Would you buy my book?

Oct 6, 2016

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Beginning to think that all you need to do to be an expert or activist or have a voice is keep saying you are one and release a film or book. No actual expertise or experience outside your own required.

I’ve a whole heap of experience. Would you buy my book? (I haven’t written it yet. Just doing some market research.)

I can tell you about a life of anxiety and depression, that didn’t magically evaporate when I got a late diagnosis of autism. (I can tell you how I deal with anxiety – I like to call it the avoided panic technique, where I put off anything stressful for as long as humanly possible, then do it in a mad rush. Depression I stave off with walks by the beach, and art. And sometimes I don’t stave it of at all, and that’s when I go back to reminding myself one day at a time. One step at a time. One breath at a time. Just keep going. Because you have always survived before, and you can survive again.)

Can I write about my experiences of autism? Only by telling you about me, because I don’t think there’s a line where autism stops and I start, which is why I don’t say with autism but autistic. So my story has autism running through it like a logo in a stick of rock, and with hindsight it’s easier to see the hints, but from within it wasn’t that clear. Like standing too close to a picture to see anything but the brush strokes – I needed to stand back, or ask someone else what the picture was.

Could I write about home education? Yes, but I’m only an expert on my family and my children, and the first thing I’d tell you is they’re all different, so what I’ve got to say might not apply to you and yours. Still want to read it?

What about art and photography? That’s my special interest right now, and it’s hard to think about anything much else. But it doesn’t pay the bills (I wish I knew how to have that happen) so I can’t spend all the time I want on it.

It always comes back to paying the bills. Hohum.

So, which book would you buy?

(If you’d like to read the things I’ve written here on autism, click through on the category link at the bottom of the post, where it says filed under 🙂 )

It’s where it is

Home Ed Inspiration, Ideas, and Activities

Click the links below and scroll through my collection of ideas, workshops, excursions, and more to discover practical everyday activities you can do together in and around your home classroom.

Home Education Inspiration

Home Ed: Ideas and Activities

Home Ed: Topics and Discussion

Exploring Neurodivergence in Children

Comments

16 responses to “Would you buy my book?”

Sue Reed
6 October 2016
To be honest you sound like an interesting person, I am interested in art, photography and home education and have had dealings with the Black Dog. I have very little understanding of autism so that could be interesting. So…yep. Maybe just your individual story written well and with humour and illustrations would be fascinating to some of us!
Reply
1. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  Thank you, I’ll have another think about it 🙂
  Reply
Nikki Wall
6 October 2016
One of the first two, but especially the second, because I believe that it would give people hope. Not hope that there’s some magical formula that will mean there will be no more anxiety or depression, or that a dx of autism will be some wonderful end for any difficulties that they are facing. Of course not. I think it will give people hope that they are not alone. Hope that they can keep putting one foot in front of the other and that there are other people doing just the same. Because personal stories do matter and they do make a difference. X
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1. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  Yeah, knowing you’re not alone is kind of important.
  Reply
Susan Mann
6 October 2016
I think we can all share our experiences and they are of value to someone else. You have so much to offer and many talents. I think you should give it a go as you are special and interesting. I for one would read it xx
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1. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  Ah thank you Susan 🙂
  Reply
Anne-Marie Carslaw
6 October 2016
All of them. Honestly, I hope you do. Your autism/anxiety/depression memoir/guide would be a fabulous addition to the literature available. Or a fictional character based on those experiences, like Rachael’s State of Grace. We need more autistic voices smashing stereotypes. Or whatever you want to write, because your voice matters xx
Reply
1. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  Thank you.
  Reply
Midlife Singlemum
6 October 2016
Remember the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady? I think that with your drawing and photography skills you’re well placed to write the Alternative Lifestyle Diary of a Millennium Family. (Or you can probably think of a better title.)
Reply
1. Alison
  6 October 2016
  I like this idea! And would definitely buy it 🙂
  Reply
  1. Jax Blunt
    6 October 2016
    🙂
    Reply
2. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  That sounds like an interesting idea!
  Reply
Rachael
6 October 2016
I would very much like to read pretty much any of the above. I do think your beautifully illustrated (art and photos) thoughtful, considered, very interesting writing on home education (perhaps as a sort of memoir, and talking about depression/autism/coping/the challenges of different children and ages) would be a tremendously lovely book to read. Please write it. Home education through the seasons of life sort of thing.
Reply
1. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  Ooh, that is an interesting proposition
  Reply
2. Jax Blunt
  6 October 2016
  And hello you!
  Reply
  1. Rachael
    6 October 2016
    *waves* *notes to self to text tomorrow when brain less frazzled*
    Reply