Dream ideas, and the zucchini pancake experiments

[wylde_writer]

Today the hindbrain is working on a story idea I woke up with from a dream: the 'gotcha' part of the plot twist that launches towards the climax came to me full blown - from my POV I inhabited the characters (so to speak) as the key dialog exchange played out, and it was very emotionally fraught and charged, in a way I think I could convey aptly in

Comments

[selkiechick]

I like sour cream as a latke topping, but you could et a similar tart creamy flavor with a good yogurt, maybe strained a little, with less fat.

[wcg]

I think you need ginger preserves.

[wylde_writer]

You mean in principle or for the z-experiment?
lol
in either case I agree. I went for the savory versions of this today, since I'm thinking dinner already, but I think this would lend itself to some really great breakfast/brunchy things. I can see ginger working really well with that. Yum!

[wcg]

Both, but I was thinking it'd be nice on your pancake.

[vikingtim]

question. how often do your dreams influnce your writing? I seem to get quite a few ideas that way.(a few really bad ideas as well.)

[wylde_writer]

You might be asking me the wrong question. Part of my process is that I "tune in" to characters/times/places; I then partly experience the unfolding events emotionally, while also seeing them unfold before my mind's eye, like watching a movie. Like an emotive spy-eye. Sometimes this occurs in dreams; sometimes in a meditative state (I often meditate before I write), or during the writing itself.

So it is more like my dreams are just one more modality for the manner in which I go "elsewhere" and tune into this stuff. When I'm full on in the book-writing process, I dream about it almost nightly. When I'm not that intensely into it, story ideas or character snippets pop up like this are on a relatively random basis. The more it happens, though, the more I know I'm approaching being in flow with the writing.

What do you do with the ideas you get from your dreams?

[tcgtrf]

Wylde, I use them all the time. It would be prideful beyond measure to ignore any source of inspiration, whether it be a dream, a song on the radio, or the woman down the hall smashing a cockroach in her briefcase.

This is why I always carry something on which to write stuff down. Even on enforced breaks like I am on now, things still percolate. Anne Lamott talked about index cards folded lengthwise and placed in her back pocket. They work well. I also have a ring-bound notebook to scrawl outlines on, if a complete ABDCE plot comes to me.

Tom Trumpinski

[wylde_writer]

Historically, since I *always* have a book in hand, even when out and about, I have often been known to jot notes either on scrap paper I carry in the book, or, if I can't find that, then on the blank last page of whatever I'm reading at the time. I have an odd series of handwritten addendums in my books.

Nowadays I generally confine myself to a small spiral bound notepad, but if I forget that at home, anything's fair game. :)

Actually, once I jot it, I rarely look at it again. It's the somatic learning thing: once I write it down, its in my head in ready-reference memory. Usually.

[aisley_crosse]

I have never heard of a dream in which someone was not emotionally charged. A similar situation came up with me 2 days ago, I kept thinking about how excellent the story would be, but by the time I was capable of eye/hand co-ordination it was gone. Hurray to hanging on! And Zucchinni!

[wylde_writer]

>I have never heard of a dream in which someone was not emotionally charged<

But that's quite common. A lot of people dream not in an immediate sense but as in watching things at a remove: events in the dream aren't necessarily charged or emotionally fraught at all.

I can't help but wonder if artists, or people engaging intentionally with their art, dream dreams of a different caliber or quality than the average person does. Sounds like something worth a sleep study....

>by the time I was capable of eye/hand co-ordination it was gone.<

I hate it when that happens.

>Hurray to hanging on! And Zucchinni!<

thanks. :)

[aisley_crosse]

It would make a good sleep study, wouldn't it. You sleep, I'll study... then we'll switch! lol

[wylde_writer]

and speaking of hanging on: how are your library excursions these days? Still a fruitful place to write?

[iamaneviltaco]

With the green onions in, I see this going in a slightly mexican direction. maybe a light tomatillo salsa? I'd probably stay away from the creamier stuff with this as a savory. As a sweet, I think you can never go wrong with berries soaked in sweet blush wine and simple syrup.

Personally I'd make it crepe thin and top it with shredded seasoned beef, and cover that with some fresh pico. The ethiopians tend to eat just about everything with some lightly seasoned pancakes, and I can see a zuchinni/green onion crepe going the same way.

Can't argue with ethiopian / mexican fusion, right?

[wylde_writer]

Ooo, I have some mongolian beef, already marinaded and cooked, that is shred worthy. And some peppers right off our vine. Good idea!