Just some ideas

[autisticalice]

 I'm thinking I might start my first chapter where the reader gets a first glimpse of Jade's home life since, a new idea I have, is how she falls into a deep depression which leads to cutting and self-harm. Her mother is a drunk because Jade's father was killed in a car accident just recently and has placed an impact on her mother's life. Jade still has an autistic spectrum disorder (I won't say Asperger Syndrome since I want it to be a mixed form of Autism). Her eighteen year old sister is has to take care of her as well as their mother.

Bullying will also play a big part in making Jade's life worse. I was thinking that traits of depression could start right away but be very mild and less affecting. That way the reader can get a feel for what's to come and prepare for the worst. I just need to find a few mild traits of depression that will start her off and then work my way up to the really disabling aspects, including her self-harm and cutting.

Of course, I decided to make it so Jade wants to make a difference at her school, instead of the world because it's a much smaller goal and maybe if I'm lucky, and I actually get through and finish this story, I can write a sequel where she tries to educate the world... I don't know. lol we'll see. Anyway, I was thinking that maybe, it could have something to do with what she's really into. She loves animals so maybe her goal could be to include vegetarian meals or meals for those with special needs (ie, food allergies, special diets). I just want it to have to do with her trying to make a difference at school, other than the high bullying rate, since that would seem to cliche with her being bullied as it is.

lol, sue me... I get all my ideas from Degrassi. I got the drunk mother idea from the episode where Ellie Nash starts cutting herself and the idea for Jade making a difference from Emma Nelson because she's always trying to do things that help the school or her environment. I might even have a times when Jade starts a group to help pick up trash around the school or read books to the kids who are in kindergarten... something where she is actually helping in some way and still manages to do something for her school.

One of the reasons she is bullied, is because people hate her for being so helpful and cheerful. It's something they want to destroy and ruin for her so she can be let down and whatever. Another reason is well, duh, she's different and isn't very social at all. Plus she has odd behaviors that none of them, not even the teachers really seem to understand, especially since she's really smart and isn't taken seriously as having special needs. (Mind you, I'm not saying people who really are severely disabled aren't smart. What I mean is that, it's the stereotype where they are misunderstood for NOT being smart when they actually are... if that makes sense. ><)

Comments

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I just need to find a few mild traits of depression that will start her off and then work my way up to the really disabling aspects, including her self-harm and cutting.<<

Some possibilities:
* low energy
* needing extra sleep
* slower recovery from emotional upset
* difficulty starting a new project
* brief and mild fugue states, just staring out a window without thinking of anything

>>She loves animals so maybe her goal could be to include vegetarian meals or meals for those with special needs (ie, food allergies, special diets).<<

This sounds interesting, plus has the advantage of being timely. A lot of people right now are interested in making school meals more healthy, in various ways. Maybe someone she knows or admires at school has an allergy or a religious restriction. For instance, Hindus don't eat beef and Muslims don't eat pork -- two groups of people currently unpopular. Allergies, maybe fish or shellfish; most allergies are to plant foods.

Oh! Some people with depression and autism-spectrum disorders (and others like ADHD) find that artificial ingredients in food make their symptoms worse. So organic food might also catch this character's attention.

>>One of the reasons she is bullied, is because people hate her for being so helpful and cheerful.<<

You'll need to clarify the situations where she is cheerful vs. depressed (which could also be a fake performance, if she pretends to be happier than she really is) and helpful vs. withdrawn. Often there are personal parameters for each situation, which are subjectively clear but hard to see form the outside. Sharing that could be interesting and effective.

[albatrossxwing]

I look forward to Jade's (mis)adventures. :)