Linsey Lanier
Sally Kilpatrick
Sia Huff
Romily Bernard
Darcy Crowder
Marilyn Baron
Tami Brothers
Sandra Elzie
Carol Burnside
Debbie Kaufman
Maxine Davis
Tammy Schubert
Susan Carlisle
Pam Asberry
Lindy Chaffin StartWhat Dreams May Come
The dictionary’s number one definition for the word DREAM is- a succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep. Most people over the age of 10 dream at least 4 to 6 times per night and most of those dreams last only 5 to 20 minutes. Pretty interesting science, but when you hear the word DREAM what’s your first thought? The varied, sometimes odd, embarrassing, sexual or calming images that drift through your brain while you’re catching Z’s?
For many of us it just might be.
But there are those of us who see the word in a different light.
We writers are a creative bunch. An obvious observation, yes, but some of us tend to forget that creativity springs from deep in our subconscious. The same place dreams inhabit. Our writer’s brains are hard wired to accept visionary creations and a release from reality. That’s why so many of us can say, “My characters speak to me.” And still other’s of us can write about wizards, vampires or even shapeshifting she-tigers. Because we dream.
Dreams aren’t reserved for sleep alone. They can spring up any time of the day. In any place. At any time. They help us create rich characters and complex plots, dazzling worlds and surreal realms.
A writer who doesn’t dream, isn’t doing her job. She has a debt to pay. That debt is escape. Readers buy our books, devour our novels and in thanks we owe them a release from reality. We must become their time machine, their white wale, their Elizabeth Bennet, their haunting teen vampire. We must dream up the stories that inspire, arouse, and stimulate the soul.
To me, my dreams aren’t simply clusters of unrelated images banging around my brain during a rapid REM cycle.
To me, my dreams are a purpose, a goal. My dreams are stories.
And I feel lucky to be someone who can tell them.
Tags: Dreams, Tamara deStefano
About the author
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Tamara DeStefano | I'm a writer, reader, movie junkie and Oreo eater. All though I should invert the order of this list. Oreo double stuff cookies and milk...THE BOMB BABY!
My favorite genre is paranormal, love those vamps. I write paranormal, historical and contemporary. I've even tried my hand at YA. Writing makes me happy.
Hope what you do makes you happy too!!
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April 9th, 2010 at 2:20 am
Me too, Tamara.
Dream on!
April 9th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Tamara –
Aren’t dreams amazing? I had one once where a story idea I’d stuck in a file and forgotten popped up in a dream where I found out everything about a character who had been a mystery to me.
Non-writers do not get that ‘day dreaming’ is really working. good post.
April 9th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Same here. I need to start writing more of my dreams down.
April 9th, 2010 at 7:13 am
A long time ago I read an article where a writer said, “I am never NOT working.” We writers are “on” 24/7. Even when we are not aware of our dreams, our brains are buzzing with stories and characters. IMO, it’s the best part of the job.
“We must become their time machine, their white wale, their Elizabeth Bennet, their haunting teen vampire. We must dream up the stories that inspire, arouse, and stimulate the soul.” That’s some good advise. Thanks for the inspiration, Tamara!
April 9th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Dreams add a new area to my life I just wish mine were more peaceful and sweet. I tend to be runnig from the law in mine. I’m a great day dream though.
April 9th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Tamara,
I love to dream at night…rarely am I chased or am I chasing something but my favorite dreams are during the day when I close my eyes and let my mind wrap around an idea and bring it into a usable form of sequences.
Thanks for reminding me to spend a bit of time today on the deck, stretched out in the sun and “dreaming” about my next novel.
Sandy
April 9th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Dreaming is one of the best perks of writing. While other people have to spend their creative time figuring a better way to organize offices or sell Charmin, I get to play movies in my head…and I always get to have them turn out the way I want them to(at least until I actually start writing)
April 10th, 2010 at 8:44 am
I love this, Tamara. So true. Non-writers may not ever experience the excitement some of us have when one of those daydreams blooms into more. I wish we could share that feeling with the world and in a way we do, with our books. But it’s never quite the same as that first feeling of euphoria. Just my thoughts on it!
Tami
April 10th, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Hey, Tamara,
Great post! That’s why I love spending time with avid readers and other writers. They “get” it!
Books and dreaming about others’ lives were the thing that took me from my little world in the barrios of Albuquerque to believing I could conquer the world! While I haven’t quite done THAT, I have made something of myself that many would have thought was an impossibility.
More power to dreaming!
Ana
April 12th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Sorry I didn’t stop by sooner. I was out of town on vacation, but I love what you said about dreaming.
Asleep or awake, dreaming is a critical creative ingredient in the writing process.
Marilyn