OK, because I'm bored at work, and I'm curious...
How often do you dream about your characters or you WIP?
How often do you dream about your characters or you WIP?
Dreaming...
- Thread starter althrasher
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Like in sleepytime dreams? Can't say I wake up having remembered dreaming about them, but I do think about them - perhaps as sleep overtakes.
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HI Bufty!
I think about my stories to fall asleep, but I don't think I've dreamed about them. Now day dreams, um... constantly. well not as much now that I am grown and happy, not a miserable teen. BUt everyday for sure.
I think about my stories to fall asleep, but I don't think I've dreamed about them. Now day dreams, um... constantly. well not as much now that I am grown and happy, not a miserable teen. BUt everyday for sure.
Guess I'm just weird then...I dream about mine all the time! Of course, I dream some very strange things.
My WIP actually started as a dream of mine...go figure.
My WIP actually started as a dream of mine...go figure.
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Yeah, I dream about my characters pretty often. About a month ago, just before I woke up on a Saturday morning, one of my characters made me a strawberry smoothie in her bedroom closet. And then she showed me the Broadway musical posters on her walls. I wished we'd had time to go out and solve a mystery together, but alas, my body decided it had had enough sleep.
Oh, good. That makes me feel better. Gotta love those character-created strawberry smoothies.
I used to think I did dream about my characters and plot lines, but now I've come to believe it's more a matter of thinking about them while falling asleep or while waking up, than dreaming.
I remember a lot of dreams, since I sleep very lightly and come out during REM every night, and often time believed I dreamed a solution to a plot or character issue that had been bothering me previously.
But I dwell on those things as I'm falling asleep, so they're also the first thing on my mind when I'm waking up - and I think it's those times that our brains (or if you'd rather I not speak for everyone - MY brain) is most receptive to creative solutions.
I remember a lot of dreams, since I sleep very lightly and come out during REM every night, and often time believed I dreamed a solution to a plot or character issue that had been bothering me previously.
But I dwell on those things as I'm falling asleep, so they're also the first thing on my mind when I'm waking up - and I think it's those times that our brains (or if you'd rather I not speak for everyone - MY brain) is most receptive to creative solutions.
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Hey muse, I also get solutions when I am in the shower and sometimes while driving. I think it is becuase my body knows what to do so my brain is free to think. SOmetimes I get so deep in thought I wonder if I washed my hair, then do it again just to be sure. Not sure that is so good while driving.
Put me firmly in the I-dream-about-them-only-when-falling-asleep camp. To my knowledge, I haven't dreamed about them, but I do think about them often.
Well, I'm not sure you should wash your hair while driving - but I agree with your idea that the mind wanders when the body is on remote.
Actually yes, I do that a lot while driving - during the commute to and from work, it's all the same so my mind wanders through my scenes and dialog, then I get to work and have no memory of the commute, and only pray I didn't do something foolish!
Actually yes, I do that a lot while driving - during the commute to and from work, it's all the same so my mind wanders through my scenes and dialog, then I get to work and have no memory of the commute, and only pray I didn't do something foolish!
Ugh. I really like the first novel I ever wrote (trunked, of course), and when I started revising it, the ending seemed all wrong. I played around with the chapters, cut a bunch of stuff, wrote a new opening, but still, it was the ending that just needed something.
So I went to bed and had a vivid dream about one of the characters, who apparently wants a book of her own. She showed me how to end the existing book to lead into her book. I still remember how she was talking to me and then said, "Here, let me show you how it ends," and then it was like watching a movie. I woke up with dialog and setting and just the perfect last line in my head. My mistake was jumping up to grab a pen. Poof! It was gone as soon as I moved. I can't imagine a worse feeling than knowing you had the answer and having it evaporate like that. It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song. It's there, then it's gone!
hehe, though...maybe the scene she showed me involved a clown, some WD-40, and a chocolate ice cream cone. Who knows?
So I went to bed and had a vivid dream about one of the characters, who apparently wants a book of her own. She showed me how to end the existing book to lead into her book. I still remember how she was talking to me and then said, "Here, let me show you how it ends," and then it was like watching a movie. I woke up with dialog and setting and just the perfect last line in my head. My mistake was jumping up to grab a pen. Poof! It was gone as soon as I moved. I can't imagine a worse feeling than knowing you had the answer and having it evaporate like that. It's like forgetting the words to your favorite song. It's there, then it's gone!
hehe, though...maybe the scene she showed me involved a clown, some WD-40, and a chocolate ice cream cone. Who knows?
Don't beat yourself up about this at all... your brain is screwing with you. I have this happen frequently. I will be working on a problem-- whether writing or in real life-- and then when I go to sleep I will dream "Hallelujah! Here's the answer! Just do this!" I get up feeling awesome-- yes, I have solved the dilemma! Then I get in the shower and start to slowly wake up. And gradually I realize that this amazing solution I dreamed of is ABSOLUTE, UTTER NONSENSE.
I just had a thought. While I never dream about my characters I'm ALWAYS dreaming about writing. In these dreams it's like I'm reading a novel that I'm writing really, really fast. I mean lightening speed fast. It's really exhausting. Anyone else relate?
Oh for the love of - - THAT was going to be my sequel !
Actually, I had a plot problem just the other day and solved in while falling asleep - a solution that thankfully stayed with me when I woke up. Now it's slamming me in the back of the head so I'm going to take notes and get started as soon as possible.
Man!!!! I do that a lot! You have absolutely zero memory of washing your hair. But the really scary part is when you don't remember it the second time. Ha!
I've never dreamed about my characters, but I wish I would. That would be a blast!
Never dream about my characters either. I think about them a lot...but that's because I'm trying to structure the plot constantly.
Oh for the love of - - THAT was going to be my sequel !
Dammit...that's my title!
I do dream about my characters, but the dreams are always very quick. I never remember what my characters did in the dream until something I do that day reminds me.
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