[stylist] Dream/waking/recording inspiration

Fri Sep 30 03:32:52 UTC 2011

Jacqui,

Changed the subject line to suit the drifting topic :). If you are 
looking to have a recorded media of your voice translate to text, 
there are some programs out there that are meant to do that. I have 
no experience with them, maybe someone here has used them. regarding 
dream and waking up, one thing I have noticed for about the last 
month, alarm clock aside,  when waking up, is every morning  I wake 
up with a song running through my head. I'd never noticed this before 
and I'm hoping its not the beginnings of music hallucination. Though 
that is a really fascinating brain phenomena, it can be a curse when 
folks are incessantly pounded with very real music in their head 
which they can't determine if it is from there or a radio playing somewhere.
The songs running through in the morning, sometimes are my own songs, 
and then other's at times, like this morning it was Billy Joel waking 
me up.  haha

Brad

On 9/29/2011  04:52 PM Jacqueline Williams said...
>Brad, Your experience with dreams is very similar to mine. Lately I have,
>upon waking, lain quietly trying to remember the images and repeating them
>in hopes I will remember. Some stuck and I was able to write about them
>later. However, they were all nightmares with a similar theme. I am trying
>hard to be conscious of the more creative dreams.
>I did get a pricey digital tape recorder that was suppose to transfer my
>words to a computer, but even my teacher could not get it to work. I'll try
>for one as you have mentioned.
>I appreciate your thoughts,
>Jacqui
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Brad Dunse'
>Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 1:46 PM
>To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [stylist] Story development and strategy?
>
>Jacqui,
>
>When I lived in Minneapolis I was walking to the YMCA to work out,
>these three kids came knocking along, pushing each other , kidding
>around, jumping up on benches, goofing  with each other, and without
>even  blinking saw me and a friend tapping along the sidewalk and one
>said "Hey. Do blind people see in their dreams? They kept bounding
>along goofing not even waiting gfor an answer. I'd never even thoght
>of that being I was sighted and still dream in full vision. As
>for  catching those bits like you did when you had a tablet, try
>getting a digital recorder. You can get them for around
>$30  including shipping. I wish I'd remember dreams more. I love to
>remember dreams. My own little movie maker happening. I just sleep
>way too sound or something. I did remember one the other morning
>though that was a rather long bit, I had waken up and went back to
>sleep and it continued which was nice. I've heard many creative
>writers say they get ideas just at the point of waking up, half in
>and half out. For me I'm afraid its zero to 60 in 0.2 seconds and not
>much inbetween time :).
>
>Brad
>
>On 9/26/2011  12:16 PM Jacqueline Williams said...
> >Bridget,
> >How do you remember dreams more than for a fleeting instant. Do you
> >immediately write down the details. I have the most wild and wonderful
> >dreams, and sometimes can get back into it after re-falling asleep. I even
> >invented things. However, after a few moments of waking I do not remember
> >details, and sometimes everything fades.
> >A technical question. Can one who has been blind from infancy dream? I
>would
> >imagine Yes, but perhaps without color or specific objects. Please, anyone,
> >enlighten me.
> >I used to sleep with a tablet by my bed, but I can no longer read what I
> >write, so I am forced to remember everything.
> >Jacqui
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> >Behalf Of Bridgit Pollpeter
> >Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2011 4:59 PM
> >To: stylist at nfbnet.org
> >Subject: [stylist] Story development and strategy?
> >
> >Brad,
> >
> >Whether you use an outline or not, and any strategy followed is a part
> >of the writing process. How a writer develops a story is different,
> >though outlines are the common plan for most writers especially novel
> >writers.
> >
> >Personally, I don't like using outlines even though I'm a pretty
> >organized person. However, the longest story I've written has been 30
> >pages for short stories. Perhaps if I ever attempt a longer manuscript,
> >I would employ an outline.
> >
> >I can only explain my process. I like to mull my ideas for a while
> >before even putting pen to paper, so to speak. I often am inspired by my
> >dreams especially for fiction. Sometimes I have an entire dream that I
> >want to use, other times it is just a portion. Either way, when I wake
> >up, I'll lay in bed replaying it and developing ideas. Then I will write
> >a scene that sticks out in my mind, usually the last thing I saw in my
> >dreams. If I don't have time to write when I wake, I leave it until I
> >do. At this point, as long as I leave ideas in my head, not only do they
