I get most of my story ideas from dreams or songs. I have vivid dreams and unfortunately, nightmares. Thank goodness I don't have many of those. My last manuscript was based entirely on a dream. Even the hero's name was in my dream. I just had to fill in the details and add some romance.
The story I'm working on now, Life After, came from a dream and a song. I dreamed one night that I was part of a race of evolved people living away from the rest of the world in the mountains. Weird huh? But I woke up thinking, "There's a story in there somewhere." After writing it down, I put it away.
One day while cleaning the kitchen, I heard Beyonce singing "Church Bells." It's a remake of an Etta James song about a woman who watches the man she loves marry someone else. I don't know why, but I felt like it belonged in Life After.
I've got several stories started and set aside on my laptop. Every last one of them has been inspired by a dream or a song. I think psychiatrists say dreams are a way to subconsciously work out issues. Well color me happy, my issues help me do something I love. No matter how strange my dreams or nightmares may be, there's usually a story in there somewhere.
The story I'm working on now, Life After, came from a dream and a song. I dreamed one night that I was part of a race of evolved people living away from the rest of the world in the mountains. Weird huh? But I woke up thinking, "There's a story in there somewhere." After writing it down, I put it away.
One day while cleaning the kitchen, I heard Beyonce singing "Church Bells." It's a remake of an Etta James song about a woman who watches the man she loves marry someone else. I don't know why, but I felt like it belonged in Life After.
I've got several stories started and set aside on my laptop. Every last one of them has been inspired by a dream or a song. I think psychiatrists say dreams are a way to subconsciously work out issues. Well color me happy, my issues help me do something I love. No matter how strange my dreams or nightmares may be, there's usually a story in there somewhere.
I see one thing wrong with your dream! The romance wasn't part of it. LOL Congrats on turning a dream into a dream! A finished mss.
ReplyDeleteShawn!
ReplyDeleteTerry Spear came by our blog! How cool is that???
I like songs for inspiration, too.
Hey - that's pretty cool. I've never turned a dream into a book, but now I'm going to try. Though, last night I dreamt I got in a car wreck--the governor of our state smashed into me. Not sure what that means. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your story! My answer is yes, I dream books all the time. Two are published so far - Captured - an SFR - and My Everything, a romance/suspense. These are my two most popular books with readers. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteYeah Terry the romance part would have been nice.
ReplyDeleteHey there D'Ann isn't it great? Thanks for stopping by.
Rebecca, You can turn that inot a book too! You never know...
hey there Julia, looks like we have something in common. Only I'm not published. Yet :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe we need our dreams to hear our muse. Perhaps the bustle and noise of "real life" drowns out their voices?
ReplyDeleteMaeve,
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept. You could be on to something.
I still have 2 pages I scribbled down of a complete story when I woke up from a dream at age 19. Maybe, just maybe I'll do something with them!
ReplyDeleteSure you should, Christi. You could have real gem on your hands.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big believer in dreams -- have started a couple of different stories from dreams. I've never based a book on a song, but I do make WIP playlists filled with songs that I think fit the mood of the book...but that is an interesting take, too.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time a song gives me a scene or idea,but not a whole story.
ReplyDelete