Neurodivergent Storytellers and Mythic Structures

Introduction

Figure: The “Ugly Duckling” transforming into a swan – a classic fairy tale metaphor now often read as a neurodivergent self-discovery allegory. Neurodivergent creators are increasingly reimagining mythic storytelling structures through their own unique lenses. Traditional narrative frameworks like Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and Jungian archetypes are being adapted to reflect neurodivergent experiences and ways of thinking. In recent years, neurodivergent (ND) authors and artists – including those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, dyslexia, and other profiles – have begun authoring their own narrative identities rather than being confined to outsider depictionslink.springer.com. This report explores how ND storytellers engage with and evolve mythic structures, often breaking neurotypical conventions with nonlinear sequencing, immersive sensory detail, and dense symbolism. We also highlight the creative strengths (originality, deep internal logic, innovative metaphor) that neurodivergent minds bring to storytelling. In addition, a special section examines visual storytelling – especially AI-assisted co-creation – as a new mode of myth-making that many ND creators embrace. Finally, we discuss the representation of neurodivergent characters in literature and media, along with best practices for authenticity and inclusion.

Mythic Structure and Jungian Archetypes in Neurodivergent Storytelling

Myths and archetypal stories resonate across humanity, and neurodivergent people are no exception. As the mythologist Joseph Campbell observed, humans “need myths” to understand themselves and their worldpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Carl Jung similarly argued that archetypes form part of a collective unconscious, giving rise to recurring mythological motifs in our storiespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Neurodivergent storytellers both connect with these universal patterns and creatively transform them to suit their own inner worlds. Researchers have noted that autistic individuals, for example, may relate to common myths or create personal mythologies to share their inner experiencespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. In other words, an autistic author might draw on well-known archetypes – hero, outcast, trickster, etc. – but infuse them with new meaning reflective of autistic life. This raises fascinating questions (posed in one 2021 paper) about whether there could even be a kind of “collective unconscious” specific to autism, given shared experiences among autistic peoplepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Neurodivergent creators often find personal resonance in mythic tales. A striking example is the legacy of Hans Christian Andersen. Andersen’s fairy tales – The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes – are interpreted by some scholars as imbued with Andersen’s own autistic traits and feelingspsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com. In fact, researchers have argued that Andersen (who predated clinical terms for autism) used storytelling to describe the autistic experience of being misunderstood and mistreated, long before the concept of “neurodivergence” existedpsychologytoday.com. His characters often embody archetypes that align with neurodivergent struggles and strengths: the Little Mermaid gives up her true voice to fit in (echoing the masking many autistic people do)psychologytoday.com; the Ugly Duckling is ostracized for being different until his true identity (a swan) is revealedpsychologytoday.com; the Princess’s extreme sensitivity to a pea under twenty mattresses reframes sensory intensity as proof of nobility rather than a flawpsychologytoday.com; and the child in The Emperor’s New Clothes speaks blunt truth that adults refuse to see, mirroring autistic literal honesty piercing through social façadespsychologytoday.com. These examples show how classical mythic motifs can be reinterpreted through a neurodivergent lens, giving new depth to archetypes like the outsider-turned-hero or the truth-telling fool.

Jungian psychological theory provides a useful framework for understanding such storytelling. Jung’s idea of archetypes suggests that themes like the Hero, the Explorer, the Wise Fool, or the Artist are psychological patterns that we unconsciously recognize. Interestingly, some modern theorists have mapped neurodivergent profiles onto these archetypal roles to highlight ND strengths. For instance, one Jungian-inspired perspective aligns ADHD with the Explorer archetype (always seeking novelty and adventure), autism with the Scientist archetype (logical, analytical truth-seeking), bipolar disorder with the Artist archetype (creative highs and lows), and schizophrenia with the Mystic/Shaman (journeying between realities)bhcsmt.combhcsmt.com. While somewhat simplistic, this alignment underscores that neurodiversity can be seen as a set of heroic archetypes rather than merely clinical labels. It provides an “empowering narrative” that reframes neurodivergent traits as mythic strengths – the ADHD “Explorer’s” restless quest for new experiences, or the autistic “Scientist’s” intense focus and insightbhcsmt.com. Neurodivergent storytellers themselves often gravitate to certain archetypal themes: many autistic writers identify with the honest truth-teller or wise outsider archetype (as in The Emperor’s New Clothes child)psychologytoday.com, whereas ADHD creatives might embody the adventurer or trickster energy, reveling in spontaneous journeys and novel ideas. Crucially, ND creators are not confined to existing archetypes – they invent new mythic figures and narratives born of their own experiences, expanding the archetypal library for all of us.

It’s also worth noting that some neurodivergent people consciously use mythic structures to make sense of their real lives. The Hero’s Journey framework, with its cycle of departure, initiation, and return, has been adopted by ND individuals as a metaphor for personal growth and self-acceptance. For example, an autistic+ADHD adult described their late-diagnosis self-discovery as fitting the Hero’s Journey: beginning in the “ordinary world” of neurotypical expectations, receiving a “call to adventure” upon learning about autism/ADHD, initially refusing the call (denial), then meeting mentors and facing challenges before ultimately accepting their neurodivergent identity and “returning” with new wisdomtendingpaths.wordpress.comtendingpaths.wordpress.com. They even adapted each stage of Campbell’s monomyth to the neurodivergence discovery processtendingpaths.wordpress.com. This illustrates how deeply mythic structure can resonate with ND storytellers – not only in the tales they create on paper, but in the narratives they construct about their own lives.

