Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Only in My Dreams
I dream the weirdest, most wicked, sinful stuff.
I always dream in color. Don’t know what’s up with that, but that’s just how it is. More vivid, I suppose. Helps me remember when I wake up. Dreamland for me is a chance to work out all those things during the day I didn’t get to, mostly writing. I dream about my characters often. Scenes and conversations. I always play a lead character too. Which is strange because my heroine isn’t me by any means. Maybe it’s because I voice her. But it helps me write her better when I wake up.
I think about writing while I’m in the shower in the morning, conversations between my two main characters flowing like the water from the showerhead. Dreams are what give me ideas, thoughts, conversations, pieces to carry over into fiction land. It’s like acting out a scene before writing it down. One of those poetry in motion thingys. And for me, it’s perfect. I’ve always been very hands on, sticking my nose into everything. I’ve gotta see it done first before I can write it. So if I can’t see the scene, it can’t be written the way I want it and I’m stuck. But with dreams, anything can happen. Anything in your wildest dreams. And opportunity and imagination are the two best things you can have as a writer. With a strong compass to guide you and a closet full of hats to put on *grin*
So, my question to you today is: Ever have those dreams that just stick with you? The ones that when you wake up in the morning and have you thinking about your plot and characters and setting? Do you use them as a guide?
PS. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! This is my last chance to say it before next Tuesday. If you're out there last minute shopping, preparing to host 20+ people, coordinating multiple dinners and get togethers- take a deep breath. It’s almost over.
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28 comments:
Oh, I hadn't thought of this.
I don't believe I've ever dreamed about my characters. But, in those moments right before I drift off to sleep, I get more ideas than I can usually remember. I've had to get out of bed some many times to write things down.
I have odd dreams most of the time; some I remember and others I don't. I've dreamed in black and white and once in animation. That really messed me up. As a kid I often dreamed I was falling off something or I was running as hard as I could but getting no where. I'm pretty sure there's some serious psychology stuff in there and the Captain will analyze me later.
I'd love to dream about a scene. Gosh, that would make it so fun to write and make it so real to me. I need to try this. Any ideas how I can do that? LOL!
Oh, and not long ago I had a dream about George Clooney that seemed incredibly real. Don't you love ones like that where when you wake up you try everything you can think of to get back in there?
Great topic and lucky you for being so intuned to your characters.
I agree with Terrio. I plot a lot in bed:) Right before I go to sleep the last thing I think about is my characters and how to get them in or out of situations in a certain scene.
I don't dream of my stories, or characters, but I sure wish I could!
Great blog Sin!
I'm a "right before sleep" plotter too! Can you imagine if we all had a good old fashioned sleepover? What a riot that would be - too many characters to count running around in everybody's head! We could do a sort of bedtime story hour! LOL
I used to dream a lot more than I do now. I think I'm just too exhausted now. I'm sure I've dreamt of my characters, but I think I dream of other characters from books I'm reading at the time more. Usually with me as the heroine! Woo Hoo! Or else I'm in the story as the heroine and my DH's head is on the hero (that's probably my Catholic subconscious not letting me be an adulterer! LOL).
I dream about my characters. Sometimes they even wake me up so I can write something down about them. I think about them before bed too, and the stories, and just everything.
You'd think they were real 'people' the amount of time I spend on them prancing through my head.
No, I don't have good useful dreams like this, Sin. Leave it to you to be productive even in your sleep. *LOL*
No, my dreams are only memorable if something bad is going on in them. Like...the dream in which I thought I was marrying Jeff Foxworthy. I had a white fluffy dress, we were both on horses (WHO GETS MARRIED ON HORSEBACK? Hell, I'm allergic to horses!)--and I kept arguing that I didn't want to marry JEFF FOXWORTHY. No one would listen to me. They married us anyway. I woke up, freaked out.
So then I was dating this guy named Tim. We'd corresponded while he was in Saudi Arabia for a year (military), but THEN he came home and we actually went on a date. OMG, I was going to have to get rid of this guy...so while I'm trying to figure that out, I have this dream...and we're getting MARRIED. I'm running from room to room in the church, trying to figure out how to get OUT OF IT, everyone (and I do mean everyone) saying: "He's so wonderful, you're SO lucky" and I'm realizing I'm probably going to have to marry this idiot because everyone will think I'm a bitch if I leave him at the alter. I woke up in a COLD SWEAT. I cannot tell you the relief I had. It was so real, this dream. We did not go on any more dates.
AND then over the weekend, after watching my beloved Jack Sparrow, I go to sleep and I dream of a Jack--but it's not Jack Sparrow, it's Jack Black...who is trying to seduce me! And he's insistent! I can't stand Jack Black!
So, no, I don't use my dreams to figure out my plots. I use them to figure out...how to get away from undesirable men.
I think you need to cut back on the mushrooms...
Irish, maybe you just think of dear Hubby as your hero. *LOL*
I plot before going to bed usually too...unless I'm reading books...but usually I plot and try to sort it out. I never get to dream about it though.
Tiff, you dream about yours too? I'm so jealous! I want to dream about mine...they're a hell of a lot better than Jack Black.
LOL I was going to say no more spicy food before bedtime, Ter!
Jack Black?! Ewwwwwwwww
I haven't been consuming any mushrooms! Fresh or otherwise!
I do indeed. But let me tell you, they are usually (not always) the naughty bits of the novel... lol.
But I don't have the talent of dreaming in colour. That means something important about our dear sin... wish I could remember on a psychoanalytical level what it meant.
You're not supposed to dream in color? I have always dreamed in color. My dreams look just like when I'm awake.
Here I thought dreaming in B&W and animation was what made me weird. Who knew?
Irish - that would be a killer slumber party! Plotting over pillow fights.
Oh I thinking I'm mistaken? Apparently it is normal, and abnormal to dream without colour, but people forget to process that there were colours. That's too difficult for me to figure out when I'm tired, so I won't attempt it. I just know the content of my dreams, maybe I do dream in colour, but I always thought they were b & w... weird.
I see. I'm a weirdo. LOL
Ter, animation? Very cool. Like Toy Story except starring Terrio, the wonder woman. LOL. I often listen to music instead of watching TV. TV distorts my focus from writing and causes me to lose sight of my characters. I dunno how to change dreams, but usually thinking about my characters and relaxing before I go to bed helps me dream better. LOL The more I talk the stranger I seem. LOL
And I try to get back in my dreams all the time. Sometimes it's easy but it's always the ones I don't want to go back to.
Lis, I think a lot about my characters before I go to bed as well. One of those peace and quiet issues that I only get before going to sleep. LOL
Irish- I love sleepovers! We could paint nails and talk about our favorite lead male heroes and plot our revenge on meddling divorcees keeping our H/H from being with one another or something of the sort!
Tiff- I know the feeling. I think of them so often that they are larger than life in my head. The trick is just getting it all on paper. LOL
I don't dream about the characters, but I usually think about them right before I go to sleep and then when I wake up, I usually feel closer to figuring out my problems/scenes.
Though, I'm not sure I dream in color.
Hellion - Jeff Foxworthy! Yikes!!!
Irish - I think I do that too, with putting my DH's head on hero's so I don't feel guilty the next day. Nothing like next day guilt....
And Tiff - lemme get this right.... I probably do dream in color, but I just don't remember? Weird....
I have never dreamt of my characters, but I do dream of George often, Terri. LOL!
Sometimes my best time to consider plot and characterization is just before I fall asleep, but I also think about my characters often as I drive. I spend a lot of time driving. :)
And I didn't post here yesterday, but I did declare today a Me Day. It is 11:30, and I sit here still in my pjs. I have refused to set foot out the door or in the kitchen (except for necessary trips for food)--no shopping, no baking, no caroling tonight. I am reading, writing, and playing on the computer today. Maybe tomorrow I will be energized sufficiently to take on more shopping, more baking, and a progressive dinner. (grin)
Me too on the driving, Janga. Goodness my mind races through my story. I'm going to have to get myself a tape recorder. But then I'd have to find the time to translate it. Ah, I could do that.
