ABSTRACT

In this chapter we will explore autistic writing processes from a neurodiversity perspective informed by a social-cognitive model of autism. The analyses in this chapter is based on two data sources: a) eleven narratives written by autistic people about their writing processes (we are among these writers ourselves) and b) authors’ analytical reflections about our own writing processes during the process of writing the chapter. The data has been analysed alongside autistic autism theories – theories developed by autistic researchers about autism; principally a cognitive theory of autistic thinking styles (Seng, 2019) and a social theory of autistic sociality in autistic spaces (Sinclair, 2010). The chapter aims both at analysing different autistic writing processes in themselves, and at contributing to the development of methods for supporting autistic writing collectives both inside and outside of academia. We argue for the importance of challenging the stereotype of autistic loners, rather stressing the importance of autistic togetherness.