Writing Exercise 17: Using a Dream
Dreams can be a good starting point for creative writing but they rarely produce something complete. This is because dreams often involve strange jumps in location, the sudden and inexplicable arrival of familiar people, shifts from one kind of story into another and - worst of all - interruption at a crucial point when the dreamer wakes. However dreams can still provide useful raw material.
Stage 1.
Can you remember a dream or part of a dream you have had? If you can’t, invent a fragment of a dream - the stranger the better. Now start writing down your dream and when the dream runs out, keep writing. If you can’t think of anything else just write random words as they come into your head without worrying about sense. The important thing is that you don’t stop writing for at least ten minutes.
Stage 2.
Pause for breath - or a cup of tea. Then look over what you have written. You aren’t looking for complete elements of a story or train of thought - just words and phrases that suggest them. Can you find words and phrases that suggest the following:
- an intriguing opening that draws the reader in?
- something that complicates the opening (perhaps the introduction of a new character or the beginning of a new idea or event)?
- something that changes a character, idea or course of events?
- something that provides material for a good conclusion ?
These elements probably don’t appear in that order and you may see several possibilities. Underline every word or phrase that may be useful.
Stage 3.
Choose an opening, a complication, a change and an ending. Work them together into a story. In your first attempt, try not to stop writing and let your imagination lead you, just as it did in stage 1. You may find that your writing takes an unexpected direction - that’s fine.
Stage 4.
Pause. Another cup of tea might be in order. Try to think of yourself as a reader or editor. Read back what you have written. Look for ways to turn your first draft into something that will make sense to a particular reader you can imagine. Don’t explain too much - remember that a reader can interpret small clues. (Writers are often told, ‘Show, don’t tell.’)
Keep editing until you are happy with what you have written.
Stage 1.
Can you remember a dream or part of a dream you have had? If you can’t, invent a fragment of a dream - the stranger the better. Now start writing down your dream and when the dream runs out, keep writing. If you can’t think of anything else just write random words as they come into your head without worrying about sense. The important thing is that you don’t stop writing for at least ten minutes.
Stage 2.
Pause for breath - or a cup of tea. Then look over what you have written. You aren’t looking for complete elements of a story or train of thought - just words and phrases that suggest them. Can you find words and phrases that suggest the following:
- an intriguing opening that draws the reader in?
- something that complicates the opening (perhaps the introduction of a new character or the beginning of a new idea or event)?
- something that changes a character, idea or course of events?
- something that provides material for a good conclusion ?
These elements probably don’t appear in that order and you may see several possibilities. Underline every word or phrase that may be useful.
Stage 3.
Choose an opening, a complication, a change and an ending. Work them together into a story. In your first attempt, try not to stop writing and let your imagination lead you, just as it did in stage 1. You may find that your writing takes an unexpected direction - that’s fine.
Stage 4.
Pause. Another cup of tea might be in order. Try to think of yourself as a reader or editor. Read back what you have written. Look for ways to turn your first draft into something that will make sense to a particular reader you can imagine. Don’t explain too much - remember that a reader can interpret small clues. (Writers are often told, ‘Show, don’t tell.’)
Keep editing until you are happy with what you have written.
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