> >remain, the inspiration remains until I have time to sit and write
> >through the inspiration. This may sound crazy, but it works for me.
> >
> >One of the reasons I don't like formal outlines is because stories and
> >characters have a way of developing themselves. And more often than not,
> >I rarely have a full story. I'll have a beginning and end, but no
> >middle, or beginning and middle, but no end. Sometimes I have an ending,
> >but no beginning or middle. It's as I write and think about
> >plots/characters that the story unfolds.
> >
> >My nonfiction is even crazier in terms of the process. To date, the
> >nonfiction I've had published and/or people have praised was written in
> >one sitting, usually during a turbulent emotional moment. I certainly
> >edit over and over, but most my nonfiction (personal essay/memoir) has
> >been done in the matter of a day or two with the initial writing
> >happening at one time with little to know thought of a goal or
> >structure. If not already present, the structure emerges during the
> >revision and editing process.
> >
> >And I'm extremely visual even though I no longer can "see." When I have
> >an idea for a piece, I like to watch it unfold in my mind like a movie.
> >This is how I visualize my work in my head. I quite literally see it in
> >my head just like scenes in a movie. I still have visual memories of
> >people and events even though I didn't visually see them in the moment.
> >Like I have detailed visual memories of my wedding six years ago, though
> >I couldn't see. I can pull any of this memories up and have a visual in
> >my head, whether the actual visual is accurate or not is another story,
> >but I have memories nonetheless. So it stands to reason that when I
> >write, fiction or nonfiction, it's a very visual process for me. It
> >happens inside my head just as much as it happens on the paper. After an
> >initial idea pops up, I like to spend a couple of days watching it in my
> >head to see if anything more develops from it. In a way, it's
> >role-playing just by myself in my head! LOL
> >
> >Ideas are in our heads no matter what, but most writers I know like to
> >write what is happening in their head right away, whereas I like to keep
> >it in their to stew for a while.
> >
> >Nonfiction and fiction alike, when I go back to pieces, I see where I
> >can add or edit. One essay I'd been working on had good individual
> >sections, but I wasn't finding a thread to make them flow as a
> >collective. One night, in dire need of a manuscript for a class,
> >inspiration hit and I found a structure that made it flow.
> >
> >Even published authors go back and want to make changes. I know Stephen
> >King has actually published revised copies of books to make updates such
> >as with The Stand, which he wrote in 78, but it took place in 88. He
> >decided, years later, to update the novel, reflecting changes to make
> >the story more realistic to 1988 since it had happened. Rowling has said
> >she wished she would have done more editing with the Harry Potter series
> >especially Order of the Phoenix.
> >
> >If I just can't find a direction for something, I put it away and come
> >back later. Like Chris, I did a lot of writing exercises only to come
> >back to them later and find a diamond in the rough. Writing exercises
> >not only sharpen and hone our skills, but they can act as conduits
> >providing us inspiration. One exercise done in a class didn't appear all
> >that great to me, but three years later I came back to it and turned it
> >into an entire personal essay.
> >
> >Now, when writing something like historical fiction, I suppose an
> >outline would be beneficial to keep facts and dates straight. Or any
> >writing with factual information. Keeping a timeline helps keep this
> >kind of info straight.
> >
> >Typically outlines are used for academic writing too, but again, I never
> >followed an outline unless it was required to turn an outline in. I've
> >always just written academic papers as I go, incorporating what quotes
> >and facts I need as I go along. This process doesn't work for everyone,
> >but I've never received less than an A on an academic paper, in high
> >school or college, so I never took the time to use an outline. I
> >followed suit with my creative writing. I just write, and it's in the
> >editing process that I add and delete and find structure and where a
> >piece is going. I have a much more organic process meaning I just do
> >what comes natural for me. I think I'm in a minority though. Most
> >writers I know follow some type of outline as they commit to a
> >manuscript.
> >
> >Now, I do use outlines as a tool for instructional information or as a
> >listing tool when compiling ideas. This helps bring organization. For
> >instance, my mom asked me to draft a strategic plan for her dance studio
> >since she wants to create a nonprofit supplying scholarships to young
> >girls who can't afford dance classes. A strategic plan in and of itself
> >is an outline essentially, so I developed an outline detailing the goal
