How Richard Osman deals with vision impairment | Access All

Richard Osman, author of the Thursday Murder Club series, discusses his visual impairment, nystagmus, and how it shapes his life and work. Nystagmus causes his eyes to move constantly, leading to a blurred vision, which he likens to driving in fog. This visual challenge has necessitated workarounds from a young age, particularly at school where he couldn't see the blackboard. Instead of drawing attention to his difficulty, he developed a habit of listening intently and finding his own methods to absorb information. This tendency to find alternative solutions has become a core part of his approach to writing. Osman sets his novels in places he has already visited, as unfamiliar environments and the associated travel processes—documents, queues, signage—can be stressful due to his visual processing challenges. His latest book, "We Chase Shadows," begins in Tuscany and moves to Barcelona, with a brief stop in Stockholm. He humorously suggests that if his next "We Solve Murders" book is set in a Nandos, it's because he might be running out of familiar travel destinations. Osman explains that his visual impairment influences his writing style. Editors often note his lack of detailed physical descriptions for characters. He explains that he doesn't focus on appearance because he experiences people through their "vibe"—their tone, manner, and overall presence—which is how he relates to them. Similarly, his writing process is not based on extensive pre-planning with spreadsheets or spider diagrams. He starts with an inciting incident, a few characters, and lets them interact, discovering their personalities and the plot as he writes. He typically has a general idea of the ending about halfway through the book but enjoys the surprise of the story unfolding organically. He believes that the workarounds developed due to a disability provide a unique skill set. He likens it to London black cab drivers who, after learning every street, develop enhanced cognitive abilities. For those who have had to think outside the box their entire lives, this fosters an unusual way of thinking that can be highly valuable, especially in a future where AI can handle conventional thinking. He encourages focusing on these strengths, as this unconventional thinking offers solutions that others may not readily perceive. He concludes that his career has benefited from his brain working in a way that others haven't had to, making him uniquely equipped for certain challenges.