Most Autistic Writers Will Advise You To Have, At The Very Least, Two Autistic Characters In Your Story,

Adding to this so we can make it relatable for more neurodivergents:

Lack of/little empathy doesn't imply lack of sympathy.

Delusions aren't just strong beliefs.

Psychosis is more dangerous for those who experience it than to the ones around them.

Compulsions aren't just habits.

Hallucinations aren't exclusively auditory or visual.

Maladaptive daydreaming is an important coping mechanism.

Slow learners aren't dumb.

Intrusive thoughts don't make anyone a bad person.

"Narcissitic abuse" and "borderline abuse" are unnecessary, stereotype-spreading terms.

Meltdowns aren't tantrums.

Burnout isn't procrastination.

Stims aren't pointless.

Shutdowns aren't just lack of attention.

Verbal shutdowns aren't a "silence treatment".

Hyperfixations aren't useless.

Special interests are more than obsessions.

Phobias aren't regular fears.

Panic attacks aren't controllable.

Self-harm isn't a trend.

in case anyone on here needs to hear it:

if you're hitting yourself during your "panic attacks," that's more likely an autistic meltdown not a panic attack

if it's really really hard to speak when you get overwhelmed, that might be verbal shutdown (you might have heard "going nonverbal" but those who are nonverbal - all the time - have asked not to use that phrasing)

if you get really angry over seemingly little things like people making noise, too many things happening, etc. that might be sensory overload

if you hate tags, or "fancy clothes," or the wrong kind of socks, or the way the belt doesn't sit quite right on your hips, or the feeling of doing dishes, or lights, or the sound of your air vents, or being the tiniest bit sweaty, or being hot at all, or the wrong types of fabrics, or the way your shirt creases at your elbow, that could be sensory issues

if you can "make eye contact" but you feel like you're staring into their soul, and you feel kinda weird and anxious about it and don't quite know where to look or how often to break it, and you can only do it when the other person's talking but you have to look around when you're talking to be able to "think," that's still having trouble with eye contact

if you've accumulated a huge list of comorbid conditions (OCD, BPD, chronic fatigue, EDS, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, ADHD, epilepsy, IBS, eating disorders, PTSD, psychosis, OCD) autism can often be the underlying missed diagnosis

if you had an evaluation before 2013 and were diagnosed with only ADHD, you might still have autism because the diagnoses used to be exclusionary (they would only choose one) even though they very commonly occur together

if you identify as a "highly sensitive person" you should definitely look into autism because the traits all overlap

if you "can socialize fine" but it's actually just people-pleasing and putting on a mask to fit in, that's not socializing naturally like a neurotypical would

if you "don't have special interests" but you're obsessed with a band, or a show, or psychology, or makeup, or some other socially acceptable interest.. those can still be special interests, it doesn't have to be something obscure

if you "don't stim" by hand flapping/jumping/using fidget toys, but you play with your phone all the time, or your hair, or pick at your skin, or repeat words/phrases/songs in your head, or hum to yourself, or make random noises, or crack your knuckles, or play with the clip on your pen, those are also stims (note: everyone stims to some degree)

if you have trouble with eating but can't quite figure out why, it feels disordered but you're confused because it has nothing to do with weight/body image, alexithymia and ARFID are both common issues that cause eating difficulties in autism and ADHD

real people being partially closeted or ambiguous about their own sexuality while making Gay Art is not queerbaiting

You should include intersex people in your activism not bc we prove bio essentialists are wrong but bc we are people who deserve rights 👍

Hey queers of tumblr, I need your help. This shitty ass account on twitter is circling around claiming that there should be a divide between the LBG and the TQIA community. Help report this account to get it taken down and show that we will NOT BE DIVIDED. Now more than ever we need to stand together as a community.

Want to be part of a group blog on how to write neurodivergent characters?

[Large text: "Want to be part of a group blog on how to write neurodivergent characters?"]

I've found Tumblr blogs on writing physically disabled and POC characters, but nothing specifically for neurodivergence.

Maybe there is something I just haven't found yet, but even if so, I think the most resources the better.

So, hi! I'm Amethyst — amateur writer and neurodivergent, and now looking for people to help me out with this project.

I could try this on my own, but I would rather have other neurodivergents with me (especially with different conditions from mine)

Does anyone want to help me make a change?

OK, so, I've heard many autists mention that they have abnormal levels of heat tolerance or, in other words, don't feel heat and cold with the same ease and intensity allistics do.

But I was wondering if anyone else is just specifically sensitive to either cold or heat.

Like, I feel cold very easily, but can wear a hoodie during summer with no problems and a friend of mine is the exact opposite.

Is this an autism thing or are we just weird?

Dear fellow writers,

‘Said’ is beautiful. Please use it more. It isn’t anything to be feared of hated. It’s not boring or overused. It makes all the other dialogue tags more special when they’re used on occasion.

‘Said’ makes your writing less cluttered. It can be a simple way of reminding the reader who is talking without bombarding them with synonyms.

“Use it along with action to make it more interesting,” she said, picking up her pencil.

He smirked, and said, “Or with expressions and body language.”

“Or,” she said, “just as a quick reminder of who is talking.”

“And if you know who is talking, a dialogue isn’t always necessary.”

Of course you can use other dialogue tags, but please don’t exclude ‘said’. It’s heartbroken from being ignored.

‘Said’ is beautiful.

Internal Autistic Traits

Neurodivergence_Lou

You gotta write for funsies sometimes. Everything doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. Like. Who cares if it’s a little silly it is made out of love