Writing on vacation is tricky – which is probably why I’ve always failed at it. I take notebooks, printed pages, a variety of pens (because having the right pen makes all the difference), check over the itinerary for “me time” when the rest of the family is golfing. Still, when the room is empty, so is my head.
This vacation was no different, at least as far as my production went. Which is to say, I didn’t produce anything on the page. However, rather than anguish over my lack of moral fiber, I took a page from member Maureen Boyd-Biro and prepared to dream about my story.
Maureen presents workshops in understanding the language of dreams, and using directed dreaming to enhance creativity. She has spoken to the club about using dreams to break writing blocks, and I remembered enough about the techniques to give it a go.
I’ll admit that I didn’t actually see the story unfold in my dreams, at least not that I remember. However, I was thinking about my characters, the plot, what needed to happen immediately and where I might want to go from there.
Back at home, with a deadline looming, I stared at the empty lines following the end of my last submission, smack in the middle of the chapter. Just before I hit the “delete all” button and ran off to join the circus, my fingers moved along the keyboard. Words appeared on the screen; they made sense. Maybe I couldn’t remember my dreams, but my fingers did – and I made my deadline.
My first book of nonfiction short stories, “In the Right Place,” originated from a dream that came true down to the smallest sunflower. When insomnia haunts me, I remember that dream and hope for a repeat performance or a preview of Act Two.