Writing Autistic Characters: Contrasting Traits and Capturing Change

Free for Supporting, Writer, and Patron members. $10 for everyone else. (If you're a member, be sure you're logged in!)

This event is online; Zoom is provided upon registration.

Neurodiverse characters have always been present in literature—sometimes named, often not. From characters marked as eccentric, obsessive, socially isolated, or intensely focused, writers have long been fascinated by minds that work differently. In recent years, more authors have begun writing explicitly autistic and neurodivergent characters, helping readers question narrow ideas of intelligence, communication, emotion, and “normal” behavior. When done well, these stories expand empathy and complexity. When done poorly, they risk flattening characters into symbols or stereotypes.

This workshop invites writers into a thoughtful, craft-focused approach to writing neurodiverse characters, with particular attention to autistic representation. Autistic characters—like all compelling characters—are not static. They grow, adapt, resist change, surprise us, and sometimes contradict themselves. Yet writers often struggle to balance consistency…