It’s known that people with autism can actually have a vivid imagination and are often involved in the arts. As an author I need imagination and to be able to understand different points of view of my characters in order to write my books. That sort of imagination isn’t difficult for me.
That said, I do think I lack imagination in some ways which might be an odd thing for a writer to say. Certainly when I wrote any sort of thank-you letter as a child I felt it was dutiful and my mind went a complete blank as I struggled to fill up one side of a small piece of stationery. Anything shorter would have been unacceptable. It was preferable to write on the back and if you could fill up the second page all the better! I remember my father reading out thank-you letters from some of my cousins which were amusing and original, not like my own stodgy unimaginative handiwork, which felt woefully inadequate in comparison.
Another time, when I was seven, I remember the teacher asking us to write a story about getting to know a neighbour. As an example she said a ball being accidentally thrown over the fence but was looking for more unusual scenarios. However, I don’t think I could get past her suggestion and I think my story definitely involved a ball! (In fairness I wasn't the only one!) I remember the teacher reading out someone’s story where the cat had got its paw stuck in the fence. She praised it for its difference and I couldn’t beat that.
Another example comes back to me of having to write about something we did at the weekend. Maybe the subject matter didn’t float my boat. Maybe I hadn’t done a thing sufficiently interesting at the weekend but I remember one time sitting there in a frozen panic and peering over my best friend’s shoulder. She was writing away. I was near enough to copy it. I could just change a few words here and there and that’s what I did!
But thinking about books and genres, I can't get on with fantasy as a genre. And to a lesser extent science fiction. There are, of course, always exceptions to the rule. At A level we studied H G Wells short stories and I did love many of them. But I think the reason I struggle with fantasy fiction is I can't cope with lots of new and unfamiliar names or fantastical places with long made-up names or whimsical creatures. Even when reading any sort of fiction, the reader is introduced to a lot of new people and unfamiliar location which is a lot to process. So it helps if it is a seamless read for the reader, preferably with names or some aspect of the environment that is familiar. It doesn't matter if it's in a foreign country as long as we're not introduced to too many new characters with unfamiliar names at once. This is a good rule of thumb anyway - regardless of familiarity of names or otherwise. It all stems back to the processing speed and retention of a lot of information which we looked at earlier and which Autistics can struggle with.
In an autism group I was discussing this and explained that I didn’t get on with fantasy, sci fi or paranormal books that were too far-fetched. Someone else responded with: “This is so interesting to read. I loved books as a kid - and still do - but like you, not fantasy or sci fi. I can do fiction but it has to be believable (ish)! So as a kid I read Famous Five because although adventures with smugglers and suchlike were a bit far-fetched, they still followed the rules of what's humanly possible. I read the Narnia books but it annoyed me when magic happened!" Someone else said she liked to read fantasy like Narnia as a kid….but could “only write what feels real”.
I really understood this, especially about Narnia because, as I explained in the thread, my sister and I loved the beginning of the Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, the way the children went through the back of the wardrobe and the magical walk in the snow but only as far as the lamppost. But beyond that but we weren’t interested. The Lion and the Snow Queen or what happened beyond the lamppost was fantastical!
But I am still struggling to see how lack of social imagination relates to fantasy or science fiction books - maybe it’s my lack of being able to imagine a world that isn’t equivalent to ours, being able to imagine creatures or animals or place names that are unfamiliar. Strangely, I didn’t feel the same about fairy tales or fables. I guess it’s good characters, descriptions and relatable emotions that are key for me and maybe I’m not giving fantasy writing a fair hearing. Maybe the books I have begun reading in those genres haven’t been the best ones. Or maybe the concentration and processing problems I have spoken about in earlier blogs means it’s harder work and less enjoyable if I have to wade through mythical names and places.
As I say I certainly think I lack some sort of imagination but this was/is usually in stressful social situations, like the situation at school and having to write a story on the spot. I'm not sure this was lack of imagination or more question of how social anxiety can impact on it. I’ve never been good with time limits or deadlines or people all around me while trying to be creative. This comes back to the need for thinking and processing time in one’s own space and presumably with all ones comforts. The article below outlines more about this:
https://faithmummy.wordpress.com/2017/07/20/lack-of-imagination-in-autism-is-not-what-you-may-think/
I can’t say I related to a lot of this article or it may be that I’ve just forgotten. I certainly struggled enormously when I moved schools to a new area aged 7 and spent the first few terms playing on my own. I think maybe this paragraph resonated the most:
“Lack of social imagination is also why my daughter has no concept when others are bored listening to her talk on and on about her latest fixation. Not only can she not imagine that everyone else would love Thomas Tank Engine as much as she does but she also can not imagine that you would want to do something else if she doesn’t…”
I do remember forcing chess on my only friend at the age of 7 or 8. I do remember my mum feeling for the other child and saying she probably doesn’t want to keep playing chess. But I’m sure a lot of young children are like this as they’ve not yet learned the social rules. When I was older I hated the idea of people being bored. I wouldn’t enjoy it if they weren’t.
Anyway, that's all for this time. I've also uploaded this in video format and I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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