How do you utilize your sleeping hours? Do you ever use your
dreams at night to get things done? Maybe you solve a problem or ruminate on something
you’ve been thinking about?
I’ve noticed lately that I continue to dream about books I’m
working on. Sometimes I’ll even come up with great plot elements in my sleep
and later incorporate them into my writing when I’m awake. At first I thought
this odd behavior until I looked online and learned that people all over the
world from artists to mathematicians use their sleeping hours (their dreamtime)
to help find solutions to whatever they’re working on in their waking hours.
So how can you better utilize your sleeping/dreaming hours?
Do you ever get inspiration from a dream? How do you get in touch with your
creative unconscious side?
I've never had that happen to me, maybe because I write first thing in the morning so I'm not thinking about my wiritng at days end. I have had great ideas for books in my dreams, though.
ReplyDeleteIf I remembered my dreams, that would probably help. I do find my head is clearer and a path more evident in the morning, so maybe I do work things out in my dreams.
ReplyDeletemy dreams have actually been the basis for two series of books I have written or am writing, including my debut novel, A Change of Plans. it's kind of fun to see your dreams literally become reality.
ReplyDeleteOnce I'm not waking with a baby, I hope to get some use out of my dreams! Right now, I just want to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI literally haven't thought about doing this since High School, when I used to try to do homework in my sleep. (No lie!)
ReplyDeleteNow I usually fall asleep thinking of my works in progress then dream about bizarre crap if anything... pretty useless. I need to try harder!
I've heard of people focusing their dreams to sort out problems. I usually just end up lost in a house full of doors that lead to no where in my dreams. Mostly they aren't very helpful to me. What I like better is that dreamy moment just before or just after sleep, when the mind isn't in its analytical state. Good time to visualize scenes for the novel.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting concept! That subconscious is stronger than I thought! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've had stories occur to me from a dream I've had, but I haven't tried sleeping on problems in my stories. I like the idea, though. I'll have to try it.
ReplyDeleteI remember dreams if I talk about them (even to myself). but I don't write about them; most of them are about teaching disasters.
ReplyDeleteIf I think about a problem before I go to sleep, that often helps.
ReplyDeleteI have crazy dreams and will often write them down for story inspiration.
ReplyDeletedreams i just can't use, mine are so WEIRD!! although, they would make for some creepy stories.
ReplyDeleteIn truth, I believe we each have different dreams that come from different places. Some regarding stuff that's on our mind, some having to do with inspiration, and some from places that are altogether mysterious:)
ReplyDeleteMark, I have crazy dreams unrelated to my writing. They are so weird and at times make no sense.
ReplyDeleteWhat you are going through is what many writers go through, seeing their books/stories/characters in their dreams.
I dream about my characters all the time, and have dreamed scenes in potential stories. I love these dreams!
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to teach geometry, I solved a problem in my sleep that the answer key had wrong. That was pretty trippy. Ideas for stories also emerge in my dreams. We need to make more time for sleep, don't we!
ReplyDelete