Dream Writing
How dreams enhance my creative ability.
Sometime in the middle of last night I was dreaming. Deeply. My mind was writing the next great American Novel and I was along for the ride.
As I was sleeping I realized that I should wake up and actually write down what I was composing in my dreams. But the heavy sleep was so needed, and welcomed.
My mind continued writing fast and furious. “Wake up! Wake up!” it screamed to me between outlining the entire story and writing award winning lines of dialogue. I fought for control of my own sleep. It was so good — both the story and the slumber. I didn’t want to disturb either. I reasoned with myself that I would remember it all in the morning.
My mind frantically begged me to write it down so I wouldn’t forget it. Knowing that was the right thing to do, I finally gave in and turned the light on. Squinting the brightness out of my eyes I reached for the pen and pad of paper on the nightstand, and began writing what my mind so desperately wanted me to. I transcribed the entire story, every single word from beginning to end, onto the paper.
I don’t remember turning the light off or falling back asleep. But when I woke, I had the faintest memory of Dream Writing. Something wonderful. Something epic. I reached for the pad of paper.
Chicken scratch. Lots of it. Pages. I couldn’t read, understand, or decipher a word of it.
That happens a lot. Actually, it happens more times than not.
However, that’s not always the case.
Many times while slumbering the wee hours away, my brain relaxes from the day’s stress, solves the world’s problems, wanders from place to place, and grants itself the freedom of creativity. I.e. giving me great ideas for the next million selling novel, or at least helping me solve the problem of getting my character out of the corner that I painted him/her into. Those sticky situations can be devastating to the rhythm and flow of good writing.
There have been many times during my waking hours where I’ve mulled over a chapter, a paragraph, a sentence, or even one single word that just isn’t working. It’s more than frustrating because until that particular issue is remedied I can’t move past it.
That’s where Dream Writing comes in. Your brain will give you the answers if you give it the freedom to do so.
The only issue is then capturing that creativity. And sometimes you do. You can get up in the middle of the night, write fast, write furious, and hopefully write legibly as your sub-conscious mind releases the magic it has created for you. And when you wake up in the morning — there it is. A new idea, or at least an answer to your creative block.
But, sometimes you don’t grasp that spark of creativity. And that’s okay. Be patient. Not everything is meant to be captured. A lot of times it’s best to just let it go, and when your brain finally figures it all out and is ready to give it to you — it will.
Lon Casler Bixby is a professional photographer and published author in various genres: Fiction, Poetry, Humor, Photography, & Comic Books.
You can see some of his photography here — www.whileyouweresleeping.photography/ and here — www.neoichi.com/.
See his writing here — www.amazon.com/author/loncaslerbixby/.
