I know a lot of people have dreams of writing, but this is a little different. I’m wondering if you write while you dream? Because you know what? I sure do. I recently mentioned on Twitter that I had the most bizarre dream the other night, with some of the story lines from my in-progress novel even entering the mix.
After I sent that tweet, I got a bunch of responses back from writers telling me they had experienced the same thing. A few months ago I dreamed an entire mystery book (and I never write mysteries) and the dream came with possible suspects and the final ending. I woke up and told my DH, who immediately said, “Write it down!”
I did. Now if I could only find that note….
I heard Paul McCartney say once he dreamed about his mother once which inspired him to pen “Let It Be,” and that he dreamed up the entire melody for one of the most beautiful songs in the whole world, “Yesterday.” I’ve also heard Billy Joel dreams in music.
For the writers out there, Stephanie Meyers admitted that she dreamed about “sparkling vampires” and didn’t even have an interest in them or writing before that dream. (Doesn’t that just make you sick, aspiring writers out there! LOL.)
So we know our minds are working things out while we sleep. I had lines and lines of dialog on this new novel I’m writing that just didn’t feel right. I’m still in the first draft, so I wasn’t in editing mode in my conscious, but obviously was in my dream state. When I awoke, I was able to make changes based on the rhythm of dialog I had heard in my dream. Great dialog has metering to it, in my opinion, much like a poem.
Creativity is an interesting thing, isn’t it?
a LOT of successful writers experience this. You go to sleep and your subconscious works out all the plot point, much like you make sense of your day or relationships. JK Rowling is another. ALWAYS keep a notebook by your bed because if you’re like me you’ll forget it all before you finish your coffee
Great tip about the notebook! Yes, every writer needs one by their bed.