Episode 268 – Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli

Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life.

Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During their conversation Mark and October talk about:

October’s start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportiveGetting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteenDoing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of “spite writing”The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer’s lifeHow ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing careerThe way that many of the “rules” for writers don’t align with a brain that isn’t neurotypicalGiving a general guideline on how something might feel – ie, the results rather than the strict processesOctober creating mini “celebrations” to accompany completely particular small victoriesShowing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for himThe useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadlineAnd more…

After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all “how to” and recommended processes are a “fit all” option. Adaptation into one’s own manners and systems is important.

Links of Interest:

October K. Santerelli WebsiteOctober on TikTokOctober’s Course on Neurodiversity for CreativesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0