WoPoLi

Watchword: Neurodivergent Poetry and Analysis by Sarah B. Royal

Watchword: Neurodivergent Poetry & Analysis by Sarah B. Royal, published on October 1, 2024, is a 219-page paperback that offers a powerful and deeply personal exploration of autism, identity, and emotional resilience. Through a hybrid format of lyrical verse and reflective essays, Royal challenges societal perceptions and celebrates neurodiversity with raw honesty and intellectual rigor. Centering the lived experience of being neurodivergent—especially autistic—she provides insight into sensory processing, emotional navigation, and cognitive difference. The poems trace a journey from youth to adulthood, confronting internalized stigma and affirming self-worth, while the analytical sections critique how neurodivergent individuals are often pathologized or dismissed, calling for greater empathy and structural change. Royal’s writing is marked by vivid imagery and a voice that is both tender and defiant, making the collection accessible yet layered. It invites broader conversations about disability, inclusion, and the politics of diagnosis, positioning itself within a growing canon of neurodivergent literature that resists medicalized narratives and embraces lived experience. Comparable to the works of Chris Martin, Lydia X. Z. Brown, and other poets featured in The Listening World and the Autism Books by Autistic Authors Project, Watchword is both emotionally resonant and culturally significant.

ISBN: 979-8340145116

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About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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