Writing with aphantasia. Why this happens is unknown.

Writing with aphantasia ’ I don’t even have a box to think in,” she says. Aphantasia may also affect the way you store or access memories. Mar 7, 2022 · Steve Waterman. Posted by u/quitzlecoatl - 1 vote and 11 comments Apr 8, 2021 · Understanding the Emotional Resonance of Settings Transformed My Writing Process. Hello, I am writing because I Jan 8, 2024 · If you write speculative fiction, 2% of your readers might experience reading like I do—tips for reading and writing science fiction with aphantasia. Oct 4, 2022 · Aphantasia and Writing. Basically it means I can't visualize things—at all. Adam Zeman , who coined the name aphantasia from the Greek word “phantasia,” which means “imagination. “How come you write so fast?” It was the final question after my hour-long talk to a group of ten-year-olds about my latest children’s book, and followed hot on the heels of Aug 19, 2022 · I’d been writing fiction for more than a decade before I encountered the term “aphantasia,” which describes a rare inability to see mental images in the mind’s eye. If you write speculative fiction, 2% of your readers might experience reading like I do. This is thinking outside the box ‘on steroids. Ask questions, share perspectives and connect with many minds. But that probably wouldn’t have made for a very interesting article. You’ll find interviews with all the aphantasic writers of sapphic books I could find below, including a description of how having aphantasia influences their writing. Steve Waterman is a retired public school district superintendent. I have a hard time describing things unless it's right in front of me, and I'm not always sure what my readers need to visualize things. A little over 15% of people with aphantasia can “see” mental images if they open their eyes. For more on writing with aphantasia, follow JD Kirk on Twitter or TikTok. I’d been instructed many times to visualize an image to meditate, relax, remember or write, but when I tried, I saw nothing. Well, it’s either that, or the fact that I’m dead good at typing. Yet, I still describe vivid scenes by focusing on sounds, smells, and emotions. Nov 30, 2019 · I have a strong spatial sense, very rarely get lost, and have no problems with geometry and advanced mathematics. Later, she spent time living on both coasts, and traveling the United States, before finally putting down roots in Central Florida. So, if aphantasia causes significant learning problems for some people, it must have multiple flavours- and they are not all harmful. By . A small percentage of people with aphantasia only experience it with closed eyes. Aug 11, 2024 · The following article, concerning writing with aphantasia, was written by JD Kirk and originally published in the Scotsman Magazine on Sunday 19th February 2023. Despite still needing a dictionary to write Christmas cards, as an aphantasic, Steve managed to make it as an English major in college, go on to graduate law school, and write many evaluation reports, funding proposals, newsletters, school board agendas, and more. Long descriptive pages are dull. Author Mariel Pomeroy loved reading when she was younger. Very boring! Feb 22, 2023 · I started to think of how aphantasia affects the way I read and write, especially fiction. Jun 30, 2021 · I think the thing I find the most interesting about this, is that there isn’t actually anything specifically relevant to Aphantasia here. How hard is it for writers with a vivid visual imagination to cater for people with aphantasia? Writing for readers with aphantasia, isn’t actually that different. Dec 21, 2023 · So that’s writing with aphantasia, in a nutshell – you focus on the non-visual aspects to tell your story, and where you need visuals you pull from experience and from other things you’ve seen or heard or read, and you craft your words carefully to convey a feeling or an idea. Kim Zarins on November 4, 2022 Feb 27, 2020 · “Aphantasia gives me freedom to think outside of the normal way of thinking. This is the exact way that people who aren’t aphantasic also write, with a common encouragement for beginning writers being to start creating files of things to steal / swipe / imitate and to maintain journals for inspiration and novel bibles for pieces I’m a fiction writer and wondering how other people with aphantasia read (or if so inclined, write) fiction. If you can’t visualize, what is your writing process? How does it (if at all) affect your work? I can’t imagine not being able to see images in my head so I’m super curious! Jul 28, 2021 · She was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she got her start writing in creative writing courses. Though living without a mind’s eye, I absolutely could and did write a fantasy novel. Fifteen years ago, when I first started writing with purpose—to finish an actual novel—I dreaded writing settings. My head lacks a place for all those details to stick. 