It’s been said that a novel is a long dream and that good writing allows the reader to enter into the dream and share the story. Robert Olen Butler’s classic book about writing fiction, From Where You Dream, says that the writer must first dream the story. He talks mostly about daydreams to walk the characters through the pages.
Lately I’ve been dreaming about my next novel. I had thought the Abercrombie Trail Series would be a trilogy, but one night I dreamed about a fourth book in the series. I woke up surprised and delighted. The characters of the Abercrombie Trail Series have become good friends. I’m glad they will live in another book, too.
Since then, I’ve been dreaming about this next novel almost every night. I’ve dreamed about characters experiencing new adventures and experiences. Last night I dreamed about a different setting than expected. Using the story board technique taught by Mary Carroll Moore’s new book, Your Story Starts Here, I’ve written the dream on a post it note and added it to my growing collection of ideas.
Dreaming about this new project makes me excited to see it on paper and into the hands of readers, exactly what is needed to persevere to completion. I’m so grateful for these dreams. It means my subconscious is working out the story even as I sleep. It is a very good thing.
20 Responses
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That is so cool, Candace! So glad your creativity is working through dreams and inspiration. I loved Abercrombie Trail and bought another copy to give my Dad for Father’s Day. I also bought the next two in the series for myself. AND, I wrote about you and your books on my blog and linked to you.
Thanks so much, Candace. I can tell you did extensive research on this novel and had a terrific storytelling style. Loved that Evan was a stage coach driver, allowing us to be introduced to so many settler.
(I met you at the Walker festival last summer. I live in Baxter.)
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