Narrative Structure Differences in Neurodivergent Storytelling

One of the most intriguing aspects of neurodivergent storytelling is how it can deviate from neurotypical narrative conventions. Many neurotypical stories (especially in Western tradition) follow a familiar linear arc – a clear beginning, middle, and end, rising and falling action, characters motivated by easily understood goals, etc. Neurodivergent authors, in contrast, often forge different paths in how they sequence events, immerse in detail, or layer meaning. These differences aren’t deficiencies; rather, they reflect distinct cognitive styles and ways of experiencing the world.

A common observation is that traditional plot structure may not come naturally to some autistic writersmedium.commedium.com. Autistic author Nishanth Peters remarks that he and others “have unique ways of communicating that have nothing to do with a three act structure and rising and falling tension”medium.com. In his own fiction, Peters finds that storytelling is “very dense and meaning-based, along with an emphasis on imagery,” and that events in the narrative “just sort of happen” in sequence without the kind of overt cause-and-effect motivation that most neurotypical stories insist uponmedium.com. In other words, an autistic-written story might read as a series of vividly rendered moments or experiences, less driven by plot mechanics and more by an internal logic or theme. This doesn’t mean such stories are incoherent; rather, they often follow a different kind of coherence – perhaps a sensory or conceptual logic in place of conventional drama. Peters notes that while he values craft and has learned how to make his style work for readers, he ultimately trusts that “experientially writing the things I want to write” yields better results than trying to force his narrative into a standard moldmedium.com. This exemplifies the neurodivergent confidence in nonstandard form: ND writers may break rules of pacing or chronology to better capture the truth as they see it.

Neurodivergent storytellers also tend to leverage strengths like sensory acuity and pattern-recognition in their narrative style. Many ND individuals experience the world with heightened or atypical sensory processing – for example, autistic and ADHD people often report intense sensory sensitivity. This can translate into richly descriptive, immersive prose that pulls the reader into the sensorium of the character. Rather than relying on abstract or generalized descriptions, an autistic writer might zoom in on the texture of details: the exact timbre of a sound, the pattern of light and shadow in a room, the physical sensations of a scene. One autistic poet notes that “a lot of us grapple with the world in tactile ways, engaging with the world in sensory detail, not just in terms of metaphorical devices but on a practical level as well”medium.com. Such writing can create a powerful you-are-there effect for the reader, as if experiencing the story through sharpened senses. In the fairy tale context, consider Andersen’s Princess and the Pea: the narrative dwells on the princess’s physical discomfort from a tiny pea under layers of bedding, an embodied detail that mirrors autistic sensory intensitypsychologytoday.com. Neurotypical storytellers might overlook or downplay that kind of minutiae, but ND storytellers often center the sensory as a core part of the narrative experience. This focus on sensory immersion not only makes the story vivid, it can also serve symbolic purposes (e.g. conveying a character’s emotional state through the environment’s feel).

Another hallmark of neurodivergent narrative is what one might call symbolic density – a high concentration of metaphor, allegory, or encoded meaning woven into the story. Far from the outdated stereotype that autistic people “don’t understand metaphor,” research shows that autistic individuals are often exceptionally adept at creating metaphors. In one study, autistic adults matched non-autistic adults in recognizing familiar metaphors, but actually generated more creative novel metaphors on their ownpsychologytoday.com. Similarly, autistic youth have been found to produce a greater quantity of original metaphors compared to neurotypical peerspsychologytoday.com. This knack for metaphorical thinking means ND writers frequently imbue their narratives with multiple layers of meaning – objects, characters, or events may stand for much more than their surface appearance. As discussed, Andersen’s stories are basically extended metaphors for autistic social experiencepsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com. More modern examples include science fiction and fantasy by neurodivergent authors that use alien cultures or magical powers as allegories for neurodiversity. The density of symbols in ND storytelling can be striking: familiar mythic archetypes might be subverted or merged with personal symbols (for instance, an ADHD author could depict the trickster god Mercury as a personification of their racing thoughts, or an autistic writer might create a fantasy world where every detail follows an intricate logic symbolic of their own routines). The result is often stories that invite deeper decoding and reward multiple readings.

Finally, neurodivergent narratives may experiment with nonlinear or unconventional structures more readily. While not every ND storyteller eschews linearity (some actually prefer straightforward chronology), there is a notable pattern of ND authors playing with form – possibly due to divergent thinking and less adherence to literary conventionsmedium.compsychologytoday.com. For example, ADHD writers might construct stories in disjointed episodes or jump between plotlines, reflecting the quicksilver attention shifts and abundant ideas characteristic of ADHD. An ADHD novelist describes having “so many ideas that it was hard to settle on one story line” until an idea grabbed her and she hyperfocused on itadditudemag.com. That initial scattering of ideas could manifest as a narrative with many threads or imaginative asides before coalescing. Even when the final story is edited into a coherent form, it might retain a sense of unpredictable, lively pacing – a kind of controlled chaos that differs from the tight, singular focus of a typical plot. Similarly, dyslexic storytellers, who often think in pictures and broad concepts, might organize a tale more visually or thematically rather than in a strict sequence of events. The neurodivergent tolerance for ambiguity and complexity can lead to narratives that are multi-layered, circular, or fragmented in form – sometimes mirroring the nonlinear way memory and perception work. In short, ND creators expand the possibilities of narrative structure, showing that a hero’s journey doesn’t have to march from Point A to B to C; it might spiral, branch, or dive inward in ways that ultimately feel truer to neurodivergent life experience.

