More importantly, do you dream in plots?
I usually do both.
I’ve used vivid dreams as a basis for a number of stories, whether it be
resolutions, plot points, characters or even some vital scene in the
middle.
If I think the idea has any validity for a story, I’ll get
up and write it down. Sometimes it’s
sexy, sometimes it’s funny and sometimes it’s scary. Three of my books have been greatly affected
by plot points I’ve had in dreams. The
blackest moment for Cooper in Blood Relations?
That was a dream, in all it’s gory detail. Lucky me… uh…
Then again, sometimes you’re not quite sure why your
subconscious comes up with things.
The other night, after a fairly innocuous night of watching
White Collar and Covert Affairs, I went to sleep. Where I dreamt about digging up dead bodies
with both Sherlocks. Yep, Benedict
Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. Okay,
so maybe my subconscious was being really, really good to me, despite the clear
anachronism of having the two of them interact.
I also dreamt that I helped a werewolf find his mate, although that
involved a rather unfortunate amount of peeing on the carpet.
Then, the good times ended when I dreamt I inhaled a wood
chip, woke up and spent an hour coughing before remaining awake for the rest of
the night. Not much on the way of story
ideas, sadly, except perhaps some slash Sherlock on Sherlock fan fiction, I
suppose. Blog fodder isn’t too bad,
either ; )
But as I’d said, I do often rely on dreams for ideas either
to start stories or to get past a hurdle or add a different subplot. Anyone else use dreams for inspiration?
KC Burn
KC Burn
5 comments:
Yep! My third book with Loose Id - Higher Ground - started out as a dream, where I was climbing hills to escape rising water. Though in the dream the setting was urban and appeared in fact to be San Francisco. It got me thinking, imagining climbing with that water coming up inexorably behind you, how people would deal with it, how they'd team up to help each other - or not. And I created a couple of guys who'd just met and fallen for each other and forced them to deal with both a disaster and their relationship being forced into overdrive due to the intensity of the situation. Loads of fun!
Bits from dreams have made their way into other stories, but that's the one where I can say the seed for the idea was straight out of a dream.
I dream mostly in emotion. Weird, right!? Not so helpful with book ideas. You cracked me up with the peeing on the carpet thing. Too funny.
Ooh, Becky, that's a great source of inspiration! Very cool. I adore those finding love in disaster stories.
Hey Charlee - yeah, I remember saying "is that really necessary?" an awful lot. But dreaming in emotion is interesting, if not too helpful with plotting :)
Dreams are a source of inspiration for me - the best part is when I can move into a semi-awake state and start to contribute to what's happening - if you know what I mean.
Hey Barbara - I know exactly what you mean, and it is the best! I've used that semi-awake state to get some great plotting done.
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