[stylist] [word choice & Robert's gratitude submission

[Chris Kuell]

This is an interesting post, Robert. I've run into similar situations in my 
own writing. For example, I belong to a critique group. I submitted a 
chapter of my novel about a blind massage therapist, in which I wrote 'Dan 
looked down at his plate, buying time while he thought of an appropriate 
response.'
Several of the sighted folks in the group wrote--how can he look down at his 
plate? I understand their point, but I don't really feel like slowing the 
action to say that while Dan can't see the plate physically with his eyes, 
when he pointed his face toward the plate, what a sighted person would call 
looking at it, he saw it in his mind. The chicken to the left side, the rice 
and vegetables to the right... and so on. I left it as is, although an 
editor down the line might raise the same exact question.

chris