Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30
Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity! - Podcast kĂ©szĂtĆ Angela Kingdon | Your #ActuallyAutistic Host

KategĂłriĂĄk:
An episode that shared its story with the world!In Episode 138 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Alethea Shapiro, who is currently in England as she writes her memoir, to discuss why memoir is probably the hardest or most demanding genre to break into in terms of how good and polished your writing skills need to be.Plus, we announce our amazing winners from our fourth writing contest!Here are our top two entries.OUR WINNER đ„"She Wants Her Floodplains Back" by Hedda Asklund THE RUNNER UP đ„Home Is Where The Heart Isâ by Ryan GillisCongrats to our winners! You can see their stories here.Hereâs what we cover in todayâs episode:* We read our winners from the fourth writing prompt for Neurodivergent Narratives and announce our 1st and 2nd prize winners. Why Memoir Is So Demanding (If Youâre Not Famous)* Memoir requires introspection, structure, and emotional honesty, all at once.* You must shape real life into a coherent story with meaning, not just a series of events.* Readers expect literary quality, emotional depth, and strong narrative arcs.* Without a public platform, your writing must carry the entire weight of the bookâthereâs no âcelebrity curiosityâ to fill in the gaps.Why Genre Fiction Can Be Easier to Break Into.* Genres like romance and mystery are built around well-known formulas and reader expectations:* Romance: meet-cute â tension â conflict â resolution â happily ever after.* Mystery: crime â investigation â twists â reveal.* These genres provide a roadmap, which helps writers focus on execution rather than invention.* Readers of these genres often seek familiarity and satisfaction, not literary innovation.* Because the structure is shared, you can get better by copying, testing, and iterating, and thereâs a massive market to enter.Make a Choice: What Kind of Writer Are You Right Now?Option 1: Write for Fun + Self-Publish* You're writing because it feels good and you have something to say.* Youâre open to experimenting, learning by doing, and sharing your voice without pressure.* You may self-publish or blog your work.* Key insight: The more you write, the better you getâand thatâs enough.Option 2: Commit to a Literary Career* You treat writing as a serious craftâmemoir is your art form.* You find joy and pleasure in studying structure, style, and voice.* You seek out editing, workshops, critique, and growth over time.* You may aim for traditional publication or hybrid publishing with literary integrity as your guide.Neither Is "Better"âBut They Are Different Paths* Confusion happens when you expect literary outcomes from casual effort, writing casually but feel guilty for not being âserious.â* Be honest about your goals and capacity, especially if you're neurodivergent and balancing energy differently.* Decide what success looks like for you, not for a hypothetical industry gatekeeper.Your story matters. Your voice matters. But clarity is kindness to yourself and your reader.Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: The âFamily Secretâ ContestWrite where you are. No, literally.PROMPT: Write about a secretâreal or imaginedâthat upends a family.â ïžYour micro-drama may not be any longer than 500 words.This isnât therapy.This is voice reclamation.Submit entry.Let Your Voice Be Heard.đ Good luck, writers. Weâre saving you a seat.THE ESSENTIALS:đïž Open to: Everyoneđïž Deadline: Wednesday, June 11th at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UKđ· Prize: ÂŁ10 each weekđ Publication: Winning entries go on our Substack and in the annual Neurodivergent Narratives anthologyTHE RULES:No PlagiarismNo Hate SpeechNo Explicit or Graphic ContentSubmit as many times as you wishYou do not need to be present or subscribe to participateEntries after the deadline will not be consideredAll decisions are finalFull Contest Rules are here.Use the hashtag #familysecret on social media to share this contest.Submit Your Entry Here: https://forms.gle/FMWs6j77BfgE7bf59Related Episodes:Neurodivergent Narratives (Episode 84)Introducing the Weekly Writing Contest (Episode 130) - Writing Prompt #26I'm So Confused (Episode 132) - Writing Prompt #27Recovering from Burnout (Episode 134) - Writing Prompt #28Local Color with Tim Clare (Episode 136) - Writing Prompt #29Follow us on InstagramFind us on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com Our Autism-affirming merch shop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe