Daydreams as a tool

My writing process involves playing scenes in my head as daydreams. I use daydreaming to play out possible scenarios in my head to try to work out the most likely outcomes. It’s like running a simulation only the simulation is in your head. I also use daydreams to get to know my characters. I daydream about their lives before the story. Sometimes I write those daydreams down as short stories that I know will never see publication. Daydreams can help to have the character before the events of the story. My daydreams help me do that.

I have also run daydream simulations when I have a decision to make. While the daydream can’t predict the future, it can help me work through possible outcomes as I see them at the time. That can be invaluable in making the decision. With fiction, it’s easy to do what your daydream tells you to, real life is harder. Make your decision based on the best daydream outcome, but don’t expect your daydream to come true. It won’t, not exactly as you daydream it, anyway.

Daydreams can be a good tool to use in problem solving as well. The process is the same as the one I use for writing scenes in my stories. You just think about the problem you are facing and daydream the results for each solution that you come up with. Sometimes a solution will present itself that you might not have thought of without letting you mind run free to daydream.

I guess I really mean, let your mind run free to find answers to your problems without judgment. They say that’s the best way to brainstorm and it’s true. A daydream can be a mental simulation of a solution that costs nothing, but a little of your time. They can have the benefit of allowing you to determine the best course of action, whether for your fictional characters, or you, yourself. That’s priceless.

When I have to with a scene in my writing, I walk away from the computer, go some place that’s comfortable, and relax. Then I start the process of daydreaming. Very often I can return to my writing and write the scene. It works for me. It might work for you.

Daydreaming has a special place in my writer’s toolbox. Just find a place where you can sit and daydream. I’ve been known to do it while people are talking around me. If a TV show that I am watching with others doesn’t hold my attention, I just let my own mind entertain me. I find it easy, with practice, you will find it easy as well.

About pebblepup

I am not one who is comfortable talking about myself but here goes. I enjoy writing, family history, and reading. I decided to do this blog because I wanted to try something new. I decided to make it a weekly blog because I wasn't sure that I could keep up with a daily one, and monthly seemed like I was writing a magazine. I think I did ok with my choices. You'll notice that there are not a lot of graphics on my site. That's because there are graphics plastered everywhere on the Internet and those sites sometimes take forever to load. This blog is a place where you can kick back, relax and be ready to be amused. At least I hope I willbamuse you. This blog is on a variety of subjects from my ficitional cat agency, the FFL, which is monthly, to instructional blogs to editorials, which are my opinions only. I admit that I don't know everything and could be wrong -- I frequently am. Now, stop reading about me and read what I have to say!