> >and direction, and what info was most important. This gave me a
> >structure to follow for the plan.
> >
> >And a while back, our NFB chapter wanted to have written goals and
> >focuses for various committees our chapter has created through the
> >years. As committee members met and discussed the purpose for different
> >committees, I started drafting outlines to discover the purpose and
> >functionality of each committee. We didn't end up following through with
> >this plan, but the intention was for me to created in a written form the
> >purpose and goal of each committee. The outlines were to help me know
> >the focus of each committee, making it clear what to state and how to
> >state it.
> >
> >So, now my response is turning into a novel! Perhaps I should follow
> >outlines for my Stylist posts! LOL What I could have done is say
> >outlines can be useful, but it depends on the person and what they're
> >writing. To each his own.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> >Read my blog at:
> >http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
> >
> >"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
> >The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
> >
> >Message: 4
> >Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:32:19 -0500
> >From: Brad Dunse' <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
> >To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> >Subject: [stylist] Story development strategy?
> >Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20110925141502.05799bd0 at braddunsemusic.com>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> >
> >.  At the end of an audio  book I read  a while back they had an
> >interview with the author. He was saying with his writing he develops
> >the storyline as he writes, puts little to no forethought in the
> >story and felt it to be more interesting to a reader that way. To be
> >honest I don't recall his name but he had a series of books out and
> >was signed with a book deal not self-publishing.
> >
> >While his story over all in the end was pretty good, I took double
> >takes on some of the emotional areas of the book. Only slightly
> >exaggerating here he spent an inordanant amount of time with the main
> >character begging, gravveling, pleading and balling his eyes out over
> >a person he was semik-close to in the story. It kept cropping up a
> >number of times.  It was getting to the point my wife and I were
> >laughing "Oh no, not again going on and on and on and on with the
> >girl", who wasn't even a large character in the book other than real
> >estate used up on her. But when his dad died, who he had a good
> >relationship with, it was something like "Oh yeah, and dad died. Then
> >I applied for a job atso and so's place..."
> >
> >So my question is on large projects, do you have an outline or at
> >least know the big picture of the twists and turns leaving
> >flexibility for creative twists or improvs? Or do you just wing it as
> >you go and ride the keyboard to the end?
> >
> >I do the latter in songwriting with my instrument but those are short
> >lived and one point or themed writings even if they are a story song.
> >
> >It seemed to me an editor did a major booboo missing the emotional
> >ratio and proportion factor with some of the characters and event
> >emphasis in this authors project.
> >
> >Brad
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Writers Division web site:
> >http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >
> >stylist mailing list
> >stylist at nfbnet.org
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >stylist:
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jackieleepoet%40cox.ne
>t
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Writers Division web site:
> >http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
> >
> >stylist mailing list
> >stylist at nfbnet.org
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> >To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>stylist:
> >http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddunsemusic
>.com
>
>
>Brad Dunse
>
>This world is but a canvas to our imaginations
>
>http://www.braddunsemusic.com
>
>http://www.facebook.com/braddunse
>
>http://www.twitter.com/braddunse
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
>stylist mailing list
>stylist at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>stylist:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/jackieleepoet%40cox.net
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Writers Division web site:
>http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>
>stylist mailing list
>stylist at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for stylist:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/lists%40braddunsemusic.com

Brad Dunse

"Write like you mean it and sing like nobody's watching" --Ben Wakeman

http://www.braddunsemusic.com

http://www.facebook.com/braddunse

http://www.twitter.com/braddunse