listening to people's conversations

I was at Green Line today listening to other people's conversation, as I tend to do. I overheard a girl talking to her friend about her quarter million dollar book deal and comparing herself to all these classic writers (Salinger was one of them) and basically carrying on about how awesome she is. She described the plot to her friend and the title of the book, which sounded like the name of an emo band from ten years ago. It was basically a disability motif somewhat common in fiction where a promising young person suffers some kind of accident leaving them "crippled for life" (he words). Her main character shatters his knee or something and his life is apparently over as a result (this interpretation is based on a few minutes of eavesdropping, I haven't actually read this alleged book). This motif bothers me because it's not what actually happens when a young person suffers an accident or tragedy leaving them with disability. And I don't like when people use the word crippled because it's a stupid thing to say in 2012 when there's so much cool technology that exists to allow people with disabilities to lead mostly normal and productive lives. Another common disability motif is the idea of someone overcoming their disability by carrying out some feat of athleticism. And I don't like that one either. I think maybe I hated this girl so much because I was a little jealous. I want a book deal. I'd need to write a book first I guess.

Which brings me to this idea I've had for a while now, which is to write a young adult memoir about my life from age 11 until whenever I decide to wrap it up. This book I have in my head targets young adults because I think my story is something a lot of kids could relate to. I'd try to make it more funny than sad. But following through is a problem I have. Especially when it comes to writing. The intended audience also has to do with the fact that I'm only 26 at the moment and haven't really done much with my life yet. But I think it's important to have stories about disability that are real and accessible for everyone and carry the message that it's okay to just try to have a normal life if something bad happens to you. You're not going to be "crippled for life" but you don't have to compete in the paralympics to prove your worth.