Yes, it’s official, the girl who declared in school that she would never acquire an interest or desire to write, has actually gone ahead and started writing her very own book!
It’s been on the agenda for sometime now and when asked the question of “Could you see yourself writing a book on parenting a child with Aspergers which has been inspired by your blog” during a press interview with the local paper as a result of winning a Mad blog award last September, I suddenly found myself saying “Yer, why the hell not”
Now, I don’t want to give to much away on here, after all I don’t want anyone running away with my story, but I will say its going to be me wearing my heart on my sleeve and telling it how it is.
It won’t be a “How To Book” and I hope it won’t be regarded as just another “Parenting a child with Aspergers book” my aim isn’t to make it a long winded story involving the ins and outs of symptoms and triggers, but more the affects ignorance can have and how it’s not only the child’s mental health that suffers as a result.
Having attended the brilliant Britmums Live parent bloggers confrence over the weekend (post on that to follow) I was able to obtain some tips and advice in the “The Path To Getting Published With Bloggers That Have Done It” workshop (which was most inspirational).
Yes, I had already started writing prior to the workshop so therefore had already obtain ideas on the style of writing I wanted for my book, the market I was aiming it at attracting and so forth, as for getting it published and how to go about doing so I had no idea!
In such a short space of time the speakers filled my brain with need to know info and It left me that bit more informed when it comes to the “Dos and Don’ts” when trying to get published.
As a result of this fabulous workshop I’ve since had plenty to occupy my mind! Yes, there’s the question of do I and should I be trying to get myself an agent? And if so where to start? I’ve also thought more about how I should approach publishers and agents to gain interest in my book and how this is done in a somewhat different way than that of the “Fiction book” There’s the important factor that actually I don’t have to have written my entire book to do so, a letter with my book proposal and showing how marketable I am is actually a more important factor at this stage! The fact that I have a good online presence is apparently a very good start and that of my blog is a massive added bonus. So basically showing I already have readership and I’m good at promoting myself, my blog and that of my interest, through social media (yes, twitter followers, Facebook page likes and blog subscribers) actually means I’m in a good position to go for it and start making it happen!
To think my writing could go beyond the reach of my blog is one exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking feeling!
If my story makes it onto paper which is encased within a front and back cover I’d have archived so much more than I first set out to! So much so, that thinking about it makes my tummy flip! Yer, what do you make of that misses disapproving head shaking English teacher?
My writing journey has been something of an incredible one. My first post almost 4 years ago, was my way of expressing the emotions I was experiencing during them very hard days pre-diagnosis. It was a release, despite it being there for the world to read it was for me! A way to let go of anger, unload my head and get through another day. Over time this changed, although the above reasons remained it also became my way of communicating with those who related to my story. I gained advice and as time passed by I began to realise that I had been providing comfort to others.
My writing helped me grow stronger, it helped me through hard times and importantly, it helped me find my voice. I wanted to help others, mainly I wanted to raise awareness for Autism and Aspergers (the later being the diagnosis my son had by now obtain).
The Internet is a powerful tool, but more powerful is that of ones voice, though not actually heard but read. My writing allows me to express myself much more than I would think possible if I was speaking out loud. My writing comes from my heart and I hope that will come through in my book.
So, there you have it! I’ve been inspired to get out there and make this really happen. Now I’ve just got to reach out and this post will be a start. So with that if anybody can help me, point me in the write direction, offer any tips, advice and so forth then I’m all ears!
Any agents out there… Well… HELLO do step forward, come on… Don’t be shy!
A boy with Asperger's 
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