Meet Sydney Bolen, a passionate writer and advocate who deftly weaves her personal experiences with disability into captivating narratives. In this interview, Sydney shares insights into her journey, challenges faced while writing, and the importance of authentic representation in literature. Her dedication to inclusivity and diverse perspectives shines through as she discusses her aspirations for both her writing career and advocacy work.
Can you share a bit about your personal journey and how it has influenced your writing?
I was born with Cerebral Palsy and, thanks to an adaptive sports program I was apart of, I grew up around a lot of other people-children and adults- with various disabilities. It was always a very normal and accepted part of my life. With the Ones That Write Themselves, I wanted to reflect the fact that I while I may have a “disability” I don’t feel disabled on a day-to-day basis. It’s not a point of contention or conflict in my life. It just simply is.
What were some of the challenges you faced while writing your book, especially in terms of representing disability authentically?
For me. I have the same disability as Laurel, my main character, so I didn’t have to worry about the authenticity. I just wrote what I knew to be true as a woman with Cerebral Palsy.
How did you navigate incorporating disability into your story without making it the central focus?
It wasn’t something that I felt needed to be navigated around to be honest. As someone with a disability, I know that it is not the most central aspect of who I am. All I did was write a story that I wanted to read. It just so happened that the heroine of that story was disabled.
Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to pursue writing and advocacy?
Like a lot of people, I had a lot of time on my hands during the pandemic. I’d reengaged with my high school hobby of reading, and I was really frustrated by the lack of representation in the books that I consumed. I love love stories. I am disabled woman, but that is not the entirety of my identity. I could not find a piece of media that reflected those two things together they way that I wanted them to be. Originally, I wanted to write The Ones That Write Themselves as a movie script, but I didn’t know how to do that. As it turned, I loved the novel format, so here we are.
What lessons have you learned from your journey as an author and advocate for disability representation?
I have learned that there are actually so many more diverse stories out there. They just may not be available in a traditional sense. There are so many incredible indie authors out there who are telling amazing stories, they just may not have huge social media platforms or be available at Barnes & Nobles. I’ve also learned that if you can’t find the book you’re looking for, maybe that means you should write it yourself.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want to incorporate diverse perspectives and experiences into their work?
I would say that it is great that you want to do that, but make sure you aren’t telling someone else’s story in their place. Diverse stories only really work if the author really does the work to make sure they’re authentic. Also remember that at they core, people are people. The diversity aspect in your writing doesn’t have to be a character’s entire identity or central to the plot of the tale.
What role do you believe literature plays in shaping perceptions and understanding of disability in society?
I think not just literature, but media in general is one of the greatest tools we have for shaping any sort of perceptions. A lot of times people with disabilities are labeled as inspirational and limited to that category within media. Occasionally, they get to be seen as the villain, but it is rare that they are seen as the hero or the romantic lead, especially disabled women. The more common stories, such as the one in The Ones That Write Themselves become, the more easier it will be for society to break down the bias already in place.
Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for your writing career and advocacy work?
I loved writing The Ones That Write Themselves. It seems cheesy to say, but that book really did write itself. I never set out to create something, I intended to publish. That came later. So in terms of goals and aspirations, I would love to write a second novel more purposefully. I’m actually doing that now. Advocacy wise, my current plan is to always have at least one character who has a disability of some kind or on some level. As for the big picture, I would love for disabled stories to become more common, even if I’m not the one telling them. They have already increased exponentially, which is lovely to see.
