Autistic Hedgehog

Repurposing the term ‘quiet hands’?

I’ve mentioned before that I wanted to write science fiction starring an autistic character. I’ve written the first manuscript, though it still needs work. As a plot out the series and more ideas come to mind, there’s research I need to do. In this case, a question I need to ask my fellow autistics.

I’d like to repurpose the term ‘quiet hands,’ filled with so much negativity to so many of us, and use it for something else. In my sci fi universe there are a group of neurodivergent people who hide, sometimes in plain sight, to protect themselves from those who would want to erase them. Starting with autistics who pass very successfully (hence the use of Quiet Hands) they formed a group that works to protect other neuroatypicals from erasure. They work within the neurotypical population, finding others like them, giving them a home, ensuring that their needs are met. Throughout the history of my universe they’ve grown as a group, encompassing other neurodivergences and other disabilities. 

I like the double meaning of calling them the Quiet Hands, but I wanted to know what other autistics thought about the idea. Is it too much? Would it bother you, or do you think it works? 

Writing Again and My Inbox

Whoa. Here I am trying to get to some of my (still overburdened) inbox and Tumblr is like “Oh hai, I’m gonna screw the pooch now, ‘kay?” and um, no, Tumblr, no that is not okay. I’m trying to keep people updated here. 

I’ve still got quite a lot of inbox catching up to do, some of which I need time to think about to formulate my answers and just…just you know, there’s a lot and I’m way behind. 

I also have research to finish, and I’ve started writing again. Finally. Oh man, I don’t even think I can describe how good it feels to be writing again. I ended up doing way more today than I intended and now my brain is like “Zommmmmmbbbiiiiesss….” or something. No, wait…Um, anyway, my failed attempts at abstract jokes aside, I need to restructure my schedule so I can get things done, and the fact that I’m writing again does mean I might be a bit slower to get to things. But I will get to it.

I may end up closing down the mailbox for a day or two if I feel like I need to; we’ll see. In the meantime, I just wanted to let everyone know what’s up. Maybe I’m just being overanxious, but I like to keep y'all updated, because I’m not ignoring anyone or anything (or not trying to, anyway). It’s just sometimes I take a couple days off, or I’m dealing with too much crap, or I need some time to gather my thoughts, which is why I go silent occasionally.

(And as you can maybe see from how incoherent this post is, I’m not at the top of my game after a full day of work, so there are definitely questions I shouldn’t be answering right now.)

Since We’re on the Topic of Autistic Characters Anyway

As we’re talking about this as it is, I thought I’d ask y'all something.

For the past few weeks I’ve been working pretty hard, doing world and foundation building for a science fiction novel starring an autistic main character. Though I do want to address the nature of the way society treats neurodivergence, it’s not meant to be a novel just about the Issues of being autistic, and is in fact supposed to be entertaining space opera. Because it really gets tiresome only seeing canonically autistic characters when it’s all about Issues (and/or stereotypes).

It’s meant for an adult audience (because fuck the idea that autism only occurs in children) and while I’m hoping to keep it from being too magic-tech (like Star Wars) I want to keep the science light enough to appeal to readers who don’t normally enjoy science fiction. Though at the same time I want it to have enough science that only the nerdiest of nerdcore will think there’s not enough. But I’m digressing.

My point is, seeing some of the views of autistic characters and representation in media, how do y'all feel about this? My character is female and actually has a job I don’t think would be, stereotypically, expected of an autistic character. Do some of you still feel uncomfortable with the idea of her being explicitly autistic, or would it bother you less since I am, myself, autistic?