16 Dream Story

The work in this chapter invites you to break with a major writing enemy—over-control. Of course, no writing can happen without some control, but as we have said, some of the writing rules instilled by misguided educators kill all pleasure in writing.

Writing is a two-part process. Generate new material fast and intuitively so you can set down your mind’s inventions. Call on your powers of analysis and restructuring later when you edit. Never wear two hats at once; it overheats the brain, leads to self-censorship, and knocks you flat with writer’s block.

Assignment 16–1: Writing a Dream

Use the material from the journal of dreams you have been keeping and, most importantly, preserve its zany logic in your writing.

  • Step 1:

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