A Writers Paradise

Deep in the Hertfordshire countryside, there exists a little old cottage. In it, you will find me and my canine familiar, Toula. Together, we navigate a world where systems are set up for people (and dogs) who's minds are wired differently to ours.

She's a rescue dog with quite an elaborate sense of duty to defend her flock. Her innate abilities of loudly scaring off any incoming predators makes perfect sense for her lineage, but here in the Hertfordshire countryside, the village locals don't take kindly to a giant horse-sized dog roaring at them like a lion if they dare to get too close to us.

Ironically, I'm more than happy with Toula keeping people away from us in this manner, but there is definitely an entitled stance in society these days of people thinking they can walk as closely to you as they choose, their own dogs usually perilously out of control running around off-lead.

I don't wish to complain lots here, but I think the reaction people seem to give to a dog who behaves differently to how they would 'expect' her to behave, is wildly similar to the reaction people give to me when I step outside of the 'norm'.

Being highly neurodivergent in a world that is designed for 'neurotypical' ways of thinking and acting is extremely challenging. Since being diagnosed with autism and ADHD, some of the people closest to me have been the biggest harbingers of negative judgement and what I would call anti-empathy. I can't adequately put into words how challenging it is to be late-diagnosed as neurodivergent, so if you know someone going through this, please be patient and be curious about them. I promise you that the person underneath all the struggles is definitely worth getting to know.

Discovering that my brain is wired differently whilst already writing my first novel has given ground-breaking insights into how I can best work with my neurotype. Having a neurodivergent brain is incredible once you learn how to use it to its advantages. And usually that means stepping outside of society's machine to find new ways of existing in the world. And so that is one of my current projects: To consider how I can live a life where me and my brain thrive instead of remaining in survival mode.

I'll keep you updated with any developments!