Just in case you are unaware of the term, neurodiversity is defined by the Neurodiversity Symposium as “a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation. These differences can include those labeled with Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, Tourette Syndrome, and others.”

My heart races as I write this, because it is not something that I publicize, but I have ADHD and dyslexia. Generally, I believe it is my own business, but I think it is important to recognize it impacts how I think, interact, and write. While it has (and still does) make many things in my life difficult, these parts of me are not bad. ADHD and dyslexia are only some of what makes me who I am.

Elementary school was brutal for me. Learning to read was impossible. My attention span, crappy short term memory, and difficulty with what I now know are executive functioning skills made everyday in school like trudging through mud. Most of the time I would sink deeper until I just didn’t learn many things and when I did catch on, it was a slow painful process.

Middle school was a little better. I was in a much larger school, so there was a wider range of education levels. I did decently in the average/low classes, but never closed some of the gaps in learning from elementary. High school was a roller coaster that is too lengthy of a story to repeat here. Beyond K-12, I bounced around to 5 different colleges and many degree majors before getting a Bachelor of Arts. My degree is in Multimedia and Web Design, which is a very hands-on technology degree. Working with software to create graphics, videos, and websites was something I loved and could happily focus on.

I did eventually go further with my degrees. If you think it through, it makes sense that couldn’t settle on one thing, I had to go out and learn more to provide that stimulation my brain craved. I also think my life has been full of trying to make up for the learning I missed in my younger years. I eventually achieved a PhD in Educational Psychology. The degree was hard won, and an achievement that will hopefully serve me well.

To the point of why I am writing this: I have seen more and more Literary Agents asking for neurodiversity in book queries and authors as well. I finally put the fact that I am neurodivergent in a query letter. It was difficult to hit the send button, but I did. Of course the main character in Rescuers From Illur is also neurodivergent, because I wrote his mind in the way I think. It made sense to write that way, and I didn’t think anything of it until I started seeing requests for this type of writing.

Maybe it will make a difference in getting an agent and maybe it won’t. I do think hearing the inner thoughts of someone who is neurodivergent in a book is a positive thing that can hopefully dispel the sense of being alone in these thoughts and feelings.

This is what I will begin adding to my query: