Sleeping Brain? I Think Not!

Studies have shown that when you’re asleep your brain certainly isn’t. So, that leads me to the topic for tonight’s blog. I have read a lot of articles within the last few days asking authors where they get their ideas for their books. Or better yet, when they hit the writer’s brick wall what can pull them over it. My answer: Dreaming. I didn’t say it would make sense, but here goes.

Some of the plots and characters I put in my stories and books come from my dreams. I remember the first book I ever wrote (which has not been published, but will be down the road). I was 16 years old. I was sound asleep and I had an extremely detailed dream. I immediately got up and grabbed a paper and pen and started writing what I could remember of the dream. I wrote just enough to spark my memory for when I woke in the morning. This went on night after night, by the way.

Each day, I looked over what I’d written in my drowsy state. The plot was solid, complete with all of the essential elements. All I had to do was fill in the blanks and give personality to the characters that my dream had already introduced me to.

Another perfect example is something that happened to me the other night. I had a dream about a beautiful, professor. I can still see his face when I close my eyes. I don’t know how I knew he was a professor, but he was. Anyway, I’m assuming the female character was me because I dreamt everything in first person. I sat across from him at a busy cafe’. Apparently, we had been having quite a love affair and we were discussing how controversial it would be if we went public. I remember knowing that I was from a very strict Christian background and he was Islamic. I told him it didn’t matter to me because I’d follow him anywhere. Talk about a love story! So, as I’ve grown older I don’t even have to write this stuff down. It just comes back when I think about it. By the way, for those of you that like this plot, please, I beg of you, don’t steal it from me. I may just go on with it one day.

If you are struggling as a writer, please consider taking a close look at your dreams. They may surprise you with wonderful characters and plots that can be developed into a best selling novel.