Perhaps it’s not actually arrogance but experience. Time and tested with age. My Dad was quite hard on me growing up. Perfectionist. Tough love. It took time but I did learn to find my own confidence. But you’re not always going to be prepared for criticism. I just go with it. I’ll be 43 in October. There are things I’m driven to write about. Some more needful than others.

I wrote from what I’ve established as primary source, in formal research terms. That’s the best source because you possess firsthand lived experience. You’re not as knowledgeable as a doctor, but in that experience you match their expertise to create a better understanding of the subject matter. I source certain things, such as formal theories, but in hyperlink only. Not citation. I feel that as an advocate it makes the reading less fluent seeing a bulky web URL.

Since I write largely from personal experience, I take what I’ve learned from observations and informal research and explain my points in my own way. So, some of my writing has few if any citations. But I never plagiarize. For example, once I understood Dr. Damian Milton’s Double Empathy Problem Theory, from a researcher’s video summary, I explain the double empathy gap from that understanding. I dislike and despise copying exact words from someone else because I want to write the explanation from my creativity and understanding. If I use their words, it’s not my writing. It’s theirs. Why do it, then? Exactly.

As an autistic advocate, some of my writing is guidance to coping skills or a summation of what I’ve learned. Those may/may not be of interest. We’ll have to see. But I do have some writing coming up that might fall right into what your publication exemplifies.

The unexpected, and, with something gained. Wisdom. Cutting edge self-discovery.

So, naturally, no one has them yet because I haven’t published them yet. June 27th and July 8-12th. Four. There may be an issue with continuity though.

I’ve taken to writing on the go. Learning and sharing as I go. I don’t always link back to previous writing because I don’t know if it would be preferred - before exploring publications like yours. For example, lately I’ve been referring to my forced mental healthcare discharge back in February. Or, some slight rewording of that info. I’ve written about it at the time.

But I can’t keep explaining it in four or five sentences in new writing or that writing will get bogged down. If that makes sense. All of my writing is mine. I do use an AI grammar checker, QuillBot. Yet I still manage to explain my points in my own way. Not just as the checker would correct. I only benefit strictly from the grammar correction. I don’t have a professional writing pedigree. Without the checker, I don’t have enough experience to know what to correct for proper grammar. I’ve tried to learn but I’d need a sit down teacher for my learning acumen.

I’m being honest up front because I respect your mission. If I become a part of your publication, with what I submit, I take that very seriously. I don’t have time to waste getting it wrong. Like my Dad used to say, “if you’re going to do it, do it right.” So, questions and answers aside for the moment, if what I’ve shared is acceptable, let’s start slowly.

Unless it is already setup to display on my end, if you could add me to your submission I will submit my June 27th article as a test. Show you what I can do and see if it is acceptable for The Unexpected. One submission. Not twenty. It’ll also be two weeks before my next major writing series, my Autism & Paranoia Series (July 8-12). This could give us plenty of time to Q&A to see whether to proceed. No rush. Minimal hassle. Better for you because that’s the point.

It’s not my publication outlet.

It’s yours.

Respect given is respect earned. One of my older phrases that I’m known for. Thank you, Ms. Rogut. You have been very kind and patient. Right now, I’m struggling mightily while trying to figure out what to do at age 42 and 20 years of lost socioeconomic integration..

Patience, with me, is something I value if I have it. Being an advocate while struggling is very challenging. Every day. But if my writing and persistence holds true, the payoff could be remarkable perspectives the world needs from us. Autistic people. Primary sources with firsthand lived experience. Stories to tell that the world needs to know.

Thank you
Also.. is there a protocol or preference for, formal, email contact rather than article responses like this? I thought such was supposed to be for commenting on the subject matter (aside from this, here). Just curious. Notice I said formal. Professionalism is also my preference.