Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Character Dreams

Writers sometimes use dreams to show something about their story, but do you know why that’s not necessarily the best approach?

-It’s cliché. Dreams have been used too often and by too many writers, so the idea is no longer fresh. Granted, there isn’t much new in writing, but coming up with a different twist to a dream may prove to be difficult.

-The actual dream can sometimes be more powerful and exciting than the regular story, leaving the reader feeling disappointed when the character wakes up and gets on with his regular life.

-Writers have a tendency to create long, detailed dreams, which take the reader away from the true story for too long.

-Starting a novel or chapter with a dream can sometimes be confusing for the reader. If this is the beginning of the book, a reader may grow to like the characters and situation in the dream only to be disappointed when they realize what they’d read wasn’t the real story.

If you’re planning on using a dream in your novel, write a short version using only the strongest elements and quickly return to the real story.

Have you ever used a dream in your book? Why did you choose to add this element to your plot? Looking back, did it add or take away from the main story?

13 comments:

  1. I don't use dreams or nightmares in my stories, but I once found a character for a novel in one of my own dreams. I don't think the character's dreams work in fiction anymore -- the "meaning" of the dream always seems contrived.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmm, no I haven't. I do use a lot of flashbacks though, which share some of the problems you mentioned about dreams. Toni Morrison uses a lot of surreal dreamlike passages in her books, with great success. I think I'll leave that kind of skilled writing up to the masters and keep working on narrative basics!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I try to stay away from dreams for the very reasons you so aptly stated.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is very tinmely. I was JUST THINKING about using a dream to explain something that happened to a character! I never considered your points before. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My MC does dream twice in A Bitch Named Karma, but both times it is very brief...barely one page worth each. They are very quick and to the point. I don't have issues with dreams in stories I read, as long as they have a purpose. One of my MC's dreams shows how delusional she is about her own life....which she thinks is fabulous and perfect but in all reality, it's not even close.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dreams always seem to turn out pretty important in my stories for some reason. In my first novel, I label my main charcters dreams to be "prophetic nightmares" - they are recurring, and very short, but pretty vital to the storyline. I haven't gotten any complaints on them yet, but those are some good points you've posted!

    ReplyDelete
  7. No, I haven't used any dreams for the reasons you listed above. I might consider using one if the story called for it AND I could figure out a unique way to incorporate it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had a dream in my first manuscript and cut it out. I realized it wasn't needed. And, honestly, it's kind of annoying to read dream sequences as well. You know it's not real. And when you think it's real and it turns out to be a dream, you feel kind of ripped off. Great points you made!

    ReplyDelete
  9. No not really. My dreams are too off the wall!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm guilty of having a dream, but I felt it made the scene better than not having it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My MC has nightmares. I love/hate this. It's a tough decision to make but he insists.

    ReplyDelete
  12. i agree with this! i've read lots of dream scenes and then been disappointed. as a result, i've never used them in my books. i've used some flashbacks, but that's not the same. nice post. :)

    jeannie
    The Character Therapist

    ReplyDelete
  13. I did the same as Carolina, and cut my dream scene out of my first manuscript. I'm not opposed to reading dreams in books though, as long as it's relevant, short and to the point.

    P.S.
    I have a present for you at my blog.

    ReplyDelete