Embracing Neurodiverse Perspectives in Storytelling

This book offers a bold alternative to conventional screenwriting guides, empowering neurodiverse writers - and anyone seeking a fresh perspective - to rethink the rules of mainstream storytelling and unleash their creativity to craft authentic, groundbreaking stories. This innovative title celebrates the unique perspectives that neurodivergent writers bring to the screen. Drawing on real-world teaching and creative experience to question traditional ideas about character, plot, and emotional logic, Vaughan offers a more fluid, inclusive model of screenwriting shaped by neurodiverse ways of thinking and making. Blending critical theory, practical exercises, close reading, personal insight and inspiring examples, the book positions neurodiverse storytelling as a powerful challenge to industry norms, and a vital opportunity to reimagine how stories can be told. Chapters cover topics such as narrative structure, mastering action in screenwriting, crafting compelling dialogue, and character development. Rejecting traditional prescriptive structures, this book encourages writers to discover their authentic voice, explore genre in unexpected ways, and create characters that reflect underrepresented experiences, illustrating that the film industry benefits immensely from the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives. This book makes a valuable resource for students and researchers in screenwriting, film studies, creative writing, and media who are looking to challenge established norms and explore new narrative possibilities.