Alternatives to dream sequence?

starrykitten · Apr 25, 2009

Hello!

I'm writing a series of short stories with the same narrator, and I plan to eventually publish them all in one book. You don't have to read one to understand another, so they all stand alone. But I want them to still make sense together as well.

There's one story where things happen differently than we know they happen based on the rest of the book, but I can't decide how to frame it. I don't want it to just be a dream my narrator has, but I'm trying to think of other ways to explain it. The only things I've come up with so far are:

-drugs
-near-death experience
-alternate universe
-fantasy/daydream
-a story she writes

Can anyone else think of an explanation?

TheIT · Apr 25, 2009

Switch narrators for that one story. Or have that story be the usual narrator telling "what should/might have happened" to someone else. Why is that story different? Is the narrator masking what really happened to keep someone from getting hurt?

starrykitten · Apr 26, 2009

That's a good question. I've been asking myself why this story seems necessary. I can't articulate it well, but I see the two divergent stories as two stories where one contains the "actual" truth and one contains the "emotional" truth -- what my narrator feels like happened, which is more dramatic than what actually does happen.

I suppose she could just say that's what it felt like if I don't think of anything else.

Robert E. Keller · Apr 26, 2009

starrykitten said:
That's a good question. I've been asking myself why this story seems necessary. I can't articulate it well, but I see the two divergent stories as two stories where one contains the "actual" truth and one contains the "emotional" truth -- what my narrator feels like happened, which is more dramatic than what actually does happen.

I suppose she could just say that's what it felt like if I don't think of anything else.

If I'm getting your meaning, I think you should have her experiencing this "second" experience right while the first is going on. That would certainly be more intense than having her experience it later through a dream, flashback, or memory. For example, if a character is experiencing a nuclear war--he or she may also be experiencing comparisons or thoughts of the biblical version of hell at the same time (to use an old cliche). To have those comparisons made later in the character's mind would weaken the impact.

Robert E. Keller
http://www.scrollsofatlantis.com

Rufus Leeking · Apr 26, 2009

starrykitten said:
That's a good question. I've been asking myself why this story seems necessary. I can't articulate it well, but I see the two divergent stories as two stories where one contains the "actual" truth and one contains the "emotional" truth -- what my narrator feels like happened, which is more dramatic than what actually does happen.

I suppose she could just say that's what it felt like if I don't think of anything else.

the narrator is now on em's death bed at 90 and lapsing in and out of coherence?

Ulee_Lhea · Apr 28, 2009

We all tell ourselves stories about ourselves -- that's how we make meaning out of our experience.

Sometimes the story we tell ourselves may have nothing to do with reality.

I'd take a look at Freud's ego defenses: projection, sublimation, splitting, etc. as an inspiration.

How does she realize the story she's been telling herself is inaccurate? Could be any of the above you mentioned, also hypnosis, mental illness, or just plain growing up and gaining a better perspective.

I rather like the idea! Good luck, and stop back and tell us what you pick!

Alternatives to dream sequence?

starrykitten

practical experience, FTW

TheIT

Infuriatingly Theoretical

starrykitten

practical experience, FTW

Robert E. Keller

Likes heroic fantasy and hot coffee

Rufus Leeking

Ulee_Lhea

Fear no darkness.