The Hail Mary Author Andy Weir Opens Up About His Visual Imagination (And Why It Matters!)

I have some incredibly exciting news to share with you all today. If you’ve ever worried that having aphantasia or reduced mental imagery might hold you back creatively, you are going to want to read this.

Recently, a video clip surfaced of the brilliant Andy Weir, the world-famous author behind the massively successful sci-fi novel The Martian and Project Hail Mary, talking openly about his own internal experience. And guess what? He doesn't have a strong mind's eye!

During a panel interview discussing the film adaptation of Project Hail Mary, the interviewer asked Andy if the character Rocky turned out exactly how he had imagined him in his head. Andy’s response was nothing short of fascinating.

He shared: "Well, I don't have a very visual imagination, so when I'm writing, things are just kind of blobs in the story. I don't have quite complete aphantasia, but I don't have a very visual imagination."

He went on to explain how this actually makes the filmmaking process easier for him: "So when I first saw the sets, and first saw Rocky, and first saw everything, my brain was like, oh, so that's what they look like, and that became canon. So it's very easy for me."

Aphantasia vs. Hypophantasia: Understanding the Spectrum

As the founder of Aphantasia Academy and someone with lived experience of multisensory aphantasia, hearing a creative powerhouse like Andy Weir talk about this is just music to my ears. But I want to pause for a moment and look closely at the specific words he used.

Andy noted that he doesn't have "quite complete aphantasia," but rather that things are "just kind of blobs" when he writes. From his description, it sounds very much like Andy experiences hypophantasia.

For those who might be new to these terms, let’s break down the distinction. Visualisation isn't a simple binary of "on" or "off." It exists on a beautifully diverse spectrum!

At one end of the spectrum, we have hyperphantasia, which is extremely vivid, life-like mental imagery. At the other end, we have aphantasia, which is the complete absence of voluntary mental imagery, a completely unseen mind.

Right next to aphantasia on that spectrum sits hypophantasia. This is characterised by reduced, weak, or vague mental imagery. People with hypophantasia might be able to conjure up fleeting, dim, or "blob-like" images, just as Andy described, rather than clear, detailed pictures.

Why This is a Massive Win for Our Community

I talk a lot in my book, Unseen Minds, about how invisible cognitive differences shape our reality. One of the most common fears I hear from people, especially young people, when they first discover they have aphantasia or hypophantasia is that they won't be able to be creative, write books, or make art.

Andy Weir is living, breathing proof that this simply isn't true.

Think about the incredibly vivid, detailed, and immersive worlds he created in The Martian. He built a gripping narrative of survival on a desolate planet that captivated millions of readers and translated into a blockbuster film. And he did all of that while visualising "blobs in the story."

It shows us that brilliant writing doesn't rely on seeing a high-definition movie in your mind. Creativity comes from concepts, spatial awareness, logic, emotion, and the masterful use of language. You don't need to see the spaceship perfectly in your mind's eye to describe how it functions or how a character feels while trapped inside it.

In fact, as Andy pointed out, having reduced mental imagery can sometimes be a superpower! Because he didn't have a rigid, crystal-clear image of his characters or sets in his head, he was able to look at the film production's designs and immediately accept them as canon. It made the collaborative process of adaptation "very easy" for him.

Embracing Our Unseen Minds

Every time a high-profile figure like Andy Weir speaks casually and openly about their cognitive differences, it helps normalise the conversation. It reminds us that there is no single "correct" way for a human brain to function.

Whether your mind is a vivid cinema, a gallery of vague blobs, or a beautifully quiet, unseen space, your creative potential is limitless.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Does Andy’s experience with hypophantasia resonate with how you experience the world? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below.

Until next time, keep embracing your unique minds!

Sassy Smith is the author of Unseen Minds - A Therapist's Guide to Multisensory Aphantasia and Invisible Cognitive Differences BUY NOW on Amazon