How do you usually imagine a world and its characters while reading a novel?

[ElijahRyne]

It's a question that I've wondered for a bit. For me I would say it's usually live action or animation.

Dreamlike/ethereal/like the ever present mist beyond perception, etc.
Essentially as shaped blobs fitting their character, setting, objects, etc. While being attached in what I want the story/character to be in that moment of time. Occasionally I will be able to see a snapshot of a setting or scene from the pov of my narration.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hmm - this poll is specifically for how you view something you are READING right? I wonder if it would be any different for how people picture things as they're WRITING?

Though, come to think of it, in both cases, it probably looks like a more photo-realistic version of the 60s superhero cartoons (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Sub-Mariner, Aquaman, Batman and Robin - believe it or not, the 70s Superfriends was a quantum leap up in quality) from Hanna-Barbara - half-animated, half a static image dragged across a backdrop.

 

[tobascoasako]

When reading light novels, I read a few chapters of the manga or watch an anime episode then go on from there.

 

[Tsuru]

It's a question that I've wondered for a bit. For me I would say it's usually live action or animation.

Chinese webnovels
are live action

 

[Hoshino]

Huh? 3D? Don't joke with me. 3d is overrated.
I use 4D and 5D and a mix of anime.

 

[Thraben]

Other.

I don't have colors or concrete images in my imaginations, period, just vague silhouettes and what are effectively instructions on what that thing would look and feel like if it were in front of me, even if I can't see it in my mind.

 

[gaylolis]

i don't really imagine things in detail when reading, probably more like manga / still images with only little movement.

imagining things like a movie / anime is better when i'm in bed to make me sleep easier.

 

[matnun]

I don't imagine at all. My brain doesn't convert words into things, they remain as words. Now that I think about it it's pretty weird. I remember that when I was younger I could actually imagine things but now it's all just words, I don't know if it's because I chose to do so to read faster or if I just lost the ability.

 

[Hsinat]

video game?

 

[RedMuffin]

I use all, I have a flexible imagination and I use whatever better fit the scene. For example, when I'm reading a cultivation novel, I use manhua format to imagine but I would use manhwa format in the emotional scenes or live action in the fight scenes. It all depends on the scenario.

 

[ZombieHat]

Kind of depends on the book. Usually some wierd hybrid mix of live action and animation. Its usually very vivid, as my imagination is too much some times. It ends up being a movie in my head mostly.

 

[Bartun]

I always imagine it as if it were a live-action movie.