Create a Dream Diary
BY ANNETTE BEVERIDGE-YOUNG
How many times have you forced yourself to sit in
front of a computer and waited for inspiration to strike? Most of us at
some point, whether just starting out or even an experienced published
writer, have suffered from the proverbial writers block or have
struggled to kick-start their creativity.
Sometimes ideas just flow and writing our article
or story is easy. Inspiration flows over us like waves and the
subsequent finished piece is almost word perfect and requires very
little editing. But for those times when inspiration is on holiday or
worse, on strike, help yourself to master those off days by creating a
dream diary.
If you are one of those unfortunate people who
believe that they rarely dream or at least have trouble remembering
them, a dream diary is obviously going to be a problem. But you can
train yourself to remember your dreams in the mornings, but this may
take time and practice.
Try leaving a notepad by your bed or invest in a
Dictaphone, at least if you do wake up during or after your dream, you
can leave instant notes for yourself. Just in case on falling asleep,
you eliminate all memory of this wonderful plot.
Even nightmares can be a useful aid to creating a
masterpiece, so next time you experience one, look to the positive, and
tell yourself that this is going to help you get work published. For
those interested in the meaning of dreams, invest in a good book, and
not only can you create a great story but you can also work out what
made you dream this particular scenario in the first place. It may well
provide answers to questions in your everyday life.
As a child, I had the same recurring dream where I
was in my back garden and a dinosaur type large red bird, chased me from
one length of the garden right up to my back door, which I managed to
slam shut and lock with only seconds to spare. Scary? Of course… but the
experience helped me to be able to pace my stories and to link tension
into the right places of my plot.
I have often wondered what psychologists would
make of my numerous and often odd, dream sequences and it is probably
just as well that they have never been analyzed by anyone other than
myself. Although your dream may be vivid and almost overwhelming in its
clarity, in the cold reality of daylight, many flaws can be present with
that creative enlightenment. But remember, your dream is there to prompt
you with a possible story line, it is not set in stone and you do not
have to copy it, stage by stage.
Use it to express yourself in a new and different
way. It may also be useful to close your eyes and try to re-live your
dream in your minds eye. Remember what you felt, sights, sounds,
familiar scents, allow yourself to forget the present and immerse
yourself back in your dream.
You will be amazed at how much you find you can
remember and new scenarios may well fall into place as you practice this
gentle meditation. I once dreamed a whole episode of Star Trek, complete
with regular cast, a few new characters thrown in and of course, I took
the lead role in the drama. I have never attempted to write an episode
for television and one for a program, which relies on much technical
input, would probably not be for my first attempt, however, the plot (if
I say so myself) was exceptional and it is recorded in my dream diary
for future use.
Whilst there would be very few changes to the
initial plot, I was very surprised by the amount of technical knowledge
sustained which proved to me just how much information our subconscious
thought process retains and then subsequently uses in the course of our
nightly shenanigans. If you are lucky and your creative tact needs no
prompting, you will not need to refer to your dream diary all that
often, however, it can be interesting to read back over your entries
over a period of time and ascertain just how far your imagination has
taken you.
Just remember, in your dreams you are not
restricted by earthly ties and you can let your imagination loose in the
knowledge that inspiration is guiding you. Using a dream diary allows
you to access your creative zone deep in the dark recesses of your mind
and to harness that creative power. Do not waste this opportunity to
provide original thought provoking ideas, just remember to record them
carefully.
Ideas are gold dust and could, one day earn you a
great deal of money as well as providing an insight into a side of your
personality very rarely seen.
Annette Beveridge-Young is the Editor of
the
International Writers Competition Website. Annette has had a variety of
articles and stories published, both in magazines and on the Internet
and won various poetry and fiction competitions.
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