To summarize, some distinctive storytelling tendencies often seen in neurodivergent-created narratives include:

• Unconventional Plot Structures: ND stories may defy the typical three-act or monomyth format. They might be more episodic or stream-of-consciousness, with events unfolding in a unique order or without obvious causal chainingmedium.com. This reflects neurodivergent thought patterns, which can be nonlinear or differently organized.

• Sensory-Rich Immersion: Neurodivergent authors frequently incorporate intense sensory details – sights, sounds, textures, smells – far more than neurotypical writers. This can immerse readers deeply in the world of the story and convey how sensory processing shapes the characters’ realitymedium.compsychologytoday.com.

• Dense Symbolism and Metaphor: ND storytellers often use metaphor and allegory inventively. Characters or story elements may symbolically represent neurodivergent experiences or abstract concepts. Autistic writers in particular have shown a talent for crafting novel metaphors and layered meanings in narrativepsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com.

• Deep Internal Logic and Pattern: Many ND creators build their stories around strong internal logic or patterns. For example, an autistic writer might adhere to specific rules or rituals within the story’s world, creating a feeling of order and consistency (even as the outer structure appears unconventional). This can manifest as repeated motifs, meticulous world-building, or classification systems embedded in the narrativepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Such pattern-based storytelling reflects the intense focus or special interests common in autism and other neurodivergences.

These qualities are not rigid rules but common threads. Of course, neurodivergent writers are a diverse group – one autistic novelist might write spare, minimalist prose, while another writes florid epic fantasy. Still, the features above show how neurodivergent cognition can shape story form in ways that challenge neurotypical expectations and enrich the literary landscape.

Unique Strengths of Neurodivergent Creativity: Originality, Logic, and Metaphor

Neurodivergent storytellers contribute extraordinary strengths to mythic and narrative art forms. Far from the old misconceptions that neurodivergence hinders creativity, a growing body of evidence and expert commentary highlights that ND individuals often excel in creative domains – sometimes precisely because of their neurodivergent traits. Key among these strengths are originality, deep internal logic, and innovative use of metaphor and mythic imagery. These strengths allow ND creators to craft stories that feel fresh, internally consistent, and richly meaningful.

Originality – the ability to produce novel, unique ideas – appears to be a hallmark of many neurodivergent creatives. Scientific research supports this: studies have found high levels of verbal creativity in autistic children and adultspsychologytoday.com, including talents in divergent thinking and idea generation. As mentioned, autistic participants in one study came up with an abundance of creative metaphors compared to controlspsychologytoday.com. Psychologists have noted that the combination of an autistic person’s detail-focused cognitive style and independent thinking can foster breakthroughs that neurotypical creators might misspsychologytoday.com. Because autistic people often have less concern for social convention or “groupthink,” they may explore ideas purely on their own meritspsychologytoday.com. This can yield what one researcher called the “true originality” of autistic talent, the kind of genuine novelty “that is hard to find in other groups”psychologytoday.com. In essence, neurodivergent creators often think outside the box by default – their minds aren’t as constrained by the typical patterns, so they venture into imaginative territory that feels untapped. History provides many examples of famously original storytellers who are now speculated to have been neurodivergent: Andersen (as discussed), Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland, believed by some to show autistic traits)beyondautism.org.ukbeyondautism.org.uk, or even the wildly inventive filmmaker Tim Burton (who has spoken about identifying with Asperger’s). Of course, not every ND creator is a genius surrealist, but on the whole, neurodiversity correlates with creative novelty across a range of fieldspsychologytoday.com. As Professor Ludmila Praslova put it, “autistic minds don’t just build technology – they build meaning” and excel at crafting “novel metaphors and memorable narratives” in a world hungry for new ideaspsychologytoday.com.

Another strength is the deep internal logic and commitment that neurodivergent storytellers bring to their craft. Neurodivergent creators often form intense passions – sometimes called “special interests” in autism, or hyperfocus in ADHD – and when these passions involve storytelling or mythology, the result can be incredibly intricate narrative worlds. Autistic artists and writers, for instance, frequently display a devotion to their work and its intimate content that fascinates observerspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Rather than pursuing storytelling as a casual pastime, they might approach it with almost ritualistic fervor. This can lead to extensive world-building, complex mythologies, and consistent rule systems within their stories. In some cases, the adherence to internal logic is so strong that the story’s universe feels as if it could run on its own laws. One research article noted that autistic creators may “stick to the same topics and techniques” in a repetitive but generative way, almost as if performing a ritualpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. These repetitive patterns are not dull – they are a means of exploring a theme from every angle and establishing a coherent universe of discourse. The article links this process to Jung’s concept of the creative impulse as a need to “complete the world” the artist perceives as incompletepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. In autistic art, the relentless focus on a particular theme (for example, drawing and cataloguing every known type of beetle or mapping out an invented language in exhaustive detail) is a way of bringing order and wholeness to a corner of reality.

Figure: “Sunday’s Crash” by George Widener – an autistic artist’s meticulously detailed chart of airplane disasters on Sundays, blending calendar calculation with personal mythology. This piece by Widener (who is autistic) exemplifies neurodivergent storytelling through data and pattern: he combines handwritten dates, places, and plane models with an image of an aircraft, obsessively cataloguing crashes that occurred on Sundays. The artwork is at once a factual list and a kind of ritualistic narrative – suggesting almost a mythos that weaves significance into recurring dates and events. Such creations highlight the intense internal logic ND creators may apply. Widener’s process – rooted in strong memory and fascination with calendars – reflects how an autistic storyteller might construct a narrative around a system of meaning entirely their own, yet communicate it in a way that draws others into that systempmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. In literature, we see parallels when autistic authors write science fiction or fantasy with elaborate, rule-governed worlds, or when an ADHD game master builds a sprawling D&D campaign world from countless hyperfocused hours. Neurodivergent storytellers excel at world-building and consistency; their universes often feel deeply logical and alive, because they have poured careful thought into every detail and how it all connects. This internal consistency can make mythic narratives especially powerful – much like Tolkien (thought to have had ADHD or Asperger’s traits) who constructed entire languages and histories for Middle-earth, ND creators ensure that their “mythic worlds” have a real weight and coherence.

A further strength is the innovative use of metaphor and mythic imagery. We’ve touched on how ND authors often employ metaphor richly; this goes hand-in-hand with a tendency to gravitate towards mythic or symbolic modes of expression. Many neurodivergent individuals think in pictures or analogies. Dyslexic storytellers, for example, often rely on visual-spatial thinking and narrative memory (remembering information as stories)lexercise.com. This can lead to highly imaginative metaphors and symbolic storytelling. Dyslexic creatives might take abstract concepts like “time” or “belonging” and personify them into characters or fantastical scenarios, because they intuitively translate ideas into concrete story elements. In one list of dyslexic strengths, “narrative memory” and the ability to understand intangible concepts “with extraordinary depth” are cited as qualities that fuel creativity in art and storylexercise.com. Likewise, ADHD creatives often combine seemingly unrelated ideas in novel ways – an ADHD writer might randomly connect a legend from Norse mythology with a sci-fi futuristic setting, spawning a wholly original narrative that somehow works. This fluid associative thinking means ND creators can produce hybrid mythologies and metaphors that feel fresh. They aren’t bound by the canon of what “should” go together, so a story can simultaneously invoke an ancient archetype and a modern neuropsychological concept, for instance. Additionally, neurodivergent creators can use mythic storytelling as a safe vessel for personal truths. An autistic writer who wants to convey the experience of social alienation might not write a realistic memoir about an autistic teen; instead, they might write a fantasy about an elf child raised among humans, using myth to mirror reality in a resonant way. Such metaphoric and symbolic richness is a gift to readers, adding depth and universality to specific neurodivergent experiences.

Importantly, these strengths often complement each other. A neurodivergent author might originate a boldly unique concept (originality), construct a detailed world or narrative system around it (internal logic), and then convey its themes through potent symbols or allegories (metaphor). Consider the example of Percy Jackson, a hugely popular middle-grade mythic saga. Author Rick Riordan created Percy as a modern demigod who has ADHD and dyslexia – traits inspired by Riordan’s own neurodivergent son. In the story, Percy’s so-called “learning disabilities” are reframed as demigod talents: his ADHD is actually a manifestation of battlefield reflexes and alertness, and his dyslexia comes from his brain being wired to read Ancient Greek (not English)davismethod.co.uk. Riordan essentially built a new mythos where ADHD and dyslexia are indicators of divine lineage – a brilliant metaphor that flips the script on these traits. This creative decision shows originality (few had ever tied neurodivergence to Greek heroism in fiction), strong internal logic within the myth (every demigod character shares these traits consistently, creating a rule in that world), and a powerful metaphorical message: what society calls a weakness might be a sign of a unique strength in a different context. It’s no wonder this resonated with so many young readers who saw their own neurodivergence in a heroic light. As one commentary noted, Riordan “crafted Percy’s character to mirror [real-world] challenges, framing them within the mythological narrative as indicators of a demigod’s lineage, thereby transforming perceived weaknesses into sources of strength”davismethod.co.uk. This is the crux of neurodivergent creative strength – the ability to take the raw material of one’s different mind, and forge new myths that redefine the narrative about difference itself.

Visual Storytelling and AI-Assisted Myth-Making in Neurodivergent Creativity

Beyond written literature, neurodivergent storytellers are also making waves in visual storytelling, from comics and illustration to film and digital art. Visual media can be especially congenial to neurodivergent creatives. Many ND individuals are highly visual thinkers – a trait common in autism and dyslexia – finding it more intuitive to communicate in images than in words. Visual storytelling allows the use of symbolism, color, and composition to convey mythic narratives in ways that bypass verbal constraints. For example, an autistic artist might create a series of paintings that together form a personal myth, each canvas laden with symbols only they fully understand, yet still evocative to an outside viewer. Such “outsider art” often contains rich inner mythologiespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. In fact, art researchers examining autistic artists have found that some “tend to represent existent myths and characters” in their work while others “create their own mythologies” entirelypmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. This visual myth-making can be seen in the works of noted autistic artists like Gregory Blackstock, who obsessively draws encyclopedic arrays of objects (like birds or musical instruments) – essentially crafting pictorial catalogs that reflect how he classifies the world, a sort of taxonomy-as-storypmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Another example is Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama (who has spoken about her neurodivergence) turning her hallucinations and patterns into immersive art installations that feel like stepping into a dream realm. These visual creations echo archetypal images (in Kusama’s case, infinite nets and polka dots like cosmic stars) and invite viewers into the creator’s unique universe.

In recent years, AI-assisted coauthorship has emerged as a novel tool in visual storytelling, and neurodivergent creators have been early adopters of these technologies. Generative AI models – such as image generators (e.g. DALL·E, Midjourney) and large language models for story ideas – can act as creative collaborators that help ND artists overcome certain challenges and amplify their strengths. An autistic digital artist, Ophelia Truitt, described AI image generation as being like “having a hyperactive art assistant who never gets tired”opheliasinging.medium.com. For her, AI tools can instantly manifest a concept (e.g. “a surreal cat in a space suit”) that she imagines, which is enormously helpful given her neurodivergent workflow. She notes that when she prompts an AI to create an image, she remains the mastermind of the concept – the AI does the “heavy lifting” but under her guidanceopheliasinging.medium.com. In this way, AI becomes a co-creator or co-pilot for ND storytellers, one that never complains if you change the plan or get distracted (a relief for ADHD artists who may work in bursts)opheliasinging.medium.comopheliasinging.medium.com. The AI can rapidly iterate visuals, allowing the neurodivergent creator to explore many variations of an idea (something ND brains often enjoy, as they can be iterative and experimental).

Crucially, AI-assisted art and storytelling can lower barriers that previously hindered some neurodivergent creators. For a dyslexic or autistic writer who has a vivid mythic narrative in mind but struggles with the motor or organizational aspects of drawing, an image generator can translate their verbal or mental imagery into pictures, which they can then refine. This empowers ND storytellers to visually express worlds and characters from their imagination without needing virtuoso technical art skills. It also aligns with neurodivergent communication preferences: some autistic people feel images convey what words cannot, and AI offers a new medium to craft those images on demand. As Truitt puts it, using AI is like “inviting a friend to join in on my artistic escapades” and another way to express herself in art – it doesn’t replace her quirky personal touch, it “adds another layer of fun and creativity” to her processopheliasinging.medium.comopheliasinging.medium.com.

Furthermore, AI tools can assist in the myth-making process itself. For instance, an ND novelist might use a language model AI to brainstorm twists on mythic archetypes or to generate sensory descriptions that they can then tweak to match their experience. An ADHD storyteller might rely on AI to keep track of sprawling world-building notes or to recall details (serving as an external memory aid) so that the final narrative maintains internal consistency despite the creator’s chaotic process. In visual storytelling, an autistic filmmaker could use AI to pre-visualize scenes and experiment with camera angles in a virtual environment, aligning with their need for structure and predictability when working on a complex mythic film narrative. We are already seeing early projects at the intersection of neurodiversity and technology, such as community art programs that use augmented reality (AR) to help autistic artists display their work in new dimensionsvietcetera.com. These technologies hold promise for making storytelling more accessible and flexible.

Of course, there are debates about authorship and authenticity with AI art. Some wonder: if a computer is generating the imagery, is it still the artist’s own expression? Neurodivergent artists like Truitt argue emphatically yes – the art is still theirs because the ideas, the decisions, and the curation come from themopheliasinging.medium.com. The AI is a tool, like a paintbrush or camera, just more autonomous in execution. In her words, “my ‘art’ has always been a little quirky and imperfect... AI-generated art doesn’t take away from that; it adds another layer... If AI can inspire me to explore new ideas, why not embrace it?”opheliasinging.medium.com. This pragmatic stance is common in ND communities that have embraced AI: the technology is seen as just another means of amplifying human creativity. For neurodivergent myth-makers, AI can be a game-changer – a way to more directly project their rich inner visions out into the world, whether those visions are new constellations of archetypes, fantastical landscapes born of sensory imagination, or reimaginings of ancient legends with a neurodivergent twist. As long as the neurodivergent creator retains creative control (by guiding the AI with thoughtful prompts and editing its output), the result can be a truly collaborative piece of mythic storytelling. The fusion of ND creativity with AI capabilities might even birth entirely new mythic genres or art styles we can’t yet predict, making the storytelling space more diverse and innovative.

Mythology and Symbolic Expression Across Different Neurotypes

Neurodiversity is an umbrella covering many neurotypes – autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette’s, gifted neurodivergence, and more – each with different typical patterns of thought. While individuals vary greatly, it’s worthwhile to consider how mythic and symbolic expression might differ across neurotypes in a broad sense. Each neurotype can bring a distinct flavor to storytelling, much like different regional mythologies have their own style.

• Autistic Storytellers: As discussed throughout, autistic creators often emphasize detail, consistency, and depth. Their symbolic expression may be meticulous and highly personal. Autistic mythologies might revolve around themes of belonging vs. isolation, truth vs. illusion (since many autistic people value honesty and have felt like outsiders). The archetypes that appear could skew toward observer or truth-teller roles, or nonhuman characters that reflect feeling alien. Some autistic authors create entire worlds to explore a single idea in depth, a very mythopoeic approach (akin to creation myths that explain one aspect of life). For instance, an autistic author might write a modern myth where sensory sensitivities are portrayed as magical powers or divine gifts – effectively flipping a perceived weakness into a symbolic strengthpsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com. Autistic symbolic expression can also be very literal and direct when needed (like the child blurting out the emperor’s nudity), cutting through metaphor when truth must be spokenpsychologytoday.com. Thus, there is a dynamic interplay of rich metaphor and blunt literalism in autistic storytelling, both of which are used strategically.

