Sunday, October 12, 2008

Dream Advice (Michelle)

My subconscious has the rather hilarious habit, when it's figured something out about what I'm writing, of telling me in my dreams using writers I really respect. Often, I don't realize that what I'm remembering is a dream until several days later. It's extremely funny.

Hence, Jillian appeared once in a dream to explain to me that what made Star Wars work as an epic is that it's is a series of self-sufficient episodes that are nevertheless linked by a larger purpose. These episodes aren't just the divisions between films but also between scenes in the movie. Actually, Howard Hawkes, director of The Big Sleep, used to say something similar - he tried to film great scenes, not great movies. Reading that quote from him is probably what got the idea into my dream in the first place, but apparently my subconscious decided I wouldn't believe it until I heard Jillian say it.

Anyway, last night I dreamed that J.K. Rowling was explaining her writing process to me, and she said that when she writes a book, she knows how she expects it to end, like a person predicting what will happen next in any story, but she has to be open for the story to surprise her. I have no idea if this is how J.K. Rowling actually works; but apparently this is what my subconscious thinks is a good idea.

Have a good laugh at my expense today. :)

4 comments:

  1. Ah, Michie, I wish this wisdom pervaded my sleep as well! In this case, I definitely support listening to the voices. It's a matter of following instinct, and instinct seems to manifest itself in different ways. I've been thinking about dreaming lately, and it is almost like the subconscious is bursting with something and shouts loud enough for the rest of the mind to hear and retain. Such awesome mysterious things!

    So in a nutshell, follow your instincts. If you have the inkling to suddenly delve into a back story about how a character met his wife or a character's first contact with the divine (dishing out some generics, here)... perhaps the story is trying to tell you something. Just like your writing may be sending you carrier pigeons in the form of dreams of me talking about Star Wars. *wink*

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  2. Anonymous Poster is laughing at you! AHAHAHAH!

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  3. I am laughing at Michelle, not Jillian, by the way.
    Love, the Anonymous Poster.

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