What Dreams May Come
Most authors get asked the source of their inspiration. While
some authors get tired of the question, I’m curious about that, myself, when I
read interviews from other authors. Some of what I’ve written has a murky
provenance, and I couldn’t tell you how it formed and grew. It often builds
from various sources and when it won’t get out of my head, I write it.
Frosted had a clear start. I had a dream one night that a
woman was walking along avoiding the snow and then she stopped and peered down
into a frozen puddle…and there was Jack Frost, looking frustrated and arrogant
because he wanted her back as his queen but he couldn’t reach her. Voilà!
Frosted was born. The first sentence in Frosted is: Kate skirted the snow as if
it were boiling, bubbling lava.
This isn’t uncommon. I’ve spoken with other authors who’ve
said their seed idea came from a dream. Usually, it’s just a plot point, a
character, or a scene. Two of my other
manuscripts were inspired by dreams. You’ve probably read books that were
inspired by dreams. The one that comes to mind first is Twilight. Stephanie
Meyers dreamed about the scene in the meadow from the first book in that
series. Other well-known dream inspired books: Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde, Stuart Little, and Misery were all supposedly inspired by dreams.
Robert Louis Stevenson said in Chapter on Dreams: When he lay down to prepare himself for sleep,
he no longer sought amusement, but printable and profitable tales. (Actually,
I’d rather not have the dream that inspired Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to be
honest. And I’m not sure I’d have tried to recall it long enough to write it
down…though I’m glad he did.)
Most of my dreams aren’t inspiring. I still have those
dreams where all my teeth fall out or I’m at high school and I’ve forgotten to
attend classes…all semester. Then, there are the dreams that leave me staring
at the ceiling long after I’ve woken up thinking, “What if?”
I’ve currently got an idea keeping me awake that,
ironically, came to me while I was asleep. It involves giant bugs. I’m still
not sure if I’ll write it.
So, do you know of any other authors who dream up their
ideas and do you find a story’s source as interesting as I do? Or do you have
the dream where your teeth fall out?—I hate that one. (Answer in the comments.)
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on Frosted, winter, and the King of Winter
either here or on Twitter (@WendySparrow.)
Thanks for letting me guest spot on your blog, Jennifer.
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