• ADHD Storytellers: ADHD creators tend to bring energy, spontaneity, and breadth to their storytelling. Symbolically, their narratives might feature the archetype of the wanderer, the rebel, or the jester, reflecting the high energy and sometimes impulsive shifts in attention. ADHD mythic stories could be nonlinear epics or patchwork quilts of scenes that come together in the end. Because people with ADHD often have racing thoughts and diverse interests, their symbolic palette is very broad – they might pull in symbols from multiple cultures or mix and match mythology freely. One might see, for example, an ADHD writer penning a comic where a hyperactive messenger god dashes through various mythic realms in one adventure, sampling a bit of Greek myth here, Norse myth there, with pop-culture references sprinkled in – chaotic on the surface, but cohering around an inventive theme. The Explorer archetype suits ADHD (as noted earlier)bhcsmt.com; heroes in ADHD-authored stories may be curious, restless figures who succeed through creativity and persistence rather than orderly planning. ADHD symbolic expression is often bold and unafraid of breaking rules – an ADHD artist might depict a traditional hero’s journey but starting at the end and looping around, simply because that’s how their mind mapped it out. Crucially, ADHD storytellers can harness hyperfocus to develop intricate lore when deeply interestedadditudemag.com, so their mythic worlds, while exuberant, are not shallow – they might have just as much detail as an autistic-created world, but perhaps with more eclectic or whimsical touches.

• Dyslexic Storytellers: Dyslexic individuals frequently exhibit strong visual thinking, narrative memory, and out-of-the-box problem solvinglexercise.comlexercise.com. In mythic storytelling, this can translate to highly visual, cinematic narratives and big-picture themes. Dyslexic authors might lean into oral storytelling traditions or illustrated formats (graphic novels, storyboards) to play to their strengths. Symbolically, we might see dyslexic creators favor broad, powerful symbols – e.g. archetypes of transformation, journeys of the heart – communicated in clear, resonant images. Because dyslexia often comes with excellent storytelling memory, dyslexic writers may draw inspiration from a wide array of myths and historical narratives they’ve absorbed as “vivid stories” in their mindlexercise.com. They might reinterpret these classic myths in new ways, or combine them. An interesting note: the Percy Jackson series’ positive portrayal of dyslexia (characters see written English as Ancient Greek due to a gift) was born from an author understanding a dyslexic perspective. Dyslexic symbolic expression might emphasize the idea that the way something is perceived can be totally different yet valid – a letter seen “backwards” becomes a gateway to a new language in Percy Jackson’s case, a wonderful metaphor for dyslexic thinking. In general, dyslexic storytellers often champion multi-dimensional perspectives (perhaps influenced by seeing the world differently themselves), so their myths may challenge singular interpretations and encourage readers to view concepts from different angles.

• Other Neurotypes: Each neurotype could be considered similarly. Tourette’s, for instance, might lend itself to storytelling with rhythmic, spontaneous elements (a stuttering oracle whose tics are prophecies, as a fanciful example). The broader neurodivergent community, including those with mental health differences, sometimes reclaims archetypes like the “Mad Prophet” or “Chaotic Trickster” in empowering ways. A Jungian analyst, Maxwell McDowell, even posited that the autistic psyche and Jung’s concept of the Self have interesting intersections, suggesting that the individuation journey (a Jungian mythic concept) might unfold differently but meaningfully in autistic individualsweb-archive.southampton.ac.uk. While much of this remains theoretical, it underscores that mythology and symbolism are flexible tools that each neurotype wields in its own style.

Ultimately, neurodivergent creators enrich mythic storytelling by adding neurodiverse mythologies to the mix. Just as we have Norse mythology with its flavor, and Hindu mythology with another, we can think of “autistic mythology,” “ADHD mythology,” etc., not as formal canons but as emerging styles and thematic focuses in storytelling that come from neurodivergent cultures. These mythologies vary, but they all serve a similar purpose: to make sense of the world and share that understanding with others. They also help ND creators connect with each other. As one paper mused, could there be a kind of shared mythology or collective unconscious among the autistic community?pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov While the answer isn’t clear, what is clear is that neurodivergent people are using myth and symbol to build bridges – both with each other and with the broader human story.

Representations of Neurodivergence in Literature & Media: Authenticity and Inclusion

As neurodivergent storytellers craft their own myths, the broader landscape of literature and media is gradually improving in its portrayal of neurodivergent characters. In the past, neurodivergent characters (especially autistic ones) were often relegated to stereotypes – the savant genius (e.g. Dustin Hoffman’s Rain Man), the socially clueless side character, or the tragic burden. These portrayals were usually created by neurotypical writers and often failed to capture the real nuances of neurodivergent lives. However, awareness has grown, and there’s a push for authentic, respectful representation of ND individuals in stories. Recent research and advocacy provide clear guidance on how to achieve this.

A 2023 systematic review of fictional media portrayals of autism found that many depictions from 1988–2017 were indeed stereotypical or “unhelpful,” whereas positive portrayals highlighted autistic characters’ strengths and added nuance to their personalitiesacuresearchbank.acu.edu.auacuresearchbank.acu.edu.au. The review also noted a need for greater diversity – most autistic characters in media had been white males, not reflecting the true diversity of the spectrumacuresearchbank.acu.edu.au. Encouragingly, experiments in that same study showed that when people watched or read a well-done fictional story with an autistic character, it improved their attitudes (making them more likely to attribute positive traits to an autistic person)acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au. This underscores the real-world impact of representation: good stories can fight stigma and build understanding. But the key is getting it right.

So what does “getting it right” entail? Actually autistic authors and experts have laid out some best practices for authenticity and inclusion:

• Own Voices – Where possible, neurodivergent stories should be written by neurodivergent authors, or at least created with significant input from ND individuals. An autistic commentator emphasizes that autistic minds work differently from neurotypicals’, so an autistic author is “more likely to accurately write characters with those unique thinking patterns” and to truly get the experiencewwwp.oakland.edu. Own-voices storytelling tends to yield more genuine and less stereotyped characters. If the author isn’t ND, consulting closely with ND people and sensitivity readers is vital.

