Crafting in Dreams

In crafting a narrative dreams can be elemental for the author, the characters and even the premise of the tale.

In countless instances authors have cited dreams as the instrumental step in crafting their best work. The author assembles a narrative from the various scenes that have come to them while sleeping. The dreams come together as a road map with each of the scenes as pit-stops along the journey. An entire outline for a narrative born from nothing more than dreams.

Often when an author hits writer's block they turn to dreams as a method to combat their blockage. Every dream affording the writer a new component to a story. How many narratives are born of the restless imaginations of sleeping authors?

Dreams are not limited to the inspiration of writers to crafting narratives but dreams can also provide insight and even motivation for characters within the narrative. Dreams allow characters to embrace different aspects of their personalities that they many not show otherwise. Just as well characters can find motivation within their dreams. Characters can reason out elements to the narrative or even have an epiphany regarding the events so far.

Dreams can be utilized to develop characters and explore motivations or even desires however, the ability to influence plot remains one of the greatest uses of dreams in narrative. Characters can become delusional with waking dreams. Entire segments of the plot can be erased as nothing but dreams. Using dreams as a core element in a narrative can allow dramatic and unexpected changes within the tale. Much as Lewis Carrol explored the depths of philosophy through a dramatic and symbolic world a writer can twist the very world to suit the narrative.

Through dreams authors can free their imaginations from everyday conventions and craft wholly unique narratives. Whether its the sculpt of the plot or the manipulation of characters and worlds to convey the narrative, dreams will always remain the most powerful device in a writer's kit.

Attaining Direction

A narrative is an assemblage of concepts that the creator wishes to convey within the confines of a world.

Development of the primary concept begins with establishing the supporting elements of both characters and conflict. These elements become extensions of the original idea that permit the author to explore different aspects that would not have been possible otherwise.

Through characters the author can explore the emotions and thoughts that surround a founding idea. In every action, thought and emotion the characters can reveal a different perspective. Characters are principles and perspectives through which the author can explore. A nyctophobic character that fights through the darkness to save another can emphasize the primary concept that a person can do anything to save another more than attempting to describe the concept.  

Just as characters can emphasize the emotions around a singular premise, the conflict that drives these characters can identify aspects of the idea. Through conflicts the characters can be tested and emotions elevated to identify the concept behind each character.

Every narrative is born of a founding idea that the author wishes to approach and it is every subsequent element that they explore that allows them to develop the primary concept. 

Setting in Tone

Style, Tone, Distinction...

As with any project, the ability to find distinction for a narrative lies in the assemblage of elements and how they are woven together. Where a rising wave of events can sweep up the reader and the style of the story can enhance the characters to provide distinction, the tone of a narrative can determine if that first chapter is finished.

The tone of a narrative is at its very essence the attitude of the project. An attitude that is reflected in prose, setting and even the thoughts of characters.

Prose is set in such a manner to reflect near perfect grammar and eloquent phrasing that can easily be consumed by an audience. Often overlooked is the attitude with which the prose is crafted. The words may be right, the grammar perfect but how is the message said? Is there a cynical undertone to the prose? A tired exposition? The tone of a narrative not only reflects the story but the creator's attitude towards the project.

Narrative tone can also be reflected in the thoughts of the characters. It becomes more than crucial to understand the psychology of the characters within the narrative. How a character views their world can set the entire tone for a scene or narrative. The attitudes of characters reflect the premise and their situation. When a characters' attitude is derived from the the creators concept and not the psychology it detracts for the audience.

While the attitude of author and character needs to reflect the premise of the narrative, the actual settings within the narrative can further the tone. Whether a constant rain or thunderstorm each can be symbolic of a dark tumultuous premise. Abandoned buildings can reflect sadness, isolation and  stress. Every setting within the narrative reflects the tone as a psychological element.

Every narrative is reflected in the creators' tone, their attitude. It is within that tone an audience can decide to keep reading or drop the story.

Crafting the Style

As a project comes to life out of the emptiness of a blank page the creator is challenged to produce a work that will resonate within the psyche of readers and define itself as a unique perspective.

Out of the mountains of narratives that are produced, every reader has a desire to discover something that stands out. 

While there are many elements a writer can choose to emphasize to impose distinction on their creation, among character, premise and emotion the strongest can be the simplest. Style. 

When looking at the most distinctive stories the first thing that strikes the reader is the style of the narrative. Is the main character a trench-coat wearing detective? Are they a sharp dressed executive? A goth girl & sassy witch? Do they ride the bus or drive a Porsche? Do they live in an apartment or a motel?

Every element that the writer expands upon further distinguishes the world and characters. The objects and settings around the characters become extensions of the characters. If a character needs to be revealed as resourceful and a bit 'rough around the edges' then it can be described through segments throughout the narrative or it can be explained in a battered pick-up truck that they drive.

Genres are born of distinction, unique styles that a number of writers manage to perfect. Once the genre is created it becomes subject to saturation and what was once distinct becomes the standard cliché. Rather than rising to distinction the narratives fall to the wayside adding to the mountains of projects. 

While every narrative has the ability to rise from the mountains of material, it is style that can elevate a project and engross a reader.