by Lazarus Chernik
David Farland/Wolverton said, approximately 70% of readers respond to visual stimuli first or primarily over the other senses. He said the rest included ~25% audial-focused, and ~4% scent-focused.Â
On a related note, research shows that people vary greatly over the amount of visualization they are able to imagine when they close their eyes. The inability to do this at all is a condition termed Aphantasia, which includes ~1% of the population. However, twice as many people, ~2%, are Hyperphantasic with the ability to imagine the full spectrum of sensory experiences.Â
I am sensitive to everyone's challenges because my career involved
discussing art projects with all manner of clients.
To writers, this means that 3 out of 4 readers need constant visual stimulation, and twice as many readers who disparage "descriptions" will demand descriptions of the highest quality (and yes, they are those who disparage descriptions, no matter the length). Authors with more detailed imaginations than average will have to train to communicate those images succinctly to their readers, without overwhelming them in words. And this can be an even more difficult problem for writers closer to the Aphantasic side of the scale.Â
Besides writing, I am a professionally trained artist, art director, and creative director (art studio head) for many years. As such, I am Hyperphantasic, but I am sensitive to everyone's challenges because my career involved discussing art projects with all manner of clients.
And so, I offer this manual of advice and practice lessons for those who wish to learn how I write visuals.
Download the document:Â Writing Effective Visuals by Lazarus Black
Download the document: Practice Effective Visuals by Lazarus Black