About

I'm Sara Eatherton-Goff, and I primarily write personal essays and short fiction.

I also love to create planning and organizational tools, sing, make art, teach, advocate for Autistic people and those with chronic illness, and help people (re)create an authentic life, no matter where you are on your journey.

Presently I'm pivoting and working on educating for that. I'm excited to share once that work is ready, so be sure to subscribe to receive updates when the time comes.

I live and work in Seattle, Washington, U.S. with my spouse and three kiddos.

Start Here

1. Subscribe to the free newsletter to stay in the loop on all new published works, upcoming projects, and to receive sporadic musings, recommendations, and more.
2. Read available published works.
3. Learn more about my work below. 

My writing isn’t exclusionary.

I don’t write solely for chronic illness and/or neurodivergent readers. I focus on living life with intention that just so happens to frequently involve topics on the chronical illness and neurodivergence. But anyone can benefit from it— especially those who see the benefit in taking life and work a little slower, and approach both with more meaning and purpose.

I explore living life to the fullest without guilt, shame, and with as little (unintentionally) self-inflicted pain as possible— no matter life's complexities.

My goal is to not run myself into the ground like I’ve repeatedly done in the past; holding myself to some unrealistic standard that set me up for failure from the very start.

Through writing fiction and non, I’m on a mission to continue stripping myself of autopilot actions guided by trauma and the "social mask" younger versions of myself felt the need to cover up. And through this lens, my goal is to help others discover their authenticity, lean into it, and design a life that excites you, motivates you, achieves what you desire, and doesn't leave you second-guessing or constantly getting stuck on plateaus because it's real and you're confident in your direction, knowing you will get to where you want to go. 

Much of my work contains self-help elements, communicates important points through personal stories, and pushes characters and all of us to think and act outside of our comfort zones.

If that sounds like something you're interested in, make sure to subscribe to get fresh stories and stay updated on all current and upcoming projects. 

Feel free to email me with any questions, inquiries, and more.

All the best,

Sara

Suggested Pieces to Start with:

Open (2024), flash fiction, Patreon

"Tonight, he is with someone else. He texted her from some beer hall she's forgotten the name of. Said he's going home with someone. He'd be back late. He sent the address and a kissy-face emoji. Love you, baby, he wrote."

reclaiming stolen time (2024), musing, Hey, World!

"I tell myself that all these missed opportunities are a season, and it will pass, but as a new acquaintance with grown children pointed out: my oldest is [fifteen] and is in the place where she hardly wants to do anything anymore, let alone do it with her family. Pulling no punches in regard to my teenager ever wanting to do things with the family again, the acquaintance said, 'That ship has sailed.'"

18 Years Later (2023), essay, Life and Other Stories

"All the times I wanted to call her, but if I did, a stranger would answer.

"All the moments I needed her with me, but she couldn’t be there.

"Most times when I kiss my husband and I feel safe and warm and loved, I wonder if my dad gave my mom that same feeling. I hold my kids, and I wonder if that blanket of love my mind drapes around them was an experience she had when she’d hug my brother and me."

But You Don't Look Autistic (2022), essay, Invisible Illness

"For nearly two years I’ve been learning about Autism and trying to reimagine my life knowing that the struggles I’ve faced were not those of a deficient or 'ridiculous' person, but of one who is differently wired."

fitting in at what cost? (2021), essay, Hey, World!

"I shifted toward him and said, 'It’s not that I’m exactly struggling more now, I’m just showing you more of my struggles — I’m unmasking as I learn more about Autism. And now you’re just seeing more of my processing that I hid from everyone as to not inconvenience others.'"

then it was over (2021), short narrative essay, Hey, World!

"I couldn't speak for a couple days after the tube came out. She fidgeted more, stopping only after she asked me if I minded if she returned to work. She was falling behind, she said. I croaked an OK and she said she loved me. Then she went back out for a cigarette."

Better (2017), short story, Medium

"I could feel her eyes on me, boring in. I couldn’t tell if they were regretful or fierce. I refused to look at her, to give her that satisfaction just to find out."

It's All Immaterial (2017), short story, Medium

"She never once pushed him, he just assumed she was trying to get her way constantly. She’s the one who pursued him. He liked that. He loved that about her, even. He’d never met a woman who went after him like she did, and . . ."

That's a Twenty Well Spent (2017), personal essay, Ascent Publication

"I rarely look at the people with cardboard signs and cheap marker ink staining their fingertips. But today was different."

SEE MORE PUBLISHED WORK

Note: I predominantly write from my personal experience as an Autistic person with ADHD, chronic illness, and more. Each of these factors can influence my individual experience overall, as well as my experience of each condition.

What I share is not a substitute for medical advice.

Self-identification of Autism (what many call “self-diagnosis”) is generally considered valid. If a personal Autistic experience I write about resonates deeply with you, consider these resources on Embrace Autism (starting with the Autism Quotient Test) as a first step. If professional assessment is important to you or your life has been impeded enough that you may need to qualify for disability assistance, you can print your results to bring to a diagnostician. (Having the tests completed in advance saved me a lot of money on my assessment!) Although there are many more diagnosticians available than what's listed, here is a comprehensive list to get you started.

Lastly, some of my opinions may have changed and my experiences may have evolved since I first wrote whatever piece or post may have lead you here.

Email me with any questions, and I’ll respond as soon as I can.