What Messages Do You Receive From Your Dreams?
By Donna M. McDine
While working on your latest manuscript do you feel like you
are living and breathing your characters? To the point, where you can’t get
them out of your head, even in your dreams. What do you think your dreams are
trying to tell you about your characters? Do you think they are trying to relay
specific messages to you to include in your manuscript?
I know the non-writer’s out there who are reading this may
think the above statements are outlandish and should land me in the local psych
ward or at the very least to a therapist’s office. Please know I’m not
delusional, I’m practical in this case. As an author, the creation of our
characters is personal and they do indeed become part of us. Making it often
times difficult for us to shake our characters actions and moods even in the
twilight state of sleep.
One particular instance when my dreams began knocking me
upside the head about one of my characters was the slave Jenkins I created for
my first children’s book, The GoldenPathway. Jenkins originally was created for the Institute of Children’s
Literature book course, but for one reason or another I shelved this
manuscript. Quite some time passed and for what I thought was bizarre at first
I began dreaming about the Underground Railroad and having dogs chase after me
in the dark woods. When I shared this recurring dream with my sister, she was
the one that connected the dots and brought up my long shelved manuscript.
After her encouragement I “dusted” off this manuscript and resurrected Jenkins
and David, hence the birth of The GoldenPathway.
I also had a similar experience with the creation of A Sandy Grave. After reading the news
article of a washed up dead whale on a California beach I began dreaming about
the ocean repeatedly. This time, I didn’t need anyone to put two and two
together. I took my dreams as a positive force to get down to the nitty-gritty
of the non-fiction research aspect and then creating engaging characters and
storyline to be intertwined into one story.
I encourage you to keep pen, paper, and small flashlight (so
you don’t wake your significant other) by your bedside for these often
inspiring moments. This way you can write down your dreams immediately upon
waking or for the times you are jolted awake by your characters screaming at you.
Don’t ignore these instances, instead grab these creative outcries and use them
to your advantage.
I’d enjoy hearing about your experiences with your dreams,
whether they are writing related or not.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+
A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
