Part of our 12-Week Writing Series for autistic creatives and late-diagnosed adults.

In this episode of Neurodivergent Narratives, Dr. Angela Kingdon sits down with Sol Smith—author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery and founder of the NeuroSpicy Community—to explore what creativity really looks like for autistic writers. Together, they dismantle the myth of the “perfect process” and make space for cyclical, sensory, and self-directed ways of writing.

Sol shares his journey through authorship, ADHD, autistic inertia, and perfectionism, offering practical encouragement for neurodivergent creatives navigating their own pace. Plus, we announce the winners of our Week 5 writing contest!

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Why perfectionism and creative ruts are not signs of failure—they’re part of the cycle
• How Sol’s writing journey led to creating the world’s largest online neurodivergent community
• What it looks like to write from your SPIN, not against your energy
• How haiku and short-form poetry can unlock powerful emotional clarity
• Practical tips for neurodivergent writers who feel “behind” or out of sync with productivity culture

🏆 Week 5 Winners

🥇 First Place:

“Kidnapped (Based on a True Story)”

by Laura Pearson

🥈 Runner-Up:

“And Then I Realized…”

by Genya Vasilov

👏 Congratulations to our winning writers! 👉 Read their full stories here.

👤 About Sol Smith

Sol is a certified autism specialist, author, and creator of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery. He leads the NeuroSpicy Community, a global support network for ADHDers and autistics, and is a sought-after speaker in corporate, academic, and online spaces.

• 🌐 www.ProfessorSol.com
• 📱 TikTok: @bettersol
• 📸 Instagram: @theprofessorsol
• 📘 Facebook: Sol Smith
• 🎥 YouTube: Professor Sol
• 💼 LinkedIn: Sol Smith

Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Your Autistic Birthright’ Contest

Prompt: Write a haiku inspired by your Autistic Birthright. Interpret the theme in any way that resonates with you—literally or metaphorically!

🖊️ Haiku Format:

• Line 1: 5 syllables
• Line 2: 7 syllables
• Line 3: 5 syllables

✨ Tips:

• Haiku often captures a vivid moment or personal truth
• No need to follow traditional nature themes—identity, stimming, and emotion are welcome

🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, June 18 at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK

💷 Prize: £10 per winner

📘 Publication: Winners will appear on Substack + in our anthology

🔗 Submit your entry here →

📢 Share with hashtag #HaikuYou

📚 Resources:

• 📖 The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery – Sol Smith
• 🌐 NeuroSpicy Community

Related Episodes:

Local Color with Tim Clare (Episode 136) - Writing Prompt #29

Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30

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🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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