Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion playwright researching - raised gifted son

Hello,

I joined this forum today as part of my research for a two-act drama I'm writing. I raised a gifted son whose public school years, before high school, were horrific, was denied services for his giftedness, and was consequently labeled emotionally disturbed. He is now successful,27,and earning a Ph.d in Renaissance/Medieval Lit. I am seeking journal and stream-of-consciousness writings of gifted children, ages 10-12, who have emotional disturbances and anxiety disorders due to inadequate education. I am not sure how to procure these writings. Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks, San

I doubt you'll have much luck getting your hands on these. I know if I were the parent of such a child, I would never hand over his/her journal entries to a writer. Never!

Maybe you could find adults who used to be those children willing to share their childhood journals, but I frankly wouldn't think you'd have much luck there either.

I'm a writer, too, and my time period is 1000 years ago, so I sympathize with not having as much source material as you would like. But I don't know what to tell you. If it's not posted on the web or volunteered to you by people who know you, I doubt you'll find much. It just has the potential to be too explotative. You may just have to speak with psychiatrists in generalizations and invent the rest.

Maybe post with SENG? Maybe you'll catch someone's eye there?

Since my project is bringing the issue of neglected gifted children to American audiences, my sources are people who catch this vision and mission. Such sources realize that the assistance of such writings is not exploitive. Such writings would not be replicated verbatim and would simply inspire the character's voice. Our society needs to get into the heads of our gifted and understand their world and suffering,to look out through the eyes of the child.
My son, 14 years ago, did not write his thoughts down. He will help the project by retrospective thoughts but this is not the same as a child expressing in the moment.
Thank you to anyone who wishes to share for this much needed voice on the American stage. ---San