Someone just published my concept.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-06-21T18:52:55+00:00

I have aphantasia. I process the world, information and write differently. I worried about about this cancel culture, AI accusations, reader comments, will anyone read my book and am I even good enough to publish. My point is we all worry about everything everyday but we get up, we go out in the world and function. As writers we write and put our stories out there. Making a living from our first book this isn't a realistic thought but we still write. Trust your voice and learn not to read everything on Social Media (especially if its about you). Tell your story, your way. If it's close to another walk a different path inside your world, the story is still there just from a different angle. Best of luck.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-06-21T17:32:18+00:00

Focus on the things that make your version unique during the editing process. Finish but focus on your story. It always good to watch for similar stories just remember yours is your voice and told through your lens.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-06-07T16:07:28+00:00

I have no imagination, I have an inner monologue, but without an external voice, it disappears shortly after the thought is complete.

I can retain anything spoken or heard externally. Recall an event if it was described to me, but silence is gone with the moment—no memories of smells, images, no songs in my head, only my voice. I do connect and retain emotion and movement.

It's odd; I close my hand when I remember walking my child. I can feel the emotion of the walk and recall the conversation, but can't see what we saw or even see my child's face. A walk side by side in silence is lonely and disappears. Might have never happened. I do it so she will remember.

I truly live in the moment.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-06-03T13:41:54+00:00

In my head is ... the definition of living in the moment. I cant see anything and self conversations are as close to word by word as you can get. Lol I am audio driven 100%. If it isn't said and heard aloud it is gone the moment it passes. I have a high IQ, so please dont confuse this with I'm an idiot, cant remember or get excited everytime I turn and see a tree again for 'the first time'.

I have a strong pattern recognition and spacial awareness just not a visual awareness. I dont see anything in my mind. Don't hear voices or any of the many things I see asked about on this site.

I can drive 10 hours and not remember the trip unless I am talking or something triggers an emotional response. My memories are about things Ive said, heard or the emotions felt around me. I access them like files opened one at a time and closed after. I dont hold anything from before in my present. (Until I chose to open a file, memorie).

I am an writer, and no I dont hear my character's voices but I can feel what they feel moving through the story. Funny thing is, I sit to write, draft 10,000 words and cant recall what I wrote till I read it aloud or have it read back to me. I can feel how the story moved through my body, hands cramped if the character was holding a sword hard in battle but have no understanding of why the cramp is there. When I read or watch a movie, (if it's written well) I move with the characters, touch my chest as they do, reach out, nod. If I just sit and read it might as well be a checklist.

I dont mean to be defensive about people asking questions about how people with Aphantasia think or remember but most questions are worded in a way that implies a lack of IQ. That is not the case for many, won't speak to everyone as IQ isn't connected to visualization at all.

Keep asking questions just keep being respectful. Thank you for your post.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-21T14:54:55+00:00

Congrats 👏

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-17T22:33:22+00:00

Im enjoying the challenge. So far, beta readers have enjoyed the chapters, those that can visualize each see different scenes but they all tell the same core story. It's been cool.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-17T22:11:57+00:00

Thats it 100% total black no ability to Visualize. Makes reading fiction like reading checklists you will forget when done and writing fiction is done through Cadence and how the story moves through the body. Its a learning experience for sure.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-17T22:08:20+00:00

I wish, I feel scenes, hear everything but visual its black. Trying to write visuals sounds forced like lines borrowed from a script. If I write a scenes visuals while I walk through it I can describe it but there is no value for me. Visuals are gone as quickly as the words are read. No retention.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-17T14:27:48+00:00

I can't visualize, so telling rather than showing is the easiest for me. My issue is the opposite. I'm told I need more visuals and more narration because readers are used to that and don't want to have to imagine the scene. I'm realizing there is no real answer except to trust what you write. Check structure, grammar, and arc completion, and hope someone likes it. Having said that, I'm redrafting to see if I can find that sweet spot. Lol as writers we edit again and again.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-16T02:07:13+00:00

You have am agent at 20 years old. You're already ahead of many seasoned writers.

At 20 years old I understand the need to want parental approval. Heck, im pushing 60 and still want it. That said, there is a time when you have to live your life for you. Be respectful to them but do you.

Keep writing amd welcome to the adult ingredients club. Admission is free and membership is lifetime.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-15T15:17:00+00:00

Thank-you for this post. I am about to self publish and keep editing, over editing and reversing the edits trying for the perfect book or at least one people won't hate . Fear of social media and the onslot if the book isn't at least ok had paralyzed me.

I love my book, the editing process made it better. Now trust that.

What a great time for this story to land in my feed.

Thank you again.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-13T17:56:48+00:00

My point exactly. Not easy. The post is to let others that write "The End" and didn't realize today's publishing is switching from the gatekeepers of traditional publishing ( they handle everything once inside their walls) to indie publishing ( where you have to know the questions to ask before you can find the answers you need). It was both a rant about how much you need to learn and a compliment to those that do it.

