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 practise.
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 analysed 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 practise 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.
About The Author
Annette Beveridge-Young is the Editor of the International Writers Competition Website www.thetwistinthetale.com.
Annette has had a variety of articles and stories published, both in magazines and on the Internet and won various poetry and fiction competitions.
eco-friendly cleaning service Arlington Heights ...Regardless of what sort of writer you are and how... Read More
In the 7th grade I wanted to be an architect... Read More
Do you have trouble getting your thoughts and ideas down... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
So you want to learn to research well, and not... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
Ah, writing. For those of us who love to play... Read More
I recently read a book where everything was akimbo. Arms... Read More
Almost everyone could profit from enhancing their writing skills. From... Read More
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More
To write books for readers at an elementary reading level... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More
Short Story Writing Tips ?We all have different tastes in... Read More
If your dream is to get published, the chance is... Read More
There's nothing that kills a scene like hackneyed dialogue. Just... Read More
During the years that I've been teaching writing and participating... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
Have you ever wondered how you can adapt your screenplay... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
Compiling a list of the history's ten best writers is... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
scheduled maid service Glencoe ...1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Concision. (Sounds like I made up another word.) It's the... Read More
Creating written documents reveals so much about you and your... Read More
So you're one of 20 million Americans who want to... Read More
Maybe you should write a book! This is not as... Read More
In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer,"... Read More
Our Freelance Writing Needs DefinedWe must make freelance niche types... Read More
1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members... Read More
There is no specific formula for children's fiction. There are,... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
I hate to admit this, but I rarely get an... Read More
----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More
Arrogance has a bad rap. We think of arrogant people... Read More
Language Training - A key to Global CommunicationLanguage Training is... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
Poems. Just the mention of them makes me smile. Why?... Read More
Have you been guilty of procrastinating on your book project,... Read More
In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More
Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More
Want to write an article or book, but are stuck... Read More
You can turn your $200 fee to write a press... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
Great writing transports one vicariously to realms that the reader... Read More
Writing |