Do dreams influence your writing?
Do dreams influence my writing, even? It’s a question that’s cropped up time and time again for me (including in my 4×4 inspirations for writing), and I’m curious as to what level other people’s writing is affected by their dreams.
I sometimes dream about writing. Back in April, during National Poetry Writing Month, I dreamt a whole poem - and then when I woke, I could only remember a few lines, which faded too soon. Earlier this week, too, I had a dream in which I wrote a whole page of prose and read it out loud to myself; when I woke, I had no idea what I’d written in my dream, but I knew it was good and it made me want to try and write something there and then. I didn’t, of course, since I’m not that organised early in the morning, but that dream did prompt this blog post.
I’ve had ideas for short stories that have sprung from dreams I’ve had. I’ve had events from my dreams which I’ve expanded later in my mind into full scenes without context… which I have then developed a whole world around, and written up after mulling them over in my thoughts for weeks or even months.
The most annoying thing though, of course, is when I have a really interesting idea in a dream… and once I’ve woken up, by the time I’ve found a pen, the idea has already gone. I really should keep a notebook by the bed, like all sensible and productive writers are supposed to do!
This xkcd comic sums it all up though, really…
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on June 9th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Great comic.
I don’t think I’ve ever written anything inspired by a dream, funny enough. Maybe it’s something I should try. I tend to remember my dreams in vivid detail, but they also tend to be achingly boring…
Fiendish’s last post: More Fiction
on June 9th, 2008 at 4:29 am
I have written poems about dreams that I’ve had, and I too have dreamt a poem, only to wake up and have the words be lost. So frustrating!
Angel’s last post: Beyond The Back Door
on June 9th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’ve written a few short poems inspired by dreams. I also tried writing a blog post describing one particularly weird one. The problem I’ve had, beyond lacking full recall as in the comic, is that the written version never seems to measure up to my memory of the dream. I’m not sure if that’s because my sleeping mind is more easily impressed, or I’m just not capturing it properly. I keep a notepad by the bedside, but that’s mostly for the ideas that pop in my head while I’m waiting to fall asleep.
Francis Scudellari’s last post: Belly: Chapter One
on June 9th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I can think of at least one poem that I’ve written that was inspired by a dream and that I even wrote in a dream-like sort of state. Every once in a while I remember to keep a notepad by the bed, but then it gets carried off….
SmallWorld Reads’s last post: Sunday Salon: Family Reading
on June 9th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
The drawings are neat Catherine. And yes, I have read somewhere that writers should ALWAYS have pen and paper/notebook within reach so that ideas could be written - pronto! These also applies to sudden ideas even in the wee hours of dawn when sometimes an inspiration strikes.
There are times, I am suddenly awake because of an “aha” phenomenon. (Aha ! this is a good story material.) (grins).
Good post. Thanks for sharing.
Jena Isle’s last post: STILL STUPID AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
on June 9th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I’m sorry for the grammatical error” That should read: ‘ THIS ALSO APPLIES TO SUDDEN IDEAS….”
HE HE HE, thanks.
Jena Isle’s last post: STILL STUPID AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
on June 9th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’m not someone that remembers my dreams too often but I think if I did, I’d definitely find it in my blog writing.
Mamaflo’s last post: Turning Down EC Adverts
on June 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Once, just once, when I was younger, I woke up with an absolutely brilliant idea - much better than the usual old guff. I said to myself, “I’ll write that down in the morning”, then rolled over and fell asleep…
…you know the rest.
Ken Armstrong’s last post: Blogging All Over the World..with Jen
on June 10th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Gotta love XKCD. At first, I would have the whole “forget in the morning” problem. Then I just made sure to keep a note book and pen right on my bed side. It helps a bit. But I do know the feeling.
Roberto Villegas’s last post: Serenity at Night
on June 10th, 2008 at 6:43 am
As Roberto says, having a way of recording a dream next to the bed can help. I had a boss who would dream about work problems and then spent the rest of the night worrying. He found the paper and pencil cure worked because he could remember the next day and do something about it. I haven’t tried it myself because I feel if I was awake enough to write it down, I’d never be able to go back to sleep.
A.’s last post: She does it all.
on June 10th, 2008 at 7:06 am
I really really really need to start keeping a notebook by my bed… I was dreaming again last night of something that was worth hanging on to.
Anyway, thanks for the comments - looks like I’m not the only one who gets ideas from their dreams or forgets the damn things!
I also tend to dream about work - particularly when, as at the moment, I’m really busy with it - so keeping notes about that would probably be a good idea for me, too, A!
on June 11th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I love the sketches, they are extremely apt indeed!
I am currently writing a grammar book and a couple of board books for children. So, I keep a pencil and a notepad by the bed just in case. I have come up with a few things that I may not have done if sat at the computer. I tend to have great ideas when I am relaxing rather than working!
Sarah :: Don’t dangle your participles!’s last post: Are you dangling your participles in public?
on June 12th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I wish I could take credit for the pics that have appeared this week, but I can’t draw at all. Except for stick figures. If I do the next Doodle Week in July, that will become painfully obviously.