2 Key Things I Learned on How to Write Vividly Without a Mind’s Eye. I'm not good with imagery and visual components, so those little details are a bit lacking. (aphantasia is the inability to visualize things) I realized recently how much my aphantasia affects my writing. Many of you likely don't know what that is, although lately it's become better known due to some popular twitter posts (like this one). ” Nov 27, 2024 · A common misconception is that aphantasia limits creativity, but this is not necessarily the case. Aphantasia, living without a mind's eye, doesn't Nov 4, 2022 · If you write speculative fiction, 2% of your readers might experience reading like I do—tips for reading and writing science fiction with aphantasia. Many individuals with aphantasia excel in creative fields like writing, music, and design, relying on conceptual thinking rather than visual imagery. I rely on the flow of the words and a sort of emotional imagery in my writing. The Aphantasia Network sponsored an “Extreme Imagiantion” convention a few years back. Dec 25, 2024 · This comprehensive exploration of Aphantasia, a cognitive condition where individuals cannot voluntarily visualize imagery, offers in-depth insights into the unique career paths, challenges, and strengths of those affected. When reading, I often skip over descriptive paragraphs and never understood how anyone else could find I don’t have aphantasia, I see super vivid images in my head. Aphantasia Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be Creative. Oct 10, 2024 · When you read and write, do you visualize the scenes in your head, a bit like a movie? Or do you see nothing? Join us in an exploration of aphantasia — or the inability to visualize — and the way different brains experience storytelling. There is a sense of relief Aphantasia Network is a place to discover and learn about aphantasia. Writing Fantasy Without a Mind’s Eye. I know what things are, logically and conceptually, but there is no mental picture that goes with it. I see now that this is because it was a box I didn’t understand. Feb 10, 2025 · As a horror writer with aphantasia, I can’t visualize the creepy skulls I write about. I feel like my aphantasia made me much stronger than most others at math and science. I have aphantasia. “How come you write so fast?” It was the final question after my hour-long talk to a group of ten-year-olds about my latest children’s book, and followed hot on the heels of Writing with aphantasia . The blog post delves into how people with Aphantasia navigate creative and logical professions, utilizing specific strategies that cater to their distinct cognitive Jun 11, 2024 · Aphantasia has unique cognitive strengths. Feb 21, 2023 · That’s how I’ve been able to write over 200 books in a little over ten years. Jun 11, 2024 · By the time this article is published, my book should be on sale. Oct 31, 2024 · Because of that, I never heard of aphantasia until I was in my 40s, and so I never realized there was anything ‘different’ about my process, or the way I imagine things or create things, so I never felt I had to ‘compensate’ for anything; my writing just evolved naturally into the way I write best, and it continues to evolve just like Sep 22, 2022 · Writers with aphantasia can be just as creative as any other writer, but they will have a different writing process, especially if their aphantasia affects all mental senses. She attended The University of Central Oklahoma for Computer Science and Political Science. Many are currently unrealized. Does anybody else with aphantasia write stories? What is your experience with writing?. It’s not too difficult to write fiction including descriptions if you have aphantasia. Question I've only recently realised I'm aphantasic and looking back on the books ive written ive noticed my writing is definitely skewed If you have aphantasia, then it’s likely your first-degree relatives may also have aphantasia, indicating a possible genetic or hereditary link. She remembers seeing Twi Author Aria Glazki describes what it's like for her to write with aphantasia. I want to write something in a style that appeals to others with aphantasia and so I’m curious what everyone’s experiences are. I was reading a thread about what reading is like for those who can’t visualize, and started thinking. Tragically, upon learning they have aphantasia, some artists think they should no longer make art. My imagination doesn’t need visuals to create gripping stories—character depth and atmosphere are my strengths. Watch this interview with Dr. Why this happens is unknown. It felt like checking a box I didn’t understand. Jun 28, 2019 · How Do You Write For Readers With Aphantasia. People with aphantasia are more likely to have difficulties with first As a person with aphantasia, trying to write stories is a strange task for me. I’ve tried. Your gorgeous description of the spaceship or the landscape? Teenage me skimmed that paragraph like I skimmed Tolkien’s descriptions of Middle Earth. When I read and write I gravitate towards dialogue. llv ydjkq dagmshb jgte kfywbp hdfol phhhm yswq rljtcw pxwp tccbejr tegptvxi gmu ggtwd fwhb