• Three-Dimensional Characters, Not Diagnoses – Neurodivergent characters should be characters in their own right, with full personalities, goals, flaws, and growth – beyond just their neurotypewwwp.oakland.eduwwwp.oakland.edu. A good litmus test: if you removed the label (autistic, ADHD, etc.), would the character still be interesting and well-developed? Avoid making the character one-note (e.g. their only trait is “he’s autistic and good at math”). Real people have a rich identity; ND characters should too. They should have relationships, make choices, face conflicts unrelated to their neurodivergence as well. In mythic terms, the ND hero should get to slay the dragon or save the day not because “his autism magically gives him powers,” but because he’s a brave, clever individual who also happens to be autistic.

• Avoid Stereotypical Extremes – Many bad portrayals swing to extremes: the autistic character who is a super-genius savant with no social skills (the “Sheldon Cooper” trope), or conversely the autistic character who is completely helpless and emotionless. In reality, neurodivergent people have a mix of strengths and weaknesses like anyone. Authentic stories balance virtues and viceswwwp.oakland.eduwwwp.oakland.edu. For example, an autistic character might be very honest (virtue) but sometimes insensitive (vice); an ADHD character might be adventurous (virtue) but unreliable at times (flaw). They should not be saints or demons – just human. Also avoid tokenizing a single trait (e.g. every autistic character doesn’t have to love trains or memorize phone books; that’s a stereotype). Instead, create unique profiles – maybe your autistic character loves poetry and hates math, that immediately breaks a cliché!

• No “Fixing” Narratives – One major pitfall is plots that treat neurodivergence as something to be cured or overcome entirely. A story where the happy ending is “and then their autism was cured” or where a character’s arc is solely about “becoming ‘normal’” is not only unrealistic but harmful. Autistic advocates point out it’s tiresome and demoralizing to always read stories where the message is “you must change to be acceptable”wwwp.oakland.eduwwwp.oakland.edu. Good representation will not frame autism/ADHD/etc. as a parasite to remove, but rather part of who the person is. This doesn’t mean a character can’t struggle with aspects of their condition – overcoming personal challenges is fine – but the focus should be on growth and self-acceptance, not elimination of neurodivergence. For instance, a neurodivergent hero’s journey might involve learning to navigate a neurotypical world or gaining confidence in their identity, rather than questing for a magical cure.

• Show Diversity and Include Multiple ND Characters – Since neurodivergent people are diverse, portraying more than one ND character in a story can help avoid the impression that one individual is “the example” of their whole communitywwwp.oakland.edu. If a fantasy novel has only one autistic character, whatever traits they have might be overgeneralized by readers. But if you include, say, two autistic characters with very different personalities (perhaps one is nonverbal and artistic, another is talkative and scientific), you implicitly show that there’s a spectrum. This also prevents the character from being a lone “token” thrown in. In ensemble stories, it’s powerful to have multiple neurodivergent characters who even interact with each other – something rarely seen but highly appreciated by ND audiences (since in real life ND people often befriend each other). Additionally, consider intersectionality: ND individuals come in all genders, ethnicities, orientations. Breaking the mold of the white male autistic savant by portraying autistic women, autistic people of color, LGBTQ neurodivergent folks, etc., adds authenticity. The Percy Jackson series again is notable here: besides Percy’s ADHD/dyslexia, other demigod characters (like Annabeth) also have them, and they are diverse in gender and background, normalizing it and showing variations (Annabeth is studious and planful despite ADHD – busting the stereotype that ADHD means you can’t be disciplined).

Applying these principles leads to far more compelling and truthful storytelling. A great recent example in media is the character of Julia on Sesame Street – a young autistic Muppet, introduced with help from autism advocates. Julia is shown as playful, creative, sometimes not responding right away or bothered by loud noises (realistic traits), but she’s never depicted as less of a friend; she communicates in her own ways and the others adapt to include her. Another example: the hit Netflix show Atypical features an autistic protagonist but also an autistic female friend, showing two different presentations. The writers consulted with autistic people to improve authenticity over time (though the show still had mixed reception in the community). In literature, the Own-Voices movement has given us novels by autistic and ADHD authors featuring ND protagonists on adventures (On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis, Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde, etc.). These stories often shine because the neurodivergent characters feel real and relatable, not caricatures.

It’s also worth examining how neurodivergent characters can enrich mythic and fantasy narratives specifically. There has been a recent wave of books and games that place ND characters in speculative settings – e.g. an autistic-coded hero in a fantasy world. When done right, this merges our themes beautifully: the ND character might navigate the Hero’s Journey but in their own style. For instance, they might solve problems using intense pattern recognition or honest insight (aligning with their neurodivergent strength) rather than sheer charm or brute force. This shows audiences that heroes come in many forms. It also provides metaphorical catharsis: the challenges a neurodivergent hero faces in a fantasy realm (decoding an ancient script, outsmarting a sphinx with literal logic, enduring sensory trials) can mirror the challenges ND individuals face in real life, but in a symbolic way that elevates their journey to legendary status. The earlier Percy Jackson example is one such empowering portrayal, casting common ND traits as literal superpowers in a mythic frameworkdavismethod.co.uk. In general, the trend is toward inclusion without erasure – meaning these characters are allowed to be fully neurodivergent and fully heroic at the same time.

In conclusion, authenticity in representation demands research, empathy, and often collaboration with the neurodivergent community. The payoff is well worth it: stories that not only avoid harm but actively celebrate neurodivergent ways of being. Inclusive myth-making acknowledges that the heroic journey can take many forms – the path of a neurodivergent protagonist might look different, but it is just as epic and meaningful. As media moves in this direction, we’ll see more and more neurodivergent readers finding characters they identify with, and neurotypical readers expanding their understanding and imagination of what a hero or storyteller can be.

