Dear fellow writer,
Welcome to Swordswings, my monthly podcast series for writers in motion. These recordings are intended for you to listen to when you’re moving around — which is a great way to get your writing moving as well.
Today’s episode explores neurodiversity and neurodivergence in all their rich complexity. What do these two terms actually mean, and how do they differ? How can neurodiverse and neurodivergent writers survive and even thrive in mainstream academic environments? Most importantly, as teachers, colleagues, supervisors, and mentors, how can we best support them?
I asked Eirini Tzouma these questions, and more, in a WriteSPACE Special Event conversation in April 2024. Eirini is an Academic Development Advisor at the University of Durham and had recently published an article for the popular Thesis Whisperer blog about the many challenges faced by neurodiverse and divergent writers in academe.
In this extract from our conversation, you’ll hear advice on how to be open and curious while teaching, collaborating with, or learning from writers whose ways of thinking may be radically different from our own.
The full 2-hour video of this event — which includes an interactive workshop with Eirini — is available to WriteSPACE members in the Videos section of their WriteSPACE or WS Studio Library. Paid subscribers can also find a link to the full video at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!
The Productivity Catalyst
Speaking of being open and curious: There’s still time to enroll in the Productivity Catalyst, my subversive 6-week course for writers who want to find new, more sustainable ways of playing the productivity. Based on years of scholarly research and decades of experience working with blocked, frustrated, and disillusioned writers, I’ll show you how to Take Time, Make Space, Find Flow, Cultivate Craft, Cherish Community, and Spark Joy in your writing practice. You’ll be encouraged to integrate the weekly workshop exercises and prompts into your daily work life — and, with lifetime access to the course materials, you can to return to them again and again whenever you’re in need of fresh inspiration. The Productivity Catalyst runs for six weeks, from Nov 1 - Dec 11, 2025. I’d love to see you there!
If you appreciate hearing about resources like these — or just want to make my day — please take a moment to drop me a heart, leave a comment, and/or click Restack at the bottom of this message. Your enthusiasm and support mean so much to me.🩷
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) — and keep on writing!
Write more, right now! For exclusive access to live workshops, craft-focused coaching, and premium writing and editing tools, join me and writers from 30+ countries in the WriteSPACE, a vibrant international writing community and resource treasury. To try free for 30 days, click below and enter the discount code SNEAKPEEK at checkout.
Books by WriteSPACE founder Helen Sword
Bonus content for paid subscribers
Click on the link below to watch the full two-hour conversation plus workshop with Eirini Tzouma.
