Following is an inspirational way to use your dreams to write your stories by hynotherapist, author, and radio personality Kelly Sullivan Walden.
Like Kelly, I, too, use my dreams to support my writing and you’ll usually find me up before dawn, writing.
“While I was up to my elbows mid-way through writing my recent book, “I Had the Strangest Dream…the Dreamer’s Dictionary for the 21st Century” (Warner Books), I developed the practice of rolling out of bed and into my “writing station.” While still in the in-between-worlds place I would open my laptop, take a deep breath, and with eyes half closed, let my fingers do the tapping. Before my logical brain woke up, I would give myself permission to write whatever wanted to be written from my subconscious/dream state.
This “dream state” writing would often wind its way to being relevant to the particular aspect of the book I happened to be working on. Even if my writing took a detour I would nonetheless find myself opened to a smorgasbord of thoughts and feelings that I could apply to the subject at hand that never would have occurred to me otherwise.
If there was nothing in particular that wanted to be written, I would simply write about my dreams from the night before. This actually has become a practice I believe will be with me ‘til the day I die, and perhaps the most valuable practice I have ever discovered. I believe there is a brief and precarious window period between the realm of sleep and awake, and if accessed, our entire day becomes brighter with a heightened awareness and aliveness. I actually feel that this may very well be the short cut to truly developing and strengthening our intuition. As a writer, what gift could be more valuable?
I believe it is specifically due to this practice that I was able to “dream up” an entire novel. About a year ago, I awoke at 3am (many writers tell me that their best writing ideas come to them at this god forsaken hour) with the entire story…the beginning, middle, end…the characters, their names, dress, voice tonality, the whole 9, as it were.
Without having to painstakingly try to figure out these characters and plot line, it was delivered to me, and all I had to do was take dictation.
I’ve talked to many writers that receive their best ideas, or plot lines from their dreams…and why not? Our dreams connect us with the vast aspect of who we are…as we sleep we dance with souls from time immemorial and explore realms about which have heretofore never been written. Why not let your dreams do your heavy plot lifting for you so that you can spend your precious awake time downloading these inspired messages. Who knows, tonight you just may receive the plot twist you’ve been praying for!
May your wildest and most wonderful writing dreams all come true!”
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Kelly Sullivan Walden is a Hypnotherapist, Dream Coach, and author of Warner Books’ I HAD THE STRANGEST DREAM, THE DREAMER’S DICTIONARY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. Author of DISCOVER YOUR INNER GODDESS QUEEN, an Inspirational Journey from Drama Queen to Goddess Queen, Kelly is also the publisher of GoddessQueenMagazine.com. Her specialty is in empowering people to live the life of their dreams. Kelly is a regular guest on FOX news New York, CBS/AOL Psychic Radio and has recently been featured around the country on ABC, FOX, and NBC news, as well as in Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, SELF, ELLE and the Chicago Tribune. Kelly is the creator of The Dream Project, a local movement for Global change.
Join Kelly’s Dream Circle Membership Program and receive Kelly’s FREE Weekly Dream Symbol and subscription to Goddess Queen Magazine. If you are interested in more information about the Dream Project, talking with Kelly about private dream coaching sessions or booking her for any future speaking engagements, you may contact her at: kelly@kellysullivanwalden.com.
Do you use your dreams to help support your writing? Write while the rest of the world sleeps?
Where are the posts? Seems to be working now!
I had a dream. All the posts in this blog disappeared! Wait a minute…They did!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Perhaps I’ll write about that for my next novel. “The case of the Missing Blog”!
Just having fun…
Generally, when I wake in the morning I realize thoughts are floating in my head about my plot and what I need to attend to in my story. So I just begin writing when I get to my computer, using the stuff I listed while lying in bed. I can’t call that working with my dreams, though.
In my last novel, I include dreams I dreamt as character dreams. And I remember one dream in which the villain of my novel appeared to me. But I was totally surprised when the basis of my present WIP came to me in a dream. I was in the middle of another novel when I dreamt of an old man and an old woman standing with a tower behind them. The man turned to the woman and said, “Yes, but the tower is constant.” And I knew I was being given the setting for a story. I went downstairs and immediately began my novel which is about a world that changes every night. Every morning I would wake up with a name for a new character. Only that. But once I started writing, the character’s personality would appear. -C
I have a tough time remembering my dreams unless I set up a regimen and really focus on remembering. When I do this constantly for several years, i began to see how dreams come to us with dramatic action, character development and best of all, thematic significance.
Sadly, I gave up the practice as my waking life became busier and busier.
Kelly inspires me to give it another try.
As someone who’s kept a dream journal for geez…over a decade now…this is a really terrific post, Martha.
There are so many benefits to writing down your dreams with regularity, least of which is the fact that you’re actually writing (for those who are stuck).
I’ve been in a bit of a creative slump lately, and my dream journaling has fallen by the wayside. I think I’ll start tomorrow and see if it doesn’t get back on track.
Thanks so much for another insightful post 🙂
My dream is to get this answered. Previously asked on another blog post.
To Martha AND Blog friends,
What about villians? How do you go about in creating villians? Do you see yourself using the negatives aspects of your self? As someone mentioned, it is hard to see are own flaws.
What is your process for creating villians???
J.