Write what you know.

[dameboudicca]

You know, that advise you get all the time. It has some truth to it (especially if not taken to literally).

But what do you do if you suffer from prosopagnosia (facial blindness), when you couldn't describe the face of someone you knew if your life depended on it even? If you are incapable of reading facial expressions (at least, if they are not really exaggerated). Does that mean you have to write stories about faceless beings who never shows the slightest hint of an expression on their faces? It would be all right if your character had the same condition, but if you don't want that...?

This is not just a question out of idle curiosity, I have these problems, and so far I have avoided it by using generic descriptions (put together from stuff I've read), but it feels a bit like cheating (no, no, not word-by-word, of course not - but still!) - and I'm terrified someone will, eventually, see through it. After all, I know it's fake!

Or, do I have no choice but to continue as I do now?

[somewhat cross-posted]

Comments

[feuervogel]

With prosopagnosia, do you still *make* facial expressions? Like raised eyebrows or whatever?

I find that what I do when I'm writing is say the dialogue (out loud or in my head) as if it's words I'm saying in a conversation, and let my expression react naturally. If someone with prosopagnosia doesn't *do* that, then it's probably not useful for you.

I have to say, a POV character with prosopagnosia could be interesting.

[dameboudicca]

Actually I don't know about the average person with prosopagnosia and their facial expressions. I know I make them less than the average person, but that could have other explanations.

Sometime I perhaps should write about a character with prosopagnosia - it could be fun! (At least I know a lot about that!)