. We are looking for work that elucidates the wide range of issues and emotions mental health disorders evoke."

Next week, I'll be talking about interesting changes popping into existence around disabled/neurodivergent writing, including two new literary publications. 

Writing Retreat at Home (Tips)

Last month, I addressed planning a DIY writing retreat.  It is less expensive, there isn't an application, and you can pick a venue more suited to your needs.  But, if the options presented during the last post aren't feasible, perhaps creating a retreat at home is what you need.

First, a caveat:  Not every tip will work or benefit every person.  
Take what you can and/or want.
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1. Schedule your retreat and let everyone know.  
Figure out when you have time and schedule a weekend (or other span of time) to have your retreat.  Unless there is an emergency, don't cancel.  It is easy to dismiss a retreat at home as unimportant.
After you schedule, let your friends and family know you won't be available (or will only be available on a limited basis).  Tell caretakers what your plans are, what you need from them, and how this might change your interactions for a few days.  Let everyone who follows you on social media know so they don't think anything is wrong.

2.  Disconnect from online... and television... and cellphones.
If you're constantly checking Twitter, or are on your fiftieth cute cat video, you are probably not writing.  Cut yourself off from distraction.  If you need to research something for a story, make a note in the margin and look it up when the retreat is over.  Can't stop social media entirely?  Give yourself a half-hour before bed and no more.

3.  Pack your bags.
Get yourself in the right frame of mind by packing.  Put all the clothes you intend to wear for the duration (including extras for various accidents) into a suitcase and ignore your dresser while on retreat.  Gather your pens, laptop, notebooks, and anything else you would need to write and add them to your stuff.  Everything should be in one place for your needs and will help keep you focused.

4.  Plan your meals.
For those who do your own cooking, prepare meals ahead of time and freeze them so preparation time doesn't distract or cut into writing time. Those who don't cook for themselves can still save time by having discussions about meals in advance.  No one has to interrupt your creative flow to ask you what you want to eat when everyone knows beforehand.

5.  State what you hope to accomplish, but go easy on yourself.
Know what you want to get done, put it into words (write it down, record it on a sound device, etc.), and visit your intentions every time your day begins while on retreat.  Give yourself a goal.  Don't just leave it at "write every day", but try something specific.  Do you want to complete your novel's first draft?  Do you want to write six poems?  Are you in dire need of finished (and brainstormed) blog posts?  Make it clear what you're working towards.
But, if you didn't accomplish everything you wanted on your retreat, don't hate yourself afterward.  You might have had chronic pain flare-ups for two days and couldn't function.  You might have had news from a doctor that stopped your progress.  Things happen, in the skins of cripples and gimps.  Focus on what you managed to get done, no matter how little.  Progress is always something to celebrate.

6.  Try to write near nature...
A change in environment can do wonders for creativity.  Try writing outside your home one day during your retreat, if you're able.  If you can't go outside, sit beside an open window for awhile to feel, see, hear, and smell a different slice of the world.

 7.  ...or change your surroundings.
Your sleeping and/or writing area may also benefit from alterations.  Borrow different art from a friend and switch it with what's currently on your walls.  Buy a blanket in a different texture (one you like) and put it on your bed.  Put on a CD that has nature sounds or soft music.  Find an appealing, subtle fragrance you enjoy (that no one in your residence is allergic to) and add that to your room.  Give your senses pleasing things that aren't daily occurrences, but remember any allergies or sensitivities.  No one can write on overload.  Anything added to your environment should enhance your experience, not distract from your writing.

8.  Remember your comfort and health.
Wear comfortable clothing.  Find a spot to write that gives you the least amount of pain.  Take your medications.  Eat.  Stay hydrated.
Your health, comfort, and safety come before your writing.

9.  Write!
It's what you made time for, right?

Ableist Writers, Inaccuracy, and Double Standards

It's important to write the stories we want to see, the books not being written because the majority of people aren't comfortable with those unlike themselves.  It is just as important to our art, however, to write whatever we feel compelled to write.

Society is more accepting of disabled/neurodivergent writers when we stick to disability issues.  (This, of course, doesn't mean able-bodied/neurotypical people will actually want to read works written by us.)  It's more of a... silent permission.  But things turn a bit more acidic when we write outside our sanctioned area of expertise.

Criticism cranks up to full blast, our disabilities/divergences are dissected, and the discussion of our "ability" to write about certain topics all start coming up when one of us dares to write a novel with "normal" people in it.  We are also faced with extra infantilization ("Aww, you wrote a cute, little story") or dismissiveness.

But able-bodied/neurotypical people can write about whatever they want, even if they are inaccurate or disrespectful (unless other people like themselves call them out).  They're told censoring what one writes injures creativity.  They're told to rush headlong into whatever subject ignites their passion.  They are not often told to do research for minority characters like they would a location or certain time period.  Accuracy doesn't matter for an actual group of people but, dress a character in a gown twenty years out of fashion, and the world explodes.
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I know just the sort of backlash I (a fat, disabled, non-Christian, woman) would get if I wrote a story messing up all the able-bodied, Christian male characters (maybe making them all sexist villains with orange hair) but made everyone else diverse and alive.  It wouldn't be good.  Hell, it already isn't great, facing some of those people (ableist fatphobes) in my daily life.

I'm just so aggravated with the double standards.  And the crappy representation.  And having to be twice as good as a writer for many people to see me as half as talented as a "normal" one.  I'm tired of being told I shouldn't write about something with no logical reason why not but someone else can offensively pen something and it be defended as touching free speech or unabridged creativity.  It's exhausting.

Have you had to deal with someone downplaying your accomplishments because you're disabled/neurodivergent?  Has a writer ever been so inaccurate or offensive that it enraged you?  Ever been called a great writer, "for a disabled person"?