B&A Writers: Using a dream for ideas for your novel?

Yes, the very first novel that I actually completed was based on a dread I had. This was after I heard Stephenie Meyer had written Twilight based off a dream, and I told myself that if she could do then so could I. So, I took one of the dreams that I had had more than a few times and wrote it as a scene. In my dream, it played out like a scene from a movie, and I remembered every detail of the dream. All I had to go on was that dream scene which was my characters escaping from a warehouse where they were being held captive and running into the woods. There's more to it than that, but I dont' want to bore you with it. It took me several pages to write that exact scene out, including all the detail and stuff. Once I decided the scene was going to be a basis for the story, I needed to create an idea for the story and create a plot for why those characters were escaping and why they were being held captive in a warehouse. I ended up creating a sci-fi story out of it; a story that's set on modern Earth. The first scene that I wrote for the novel was my dream scene and that scene is still in-tact and is near the middle-end of my book.

No, dreams have never effected how I was going to write a scene, UNLESS that scene is based on the dream.

In a way. When I lay in bed I think and replay scenes in my mind and think what characters would say and do. I end up dosing off still thinking about my book. And I sort of just watch my story develop in my dreams as if it were a movie. And I can get some ideas from that. So yes, dreams have effected some of my scenes.

I've totally used dreams as inspiration before. I think everyone has. Maybe they forgot the dream but later remembered enough of the idea to get a story idea but never remembered it was from a dream. lol. That was kind of rambling.

Bq: No. Not that I know of.

I actually got an idea for a novel based off of my dream, like the whole story was laid out in front of me. After I finish one story, I intend to start this one.

BQ: Not really, I get whole novel ideas from dreams, not scenes.

I know exactly what you mean. Even before Twilight was released as a book I always wrote down my dreams and trtyed to fit the parts together to create a plot for a book

I wouldn't write anything based on my dreams--they're insane. I have the most random dreams...

BQ: There is one scene I rewrote after having a similar dream (the scene did not involve a warrior princess with a frying pan, though).

Someone I know (Harriet Goodwin - google her) wrote a book entirely based on a dream she once had - very successful book (The boy who fell down exit 43). Was in the Waterstone's charts for ages - number one for a while too.

Yes, I have dreams that affect the way I write things - I LOVE it when that happens.

Most of my dreams involve chipmunks for some random reason. I have no idea why! I think my subconscious is obsessed with chipmunks. Weird I know. So I'm going to have to say No for the Q & BQ.

to be honest i had a very beautiful idea in a dream and i'm writing it right now,i hope i finish it with the next 7 months,i will try publishing for the first time yaay

BQ:yes a little,especially when i first wake up

Thank you

Q+BQ: Yes I have gotten ideas from dreams. Whole plot ideas and scene ideas. They usually have to be tweaked a bit to be logical. Use whatever inspiration you can. =)