I have dreams in my WIP which is a supernatural. They're not at the start of the start but they do feature as an intro for one of the characters which then leads into a scene were he wakes. The dreams the character experiences are all either real or images of the past. Though I'm still a bit wary of using dreams at all in the story.
@Lilith1361 It's hard for me to comment on whether the dreams you're referencing work or not, without knowing more about them, but at first glance I'd say this is the type of dream that it's often better to limit or eliminate.
If a memory in a story is featured as a dream-like paragrapth in italics, would that count? In my story, there is character descriptions in parts such as memory eclipses at then end or begining of one or two chapters.
@Relicangel Depends. Those sort of blips can be used effectively, especially since they're short. But I've seen quite a few such segments that ultimately failed to add much to the story. So long as you're certain the dreams are adding important information and ambiance, you'll probably be okay.
@Leonard33ful Dreams are often a blast to write, so they can sometimes be painful to cut. But 90% of the time, our stories are better off without them. Good call!
My current WIP is full of dreams. None of the dreams occur in the beginning of the story, though. And my first novel had some good dream/trance/vision sequences. They worked really well in the first novel. Because it was fantasy, I think. But the new WIP takes place in the present western world. Will take your advice re tension. But..can't remove the dreams because the book is magical realism. . Thanks!
@scifiwritir1 I have to admit that I, too, have a WIP full of dreams, although they're a little different from the run-of-the-mill dream sequences, since they're "real," having happened in an alternate dream world. Sometimes unique premises allow us to do unique things with dreams and sidestep the usual pitfalls.
I have a few dream sequences in my book, and i was actually wondering if i should get rid of them or at least shorten them to take the wordcount down. Thanks for posting this one. it's like you read my mind.
@KMWeiland I'm starting to believe that it is. You said that unless it contains conflick or tension. If at the begining there are people to torment the main character, then he goes off somewhere for the rest of the book, and dreams about these people tormenting him and getting even with them, would it be good to keep these dreams in to keep this subplot alive, if the main character meets up with these people again towards the end, and gets payback?
@DpwCreative I could see dreams being used effectively in such a story, so long as they're *short.* Since the torture isn't really occurring and readers will realize the character is in no real danger, there's no sense in dragging them through long sequences. All you need to establish the character's fear is a line or two whenever he wakes up from a nightmare.
@KMWeiland i get what you mean now. The shorter the dreams, the better, so it doesn't pause the story, right? I have another question about chapbooks. If you'd write a story that's about 40-50 pages, (maybe up to 70), would that be considered a chapbook? If it is, could you divide it into chapters as well?
@DpwCreative Now days, chapbooks are almost exclusively poetry. But short-ish stories like that are often sold as standalone e-books for a low price. You could absolutely divide it into chapters.
I have dreams in my WIP which is a supernatural. They're not at the start of the start but they do feature as an intro for one of the characters which then leads into a scene were he wakes. The dreams the character experiences are all either real or images of the past. Though I'm still a bit wary of using dreams at all in the story.
Lilith1361 4 months ago
@Lilith1361 It's hard for me to comment on whether the dreams you're referencing work or not, without knowing more about them, but at first glance I'd say this is the type of dream that it's often better to limit or eliminate.
KMWeiland 4 months ago
If a memory in a story is featured as a dream-like paragrapth in italics, would that count? In my story, there is character descriptions in parts such as memory eclipses at then end or begining of one or two chapters.
Relicangel 5 months ago
@Relicangel Depends. Those sort of blips can be used effectively, especially since they're short. But I've seen quite a few such segments that ultimately failed to add much to the story. So long as you're certain the dreams are adding important information and ambiance, you'll probably be okay.
KMWeiland 5 months ago
@KMWeiland Yay. I'm relieved. Thank you so much, and for the video. :)
Relicangel 5 months ago
@Relicangel You're welcome! Glad it was helpful.
KMWeiland 5 months ago
That's great advice, KM. I had to cut a dream sequence from a novel I'm working on because it wasn't doing anything for the story.
Leonard33ful 5 months ago
@Leonard33ful Dreams are often a blast to write, so they can sometimes be painful to cut. But 90% of the time, our stories are better off without them. Good call!
KMWeiland 5 months ago
My current WIP is full of dreams. None of the dreams occur in the beginning of the story, though. And my first novel had some good dream/trance/vision sequences. They worked really well in the first novel. Because it was fantasy, I think. But the new WIP takes place in the present western world. Will take your advice re tension. But..can't remove the dreams because the book is magical realism. . Thanks!
scifiwritir1 5 months ago
@scifiwritir1 I have to admit that I, too, have a WIP full of dreams, although they're a little different from the run-of-the-mill dream sequences, since they're "real," having happened in an alternate dream world. Sometimes unique premises allow us to do unique things with dreams and sidestep the usual pitfalls.
KMWeiland 5 months ago
I have a few dream sequences in my book, and i was actually wondering if i should get rid of them or at least shorten them to take the wordcount down. Thanks for posting this one. it's like you read my mind.
DpwCreative 5 months ago
@DpwCreative That's my secret superpower, don'tcha know? ;) Glad the video was helpful!
KMWeiland 5 months ago
@KMWeiland I'm starting to believe that it is. You said that unless it contains conflick or tension. If at the begining there are people to torment the main character, then he goes off somewhere for the rest of the book, and dreams about these people tormenting him and getting even with them, would it be good to keep these dreams in to keep this subplot alive, if the main character meets up with these people again towards the end, and gets payback?
DpwCreative 5 months ago
@DpwCreative I could see dreams being used effectively in such a story, so long as they're *short.* Since the torture isn't really occurring and readers will realize the character is in no real danger, there's no sense in dragging them through long sequences. All you need to establish the character's fear is a line or two whenever he wakes up from a nightmare.
KMWeiland 5 months ago
@KMWeiland i get what you mean now. The shorter the dreams, the better, so it doesn't pause the story, right? I have another question about chapbooks. If you'd write a story that's about 40-50 pages, (maybe up to 70), would that be considered a chapbook? If it is, could you divide it into chapters as well?
DpwCreative 5 months ago
@DpwCreative Now days, chapbooks are almost exclusively poetry. But short-ish stories like that are often sold as standalone e-books for a low price. You could absolutely divide it into chapters.
KMWeiland 5 months ago