Misfits: A Personal Manifesto

In this brief manifesto on creating one’s own path in a world that expects conformity, award-winning actress and screenwriter Coel invites readers along as she searches for meaning. Coel’s quest takes place both at home, where she learns how to navigate the ongoing presence of moths, and at work, where she actively seeks opportunities to tell her story on her own terms. It is in telling her own story that Coel’s writing shines, whether she’s recalling the impact of growing up in a religious household in London (which would serve as the basis for her TV show Chewing Gum) or making a conscious decision to tell the truth while running away from it, as she did in her show I May Destroy You. Coel passionately describes being a misfit, never quite fitting in at home or school, and writing for an audience of fellow misfits who can relate to the racism, sexism, and otherness that she continues to face. Writing is a means for Coel to cope with trauma, and she encourages readers to find a therapeutic outlet and to embrace silence when necessary.