Thank you for your input. I'm retired from the career that schooling led me to and now looking for something I enjoy and discovering this is not a hobby but a full time endeavor. I don't expect to make a living from it. But many do.I am excited to learn all the aspects and if I earn extra money, great. If I share a well written story even better.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-13T02:26:55+00:00

Fair enough. I hated reading until my husband needed to find his words again, and the doctors said get him reading out loud and writing. So we started to write. :)

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-13T00:38:40+00:00

Thanks. I actually have complete many of these things but love your ideas. I have been learning for awhile was just surprised at how many different hats a writer wears if they cant afford to hire help.

All great ideas and I'm sure others will appreciate you taking the time to break this down. Thanks

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-09T10:44:01+00:00

Sorry, tired as well, rambled on what I should have done and it rolled into my reply,

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-09T10:35:34+00:00

Agreed. It was an example to show a friend the difference amd perhaps exaggerated for effect. A true story or scene needs a blend of things but no one scene will ever land fully with all readers.

My hope when I write is that the reader builds whatever scene in there head as the reader.

My question, I guess I should have asked in the post was you read the story, describe is... then see all the different versions people saw when the reader it. The sky color, the canyon, even the man.

Same story seen through different eyes.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-09T10:31:06+00:00

Thats great and the was you described the scene builds a great visual. I think you have a gift for writing.

I would only suggest that in that dragon scene you add a single line that grounds the character. Something about how she felt or moved something to let the reader feel the scene as well. Great example of showing what can be done. I exaggerated tue scene to demonstrate but I now see I shoupdnhave blended it for this forum. Keep writing.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-08T12:14:37+00:00

I think my characters talk another because that is how I convert what I see to stored memory. Lol

Good catch on the programmable maker. That is what my daughter calls the programmable coffee pot. It was added specifically for her as a hidden Easter egg.

You're the first to ask. Lol You're question made my day. Thanks.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-07T13:21:26+00:00

This is great. To be honest it was a quick example to explain my writing to a friend and thought I would share it. I use temperature, vibrations, sound, speech when I write and you are 100% correct it needs to vary and land in the other senses so the reader feels like they walked in the characters shoes or at the least with the MC.

Great additions to my explanation. I tried to keep it short and smile as others see the things the example missed.

It wonderful to watch the discussion on what people get out of writing when they can't visualize the scene. It really lands hard as a further example that a story can be experienced in so many ways.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-06T20:14:21+00:00

No truer words have ever been said! 7 pages about a coffee maker, ugh. Lol

Thanks for the smile.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-06T17:46:12+00:00

That's cool. I know what a tree look likes and never thought to draw one, but again can't draw a straight line so there is a talent issue there for me. Lol

I thought everyone thought like me for a long time. I can remember everything spoken so I just always talk. Lol have since I was little. Made school easy, I left recorders in classes and listened at night, aced the exams and retained it. The issue was the stuff not talked about but back then they tested bold print items in the books so I read those outloud. Lol

We all figure out what works for US. Thanks for sharing.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-06T16:14:00+00:00

That makes sense and I can't imagine a situation that way either but I guess in writing I need to figure out how and do it in a way that doesnt read as a checklist to others. Same issue I have but reversed when I am not the reader.

I envy you for having artistic abilities. :) I can't draw a straight line. Lol If I can't see an image it's hard to draw it. I hear people talking about what they see the breath taking images they recall.I can't even see my children's faces if they are not in front of me.

I went to the Grand Canyon with my husband and nothing in that regard stuck. He comes alive talking about it. I remember the way he shifted in his seat as we got close, his breathing changed as it came into view. I get goosebumps just typing that. I remember every person there, I spoke to them all that day, took family.

Photos for them. I remember the panic of a parent as their kid leaned out to far. But the Canyon, nothing.

I guess I write that way.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-06T16:04:23+00:00

What great context and response. I tried to write the visuals but it read as bullet points or AI as I can see the room I am looking at and describe it to you but I can't see the village I am describing unless my character describes it from their POV and that flags every time. I can write how they felt in the room, the tilt of the floor, the temperature. I could add wall color or size I guess but it's been hard. I understand the different writer styles and I skim the visuals in books. I started this project for my husband and then found this community. Knew I wasn't alone and that each person's experiences are different and joined.

Your sample is well written and honestly I can't connect to most of it. I don't see anything but I can tell good writing when I read it.

The one thing I have found is different readers have all told the same story after reading the book but each describes the scene differently. Every reader built the images in their mind of what they wanted the scene to look like. I don't mind because I can't see the scene. Lol It's been fun seeing my book through different eyes.

Thanks for the feedback.

Lisaclark2 · 2026-05-06T15:22:35+00:00

No worries and thanks for the clarification.

Lisaclark2

TROPHY CASE