The Creative Spark: The Most Overlooked Part of Being Neurodivergent

Embracing Our Unique Creativity

People often discuss hyperfocus, distraction, or burnout. But rarely do they talk about creativity. It may not be perfect creativity. Just take a look at the picture below. It shows my makeshift writing session while on holiday...a Bluetooth keyboard and my phone, as we had an agreed laptop ban for the trip.

Society is comfortable with the stereotypes, the broken bits. Yet, it refuses to see the spark. That spark turns pain into music, focus into poetry, and trauma into story. When the world ignores that spark, neurodivergent people are boxed into deficit. You’re seen for what drains you, not for what lights you up. Slowly, that spark gets buried.

Creativity isn’t a side hobby. It’s survival. For me, that survival has always been writing.

When my grandmother died, I didn’t know how to process it. I’m poor with emotions, so I dealt with it clinically. She was one of the only people in my family who read my books. To honour her, I wrote her into a character. Then, I killed off that character. Through my characters, I finally felt the grief I couldn’t express myself. Writing carried what I couldn’t carry.

For years, I told myself writing was “just a hobby.” Self-doubt kept me playing small. It took until 2014 to release my first book. But once I did, it spiralled. Today, I have a catalogue of stories read around the world. All because I stopped treating my spark like a toy and started treating it like survival.

5 Ways to Find and Harness Your Spark

1. Notice When You Lose Track of Time

   That’s a clue. When you’re so engrossed in something that time slips away, pay attention. That’s where your spark lies.

   
   

2. Keep a “Spark Notebook”

   Log flashes of ideas. Jot down anything that ignites your interest. This notebook becomes a treasure trove of inspiration.

   
   

3. Protect Small Pockets of Time Each Week for Creative Play

   Carve out time just for you. Whether it’s writing, drawing, or any other form of creativity, make it a priority.

   
   

4. Share One Piece of Your Spark with Someone You Trust

   Sharing can be scary, but it’s also liberating. Find someone who understands and let them in on your creative journey.

   
   

5. Ask: “What Am I Processing Here?”

   Instead of questioning whether something is useful, dig deeper. What emotions or thoughts are you working through? This can lead to profound insights.

   
   

My Vision for the Future

One day, I want to build the Neuro Creative Lab. This will be a space where people can find their spark and run with it. Mostly writing, because that’s what I know. But the principle is universal: create at your own pace, in your own way. Share it or keep it. The point isn’t to change the world; it’s to change your world.

Creativity is not decoration. It’s not a luxury. It’s not a hobby. It’s the survival system that carries us when nothing else can.

So, where does your spark show up? Hit reply and tell me about the place you lose track of time, whether it’s writing, drawing, music, or something else. Let’s celebrate our sparks together!

Even more exciting is the fact one of my screenplays is now in production. This weekend I spent time creating the audition casting call document with the Director. So that goss to show the power of creative passions.