Dreaming...

[althrasher]

OK, because I'm bored at work, and I'm curious...
How often do you dream about your characters or you WIP?

[Bufty]

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.

OK, because I'm bored at work, and I'm curious...
How often do you dream about your characters or you WIP?

[sassandgroove]

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.

[BlueTexas]

Can't say I've ever dreamed about my characters.

[althrasher]

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.

[JoNightshade]

Nope, me either.

[Harper K]

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.

[althrasher]

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.

[reenkam]

A lot of times I'll dream the initial story, but after I start writing it I don't think I ever dream about the characters. I think about them when I'm falling asleep, though...

[JoNightshade]

I've had a few dreams featuring Batman. Those are AWESOME. Particularly when I get to be Robin. :)

[MidnightMuse]

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.

[sassandgroove]

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.

[CaroGirl]

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.

[BlueTexas]

SOmetimes I get so deep in thought I wonder if I washed my hair, then do it again just to be sure.

I do this too! I often figure out plot quirks in the shower.

[MidnightMuse]

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.

:D

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!

[Beware_of_Italics]

I never dream about my characters either. I would like it if I did though! :)

[Siddow]

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?

[MidnightMuse]

maybe the scene she showed me involved a clown, some WD-40, and a chocolate ice cream cone. Who knows?

Hang on - that's MY plot's ending !

:D

[JoNightshade]

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!

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.

[Beware_of_Italics]

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?

[MidnightMuse]

ABSOLUTE, UTTER NONSENSE.

Oh for the love of - - THAT was going to be my sequel !

:D

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.

[deathwizard]

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.

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!

[Moon Daughter]

Never dream about my characters either. I think about them a lot...but that's because I'm trying to structure the plot constantly.

[Siddow]

ABSOLUTE, UTTER NONSENSE.

Oh for the love of - - THAT was going to be my sequel !

:D



Dammit...that's my title!

[Lady Esther]

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.

[Oddsocks]

I don't dream about my characters, at least that I can remember recently. I dream about other people's characters (that's how I know I'm really into a series - I start dreaming about its characters). However, I do have some characters who first showed up in dreams and who have since been worked into stories.

[Xx|e|ph|e|me|r|al|xX]

Xx|I've yet to dream about my story or characters; I don't dream much at all, really. XD

But I do daydream about them. That's how I come up with all the ideas. I'm a very visual person, so I picture it best in almost movie-format. Sometimes I apply words as I go, sometimes I apply them later. Whatever, I daydream it out first.

I wanna dream about them though. :o XD|xX

[ChaosTitan]

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.

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!

Amateurs. ;)

Try getting deep in thought while driving and not remembing the last five hundred feet of the trip. :eek: I'm amazed I've never wrecked.

I do dream of my characters on occasion. Often when I'm getting close to the end, because I've spent so much time with the characters in my waking memory, they have invaded my dreams, too.

[Varthikes]

I have had two such dreams that I can remember. You can read them here (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66890). :)

[deathwizard]

[quote=ChaosTitan;1455650]Amateurs. ;)

Try getting deep in thought while driving and not remembing the last five hundred feet of the trip. :eek: I'm amazed I've never wrecked.[quote]

Yes ... YES!

[deathwizard]

I hate it when the quote thing doesn't work. (See above.)

[Nakhlasmoke]

I'll raise my hand to the "thinking about them while trying to fall asleep", and I've had some great ideas come to me that way.

I don't often remember my dreams, and I'm quite glad about that because they always seem to involve being opened up while I'm still alive and being fed my own innards, or giant octopuses tearing up dead dogs.

[TheIT]

Same here with thinking about my characters while falling asleep or waking up, and I'm also in the "Drive? What drive?" camp. I think I daydream about my story so much, I don't dream about it while I'm sleeping. I do dream occasionally about a couple of the actors I've mentally cast as my characters.

[reenkam]

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?

I have dreams about reading a lot. Sometimes I'm in a library and I'll pick up a book and read it. Other times I'll be in a bookstore (usually Barnes and Noble, though I have gone to dream Border's occasionally) and I'll pick up books and read the backs or even a few pages.

Sometimes when I wake up I'll remember what the covers looked like and try to find the books in a real store. I haven't found any yet, though. I kind of remember the words I read, but I've never remember a full plot. Then again, I haven't read any complete book in a dream, either. Not enough time...

Maybe I'll try it out. Or at least look at the last few pages. Is it plagiarizing if I copy an idea from a dream book?? :Wha:

[Zoombie]

OK, because I'm bored at work, and I'm curious...
How often do you dream about your characters or you WIP?

I do! I do. Sometimes they are very very erotic dreams that make me sit up and go, "Whoazha?" in the middle of the night. And how can I be a red blooded American teenage male and not be attracted to a well figured spunky cyborg with antenna that look like bunny ear antenna on old TV's and pink hair?

And, just like right now, they are, "FINISH MY BOOK, YOU LAZY B@#!)@*(%!@ED!" Dreams.

Which is why I'm loading up open office as I type.

[TheIT]

I dream story plots, too, but what's annoying is that they usually involve characters I've never even imagined before in genres I don't write. What's even worse is that I inevitably wake up before the story ends.