Whoohoo! for Janga's me day. That sounds dreamy...*g*
Hellion- Jack Black? I'm wild and crazy but not in a million years would I want to marry him. Date him. Maybe. He's funny enough to attract my attention. LOL
Geez, now Captain has given the mushrooms to Sin. Please tell me she's kidding.
I have a history with big boys and even I wouldn't touch Jack Black!
YEAH! Janga's FREE Day! Great job!...I wish I were in PJs and goofing off. I'll just have to settle for goofing off. Oh...I mean...
No, Terr, she's not kidding. Sin has a big heart. *LOL*
And here I thought Sin had higher standards than the both of us put together. LOL!
That's not a big heart that's being near-sighted.
Sin feels sorry for a lot of people.
It's why we're friends. *LOL* She felt sorry for someone as loud and socially inept as me.
I don't feel sorry for people. There is a lot to be said for humor in ones life. If you can't enjoy life while it last then are you really living at all? Jack Black would be hilarious to room with and date (casually) but would I fall in love with him? God I hope not. Watch me dream about the wacko tonight. Lord, Hellion this is all your fault if I dream of being his baby's momma.
PS. I love you Hellion. I don't feel sorry for you. I'm just as loud, if not louder. LOL
Better you have Jack Black's babies than me.
I just don't think Jack Black's funny. *LOL* I really don't. But then humor IS subjective. I think Will Ferrell is a freaking scream; he could make me laugh at my own funeral.
Okay, I have REALLY got to stop refreshing the Gary Allan page to listen to the Christmas song!
I want to have Gary Allan's babies!
Okay, I don't think Jack Black or Will Farrell are that hilarious (except for Elf and maybe Old School!), but put any of the cast of Monty Python on the screen and I spew liquids out my nose and pee my pants. (Am I dating myself?)
So, I suppose you're right Hellion. Humor is very subjective.
*Off to Google Gary Allan*
I'll admit Jack Black had *some* charm in The Holiday. GREAT movie. Like others, I could have done without Jude until that one. It hooked me.
But Will Farrell is beyond my comprehension. Nothing funny, charming or even cute about that man. And I never did get into the Monty Python stuff but if I sat down to watch it I'm sure I'd think it was funny.
My best friend in HS loved them. She used to sing me that Lumberjack song and she actually had the pin that said something like "That is an ex-parrot." Is that close?
Very good, Ter. "This is an ex-parrot". That, unfortunately, was one sketch I failed to see the humor in. I was a big fan of the Lumberjack song, though, along with Silly Walks and The Spanish Inquisition.
I also LOVE the movies "Monty Python and The Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian".
I never saw The Holiday, but had it in my hands a couple of times over the past month. As for Will Farrell, don't get me started. I put the DH in charge of date night about a month ago and he brings home The Anchorman. AND he's been quoting it ever since!
I thought I'd get even by getting Music & Lyrics last week, but we both liked that one. They were so spot on with all the 80's stuff that we laughed so hard we cried.
Irish, I love MP & the Holy Grail, though I had to watch it twice to appreciate the humor. The first time I saw it, some of it was weird...but the whole "oral sex and spanking" scene cracks me up...and the coconuts...the knight in the forest...CRAZY.
Life of Brian is one of my favorite comedies. OMG. That was hysterical. Esp to a Deacon's Daughter...*LOL*
You didn't like Anchorman? *innocent grin* Come on! What about Stranger Than Fiction--that was a good one. And of course, Talladega Nights. "Dear Lord baby Jesus..."
Music & Lyrics was extremely spot on. I'm impressed Hugh Grant did his own singing.
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