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Need help for a book with a dyscalculic hero
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| nrobb |
Posted on May 08 2008 09:39 AM
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Member
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-05-08
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Hello - I am a new member. I feel a little like someone who has turned up to a party in fancy dress only to discover that the theme is black tie and cocktail dresses. But please look beyond my Barney the Dinosaur outfit and kindly accept this as a sincere and genuine enquiry. This is because I do not have dyscalculia but I am very interested in learning more about it. I have friends with dyslexia, but I am not fortunate enough to have a friend with dyscalculia - otherwise I could have bugged him or her! You see I am writing a novel and the protagonist / hero is a character who has dyscalculia.
What I am seeking is a generous individual, or a small group of individuals, who have dyscalculia and could perhaps help me draw an accurate picture of a character who is dyscalculic and who overcomes his challenges through sheer tenacity and determination. I could of course do what a lot of writers do, and just make it all up drawing on any available research material. But I would really like to get in touch with people who live with dyscalculia and who, therefore, would be far more qualified than me to determine how the protagonist would cope with certain situations. Of course, any advice or insights given would be credited in the novel if published.
So...if you would be willing to help me portray my hero character with a good degree of accuracy based on your own experiences, I would be very grateful indeed. It wouldn't require too much effort, probably just a few typed responses to some emailed questions. I very much want to make this character real, likeable, and one with whom readers can identify, whether they are dyscalculic or not.
Thanks for reading this far - and if you think you would be able to spare a few mins please let me know by replying to this note. If not, thanks again and all the best,
Kind regards,
Nigel
Edited by nrobb on May 08 2008 09:54 AM |
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| Rac |
Posted on May 08 2008 04:01 PM
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Member
Location: Manchester, England
Posts: 77
Joined: 2007-10-15
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Wow. Well I think it's about time a Dyscalculic makes it into a book. I'm not sure I could give any ideas which would show tenacity and determination but I could give it ago if you want. It would be nice if a couple of people could all agree. Maybe we could meet up in a chatroom or something. Just an idea.
Iff you want any info, just message me and I'll be happy to help. |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on May 08 2008 10:24 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 915
Joined: 2006-08-13
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Hi Nigel, welcome to the forum
I don't mind your Barney the Dinosaur outfit. What makes you think that the theme is black tie and cocktail dresses? Is it my bar-code? How do you know I'm not naked? 
I find your project interesting. I'm curious too, as to what made you decide your book's main character has dyscalculia? As you know dyscalculia isn't as well known as dyslexia; Where have you heard about dyscalculia? - Of course I do not object to a dyscalculic hero since it would sure help make that LD beter known.
I'd be glad to help-out. Feel free to send me private messages with your questions anytime
Edited by Toe_Nail on May 08 2008 10:27 PM
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer -- Albert Einstein |
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| reverend blamo |
Posted on May 09 2008 10:42 AM
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Member
Location: Island of Misfit Toys
Posts: 620
Joined: 2007-10-25
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great idea...I would be happy to share any insight with you. |
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| dborgo |
Posted on May 09 2008 01:12 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 6
Joined: 2008-01-16
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There is an excellent book written from the perspective of a young adult who has dyscalculia.
The book is called My Thirteenth Winter
http://www.amazon...im_b_img_3
My 11 year old dd who I suspect of having dyscalculia (her "official" diagnosis is Visual Processing Disorder and ADHD) is not as severe as the author of this story. |
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| eoffg |
Posted on May 10 2008 05:58 AM
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Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Nigel, you might also find it very helpful to read the posts under the Introductions topic. |
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| nrobb |
Posted on May 11 2008 08:01 AM
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Member
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-05-08
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Hi Rac, Toe_Nail, Reverend Blamo, dborgo, eoffg - and those who sent PMs in response to my note. I will send you direct responses, but I just wanted to give you a 'group hug', and thank you very much for kindly offering to help me with dyscalculia-related research for my fictional novel.