Conclusion

Mythic storytelling thrives on diversity of perspective, and neurodivergent storytellers are bringing a new wealth of perspectives into our collective mythology. By examining the work of autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, and other ND creators, we see that while they engage with universal structures like the Hero’s Journey and Jungian archetypes, they also transform these structures, making them more inclusive and reflective of varied human experiences. Neurodivergent narratives often break free of linear norms and suffuse stories with sensory richness and symbolic complexity, offering fresh narrative rhythms that can captivate and challenge audiences. The unique minds of ND creators contribute original ideas, profound internal logic, and bold metaphoric insight to literature and art – qualities that enhance creativity for everyone. As one analysis noted, homogeneous groups risk groupthink and stale ideas, whereas the inclusion of neurodivergent “honest perspectives” can pierce through delusions and spark innovationpsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com. In storytelling, this means neurodivergent voices help prevent mythic tropes from becoming stagnant or one-note, reinventing them in exciting ways.

Visual storytelling and technology are further amplifying neurodivergent contributions. With tools like AI, ND artists are co-authoring visual myths, expanding the ways stories can be told beyond the written page. They are demonstrating that new mediums can be harnessed to express age-old archetypes through the filter of neurodiverse perception – a fusion of cutting-edge innovation with ancient narrative instincts. This mirrors a larger truth: neurodivergent creators are often at the forefront of blending tradition and novelty, precisely because they think differently.

Finally, the evolving representation of neurodivergence within storytelling itself is an encouraging sign that the cultural narrative is shifting. Myths and stories teach societies who can be a hero, a wise one, a creator. Thanks to advocacy and authentic storytelling, we are increasingly seeing neurodivergent characters take center stage in those roles – not as curiosities or plot devices, but as fully realized heroes and myth-makers. The inclusion of neurodivergent myths and characters makes the tapestry of our collective stories richer and more truthful. It affirms that there are many ways to embark on a hero’s journey, many forms that a transformative quest can take, and many kinds of wisdom that can be offered to the world.

In the grand scheme, embracing neurodivergent storytelling is about expanding our understanding of what it means to be human. Just as Campbell’s monomyth proposed that all heroes share a fundamental journey, neurodiversity reminds us that each journey will have its own flavor. The road of trials for one hero might be slaying monsters; for another it’s navigating an overwhelming sensory carnival. The boon one hero returns with might be a golden fleece; another hero’s gift might be a newfound language to describe a once-inexpressible experience. Both are equally wondrous and valuable. By listening to neurodivergent storytellers and integrating their contributions, we ensure that the myths of the 21st century and beyond reflect the full spectrum of mind and imagination. In doing so, our modern myths become not only more inclusive, but also more inventive – carrying forward the timeless power of storytelling into new realms charted by neurodivergent creativity.

Sources:

1. Praslova, L. N. (2025). Autistic Creativity: It's So Much More Than Fairy Tales. Psychology Today – Discusses research on autistic creativity, metaphor use, and Hans Christian Andersen’s autistic themespsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.compsychologytoday.com.

2. Gonzalez Barajas, A. K. et al. (2021). Unmapped realms: representation of inner mythologies in the creative work of artists with autism. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences – Explores how autistic artists use myths and archetypes, referencing Jungian collective unconscious and ritualistic art processespmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

3. Peters, N. (2022). What does it mean to be a writer with autism? – First-person account (Medium) of an autistic writer on his narrative style differing from conventional structure (dense imagery, less plot-driven)medium.commedium.com.

4. Getten, J. (2023). The Modern Archetypes of Neurodiversity: A Jungian Perspective on Mental Health. – Proposes aligning neurotypes with Jungian archetypes (ADHD as Explorer, autism as Scientist, etc.)bhcsmt.com.

5. Lexercise (2024). Is There a Link Between Creativity and Dyslexia? – Highlights dyslexic strengths like narrative memory and visual thinking that enhance storytellinglexercise.comlexercise.com.

6. Additude Magazine – Doyle, M. (2023). How to Write a Novel with an ADHD Brain. – Describes how ADHD creativity and hyperfocus shaped her fiction writing (overflow of ideas, imaginative scope, need for freedom)additudemag.com.

7. Truitt, O. (2024). Is AI-Generated Art “My Art”? An Autistic Artist’s Take. – Autistic artist’s perspective on using AI co-creatively in art, viewing it as a collaborative tool that augments her quirky artistic processopheliasinging.medium.comopheliasinging.medium.com.

8. Jones, S. C., Gordon, C., & Mizzi, S. (2023). Representation of autism in fictional media: A systematic review... Autism, 27(8) – Found stereotypical patterns in older media and emphasizes portrayals that show strengths and diversity for authenticityacuresearchbank.acu.edu.auacuresearchbank.acu.edu.au.

9. Deloney, K. (2023). 5 Questions to Ask When Finding Autistic Representation in Fiction. Oakland Arts Review – Lists criteria for good autistic representation (autistic author, well-rounded characters, avoid stereotypes, no “fixing” plots, multiple autistic characters)wwwp.oakland.eduwwwp.oakland.edu.

10. Whitehead, R. (2024). Percy Jackson’s ADHD and Dyslexia: A Novel Take on Neurodivergence. – Commentary on how Rick Riordan built ADHD/dyslexia into Percy’s mythic identity, reframing ND traits as demigod strengthsdavismethod.co.uk.