The Power of Thinking Differently

My wife and I are blessed to have a son with autism. He is a joy in our lives and reminds us of the most important things in life. To those who are brave enough to not only write but also share what you write with others, remember that you are the creator and it is ultimately up to you what you write. It is always good to take feedback under advisement and to glean from it that which is useful to your stories. And, like my son reminds us frequently, keep the proper perspective.

One thing I have learned recently is that I, like my son, think differently. I have been looked down on and judged because I do not think like everyone else. This has made my career difficult at times. I notice that high levels of management is less tolerant of different thinkers even though they ask for thinking "outside the box".

Do not get discouraged. Results are ultimately what we are all looking for in life, so embrace your unique way of thinking. I embrace the different ways I think and infuse that into my characters. People like my characters because they have different ways of handling situations. The way I use magic is based on creativity. Limits are based on energy reserves or resources. This makes for some great duels.

What are some ways that you think differently? Who are some of your favorites authors who push you to think differently? I have been reading Orson Scott Card's stories and have been impressed with the deep and meaningful dialog. The challenges to conventional thinking inspire me.