Some have asked why I decided to write about someone with dyscalculia. I suppose there are two reasons: the first is character-driven - the 'hero' of my story is forced to immerse himself in a world full of numbers, and I wondered how he would cope if I compounded his profound challenges by giving him dyscalculia. The second reason is borne out of of curiosity. I got to know a little about dyscalculia - and I'm sure what I know now is still back of post stamp level - when working on a numbers-intensive project some time ago, and I became genuinely interested in ways which dyscalculia could have an impact on people's daily lives - particularly since it is such a relatively unknown condition. Not for those who have to deal with it, of course, but most people have either never heard of it, or they are unaware that such an LD exists. Dyslexia gets all of the attention, of course, but I find it incredible that up to 5% of the population has some degree of dyscalculia, yet there is so little known about it outside of forums like this one.
Ultimately, I want to write a good story and draw a character readers find likeable enough to spend a few hundred pages with. I've made assumptions about his own feelings about his dyscalculia, and about ways he might deal with his increasing degrees of fictional pressure - and so it will be a great help indeed to have some some real insight and advice from you as the manuscript takes shape. So thank you again - I'll drop you a note to continue the dialogue. It won't take up a lot of your time (probably a bunch of questions PMd or emailed to you from time to time, if that's okay) - and you can drop out any time you want! But I hope you'll stay in touch - I anticipate completing the novel within the next six months.
Much thanks and best wishes all,
Nigel
Edited by nrobb on May 11 2008 08:03 AM |
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| Ruthanne |
Posted on May 13 2008 10:37 AM
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Member
Location: Maine
Posts: 14
Joined: 2008-04-10
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This sounds like an intriguing project-would be willing to share any insights on dyscalculia with you. also hope to get to read your novel someday! |
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| pinkymoo |
Posted on June 10 2008 03:12 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 27
Joined: 2008-06-10
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I'd love to be a part of this too. I'd dearly love for dyscalculia to get the recognition that other LD's do.
Your book could become the next 'Curious incident of the dog in the night time' |
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| Sunshine49 |
Posted on June 10 2008 06:46 PM
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Member
Location: Virginia USA
Posts: 9
Joined: 2008-06-09
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It sounds great, would it be totally serious, or would his dyscalculia give him a whimsical sort of Inspector Clouseau [sp?] side? Leaving the office early to be sure he's on time for a meeting, standing at the train station trying to figure out the schedule, being forced to hire a secretary or accountant because he can never get the bills quite straight. Or his Mum [or wife] throws up her hands in exasperation at the mess his financial records are in. He's trying to place a clue spatially but gets it off, has to go back and start over. Relaxes in his art or music, where he often finds his "ah-ha!" moments. Has a dog, gets the numbers reversed when he's telling the vet how much it weighs [a 91 pound Beagle?!] Yes, it could definitely humanize him and build his character. Can you tell, I'm a writer, too?
"I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days." --Daniel Boone |
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| nrobb |
Posted on June 14 2008 08:28 AM
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Member
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-05-08
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Hi Sunshine49 - well I love your idea of the bumbling inspector buckling under the weight of number-intensive life...and who could resist and officer of the ler? (my favourite sketch is still the parrot and the vacuum cleaner). But the character in my tale is going to be challenged by his dyscalculia to the point where the implications become deadly serious. So not much comedy, alas, but some thrills, I hope, and not just cheap ones! Well, not too many.
Happy writing - best wishes, Nigel |
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| justfoundout |
Posted on June 14 2008 03:25 PM
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Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
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6/14/08
Dear nrobb,
I've just finished sending you a private message. I put today's date wrong, as the 13th. Sorry.
Columbo was one of my all-time favorite shows. It sounds like you have something a little more intense in mind. And, after all, Columbo has been 'done' already.
Hope to hear from you soon,
justfoundout |
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| Pixie |
Posted on April 08 2010 05:59 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 151
Joined: 2010-04-05
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I think that would be great I would love that I am willing to answer any questions you have to ask. |
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