The Art of Unmasking (Episode 142) - Writing Prompt #32

An episode that mastered the art of unmasking on the page!

In Episode 142 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon discusses the art of unmasking and how writing can help process late-diagnosis identity shock. Plus, she reveals this week’s creative prompt themed around the oral tradition of writing and sharing Fables! What lessons, values, or morals would you pass down as an Autistic person?

All this, and we announce our amazing winners from our sixth writing contest!Here are our top two entries.

OUR WINNER 🥇Lindsee Garlock-Thornton:

-Sparkly Brain-

The greatest treasureGolden playground of the mindNo bland thoughts in here

-Knowledge Thirst Trap-

I learn something newPupils dilate, purview swellsLet’s do that again!

-Sensational Senses-

I must touch the thingSmooth, fluffy, bumpy, or slickHungry fingertips

-Visual Disturbance Rumination-

The anomalyHighly visible to meRinse and repeat and repeat

-Call Me Sal- (Sally, witch, Practical Magic)

Pattern recognizedWe can see around cornersMagic to your eyes

-Welp, Found My People-

Autistic cultureTalking it out fills me upEverything makes sense!

THE RUNNER UP 🥈Allyson Hogan:

Comfort episodeWatch ‘til you know it by heartRecite every word

Spin reemergingHello again, my old friendI sink into you

Play the song againMedicine to scratch awayThe itch in my brainCongrats to our winners! You can see their stories here.

Here’s what we cover in today’s episode:

* An update on what to expect from the Autistic Culture podcast over the summer hiatus and what to look forward to in Season 4.

* Dr Angela provides an update on her upcoming book ‘Am I Actually Autistic?: Dr. Angela Kingdon's Memoir and Self-Identification Guide to Processing the Identity Shock of a Late Autism Discovery & Living Unmasked’.

* Discover the mission behind the Autistic Culture Institute and get early details on Neurodivergent Voices Live, a UK-based celebration of autistic authors, artists, podcasters, and performers coming in June 2026.

* Explore how writing can help process late-diagnosis identity shock and unmasking in a world that wasn’t built for neurodivergent minds.

* Masking refers to the conscious or unconscious suppression of natural autistic traits to conform to neurotypical expectations. While masking can aid short-term social acceptance, long-term masking may lead to exhaustion, anxiety, identity confusion, and burnout.

* Unmasking allows space for joy: in sensory play, deep interests, honest expression, and bodily autonomy. It invites curiosity, creativity, and playfulness, not just survival.

* Fables belong essentially to the oral tradition; they survive by being remembered and then retold in one's own words. When they are written down, particularly in the dominant language of instruction, they lose something of their essence. A strategy for reclaiming them is therefore to exploit the gap between the written and the spoken language.

Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Moral of the Story’ Contest

What’s the moral you want to pass on to our younger neurokin? Start there!

PROMPT: If you were to write a fable in the style of Aesop’s fables about friendship, what would the moral be?

⚠️Your fable may not be any longer than 500 words.

This isn’t therapy.This is voice reclamation.

Submit entry.Let Your Voice Be Heard.

💌 Good luck, writers. We’re saving you a seat.

THE ESSENTIALS:🖊️ Open to: Everyone🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, June 25th at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK💷 Prize: £10 each week📘 Publication: Winning entries go on our Substack and in the annual Neurodivergent Narratives anthologyTHE RULES:No PlagiarismNo Hate SpeechNo Explicit or Graphic ContentSubmit as many times as you wishYou do not need to be present or subscribe to participateEntries after the deadline will not be consideredAll decisions are finalFull Contest Rules are here.

Use the hashtag #moralofthestory on social media to share this contest.

Submit Your Entry Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes-dR34WBtfe7VYGx7wZRvqNhV8ykEGr4L9CHzNSjN5HVfFQ/viewform

Resources:

Matt telling the Wind and the Sun parable is at 10:43 on the Neurodiversity Podcast

BBC article on Aesop’s fables: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/z73s6v4

Aesops fables: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop%27s_Fables

The Miller, his Son, and their Donkey: https://www.shortkidstories.com/story/miller-son-donkey/

Detailed list of morals: https://www.litscape.com/indexes/Aesop/Morals.html#google_vignetteLindsee Garlock-Thornton Haiuk Instagram: haikuwouldntyou

Substack link to ‘Am I Actually Autistic?: Dr. Angela Kingdon's Memoir and Self-Identification Guide to Processing the Identity Shock of a Late Autism Discovery & Living Unmasked’ - https://www.autisticculturepodcast.com/t/bookBuy a physical copy of the book here: https://books.by/autisticculture

Related Episodes:

Neurodivergent Narratives (Episode 84)

Introducing the Weekly Writing Contest (Episode 130) - Writing Prompt #26

I'm So Confused (Episode 132) - Writing Prompt #27

Recovering from Burnout (Episode 134) - Writing Prompt #28

Local Color with Tim Clare (Episode 136) - Writing Prompt #29

Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30

Neurodivergent Creative Cycles with Sol Smith (Episode 140) - Writing Prompt #31

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