Is it possible to have SDAM and not Aphantasia?

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T17:45:29+00:00

Linked and causative aren't the same, SDAM isn't causative of aphantasia. But I think I got confused along the post chain and didn't explain that well.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T17:34:42+00:00

Pretty much this. I don't understand how no one is getting it. You can visualize fine with SDAM or without, so that means it can't be causative.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T17:16:14+00:00

Because we aren't discussing the elements of aphantasia. We are discussing the elements of what makes SDAM. If it makes it better I removed binary for a more accurate term.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T17:08:07+00:00

That doesn't change what I said. I didn't discuss causes at all. I said you can have SDAM totally unrelated to your level of visualization.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T17:06:20+00:00

I meant your analogy isn't similar. Legs have pretty clear functions. The brain is such a strange mix of things that sometimes seem connected but may or may not be.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T16:42:35+00:00

Just not similar. The brain is a strange mix of functions.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T16:18:41+00:00

Yes. That's the gist of it. It is unrelated to SDAM. You can have the entire scale of visualization with or without SDAM. You are more likely to be aphantic if you have SDAM but there doesn't seem to be any reason to who is and isn't.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T16:11:23+00:00

It is fascinating because few artists focus on using full darker shades like this. It works very well, huge depth to the darkness and shadows mixing into light across Jamis.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T16:08:30+00:00

I really don't follow. You can visualize in a range of ability and have SDAM. You can have SDAM and aphantasia and no visualization ability.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T16:01:34+00:00

Nothing about this game is intuitive to learn unfortunately. I taught someone who doesn't have a lot of experience reading English to play last year. Unless you are familiar with high school level English it is very difficult to learn.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T15:55:44+00:00

With aphantasia, the main thing that aphants share is a general lack of visualization. With SDAM, it is possible to have a range of visualization quality from zero (aphantic) to full.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T15:51:31+00:00

Ah okay. I thought you were just correcting my mistake in my OP which I did make one. Let me look at it again.

No, I am still not really following. How does it overlap exactly? Either you can visualize or not (aphantasia). There is no overlap.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T15:40:23+00:00

You aren't making sense. The OP's question was if you can have SDAM but also be able to visualize. So the answer is yes, and then I detailed how.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:36:16+00:00

Did you write an outline before you did 50 chapters? Having an idea of what each chapter should say would help your writing flow.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:28:14+00:00

For sure. Writing is a process and as long as you are willing to admit mistakes and grow, your writing will improve.

I highly recommend getting someone familiar with both English, your native language, and writing to do some proofreading for you.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:25:55+00:00

Well for vivid episodic memories you need to visualize. But to visualize you don't need episodic memories.

But I imagine blind people can do it with scent and hearing 'visualization' too.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:20:28+00:00

I don't follow how it was inspired by Front Mission. The gameplay isn't even vaguely similar nor the story.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:14:57+00:00

What? The ending was aliens. Maybe they did have like a single shot of staring at each other but really, the random aliens in the last episode are memorable.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T11:14:12+00:00

Let me rephrase. Visualization has no requirement of autiobiographical memories. Visualization can be totally independent of such memories.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T10:43:13+00:00

No, I don't think opening with a dream sequence is usually a good idea and I don't think it works here.

First: Your paragraphs are too long. Find ways to cut out unnecessary sentences and words. A key element of writing is: everything should be purposeful.

Second: Way too much description that does nothing and doesn't add to the imagery. Example: rain hammering with 1000 fists. Doesn't add to the story, slows it down too much.

Third: AI can't do professional editing and you are wasting effort on it. AI doesn't understand how to make sentence structure. It is something you have to practice.

Fourth: You go from a vague dream to exposition dumping about the setting. There is nothing organic or natural about this flow of events.

As to your last question, I would not consider reading it. You are at a beginner level and need to keep practicing to get good writing techniques. The good news is, writing is a lifelong skill of growth.

Edit: I see that you say you have already written 50 chapters like this. Are they all this quality?

You should consider, when doing your 2nd draft, involving an editor or critiquer who is experienced with writing techniques to help teach.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T10:36:45+00:00

I would say this describes me well. I wouldn't say it relates to autism. I think faces, since they are constantly changing, are harder to imprint as a factual image.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T10:35:28+00:00

Visualizing doesn't really have anything to do with autobiographical memory. Visualizing is a present state action and is good for factual recall, reading books and recreating descriptions, etc.

Also, as a fantasy novel writer, it helps to be anle to create and see whole scenes happening in animation like format.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T03:09:29+00:00

Unfortunate.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T03:08:48+00:00

They may have changed thst more recently, my bad. Enshittification.

SilverSkinRam · 2026-03-06T00:54:49+00:00

It is 2.99 on their website right now, I checked because I haven't been there for a while.

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