Tips for dream journals?

**Chassit** · 08-03-2010 07:37 AM

I've been writing down my dreams when I remember them and stuff, and I think it's been helping me. My question is - how do you write down the dream before you forget it entirely? I have to write it down quickly and it feels like I'm barely getting it out before I forget it. Do you scratch it out as fast as you can first, and then clean it up and make it more coherent later? What if you have to do something else before you can write it down?

**Samael** · 08-03-2010 07:59 AM

Hi again!

To answer your question, if I have a bunch of dreams I want to write down all at once, I start with keywords. First I'll write down specific phrases I don't want to forget. Then I'll write out a dream, like:

119. Supernatural
Car, Himilayas, Death Valley
Vegan fairies, transport to office
Secret panels, Bela, Man in suit
Shortcut, Fall to pool
Drinking wine in warehouse

It won't make sense to most people looking at it, but I'll be able to glance at the keywords and have all the main pieces of the dream fall into place. Even if you have time to write down all the dreams right away, writing out a short list like this gives you enough time to write out the dreams without completely forgetting them.

If you have to get up write away, still try to write down a couple of keywords. If you can't, my best advice is to try to keep the dream in your mind, thinking about it and trying to remember more, until you can write something down.

It only takes a few seconds to write out keywords,though.

**atkins513** · 08-04-2010 01:44 AM

Also keeping a small voice recorder by the bed to record dreams fast as soon as you wake up, or in the middle of the night is a good idea too..

**Chassit** · 08-04-2010 08:54 PM

Bela, Man in suit
Shortcut, Fall to pool
Drinking wine in warehouse

Longshot here, but Bela as in Bela Lugosi? Also, that's pretty good advice. In your experience, is it easier to remember dreams when you've been writing them down for a while?

Also keeping a small voice recorder by the bed to record dreams fast as soon as you wake up, or in the middle of the night is a good idea too..

Seems like a good idea.

**Elucive** · 08-04-2010 09:57 PM

Like Sam said, keywords are definently the way to go. I wake up, write out a few words, and when I have time later on in the day to write the whole thing down, I take a look at those words and remember everything that happened.

**Puffin** · 08-04-2010 11:47 PM

I always have a sheet of looseleaf by my bedside. When I wake up from a dream, I stay in bed for a few moments, not moving, and recount the dream, summarizing it up. I then lean over and grab a pencil at my bedside (eyes still closed), and write down jot notes. It helps me remember in the morning, when I actually have time to write down the entire thing.

**Samael** · 08-05-2010 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by Chassit

Longshot here, but Bela as in Bela Lugosi?

Haha, that would have been cool. No, this was the (female) character from Supernatural. Bela Talbot and the Man in the Suit were two separate people.

In your experience, is it easier to remember dreams when you've been writing them down for a while?

Absolutely. I've been dream journalling on and off for years, but this is the first time I've been writing consistently for several months (since I joined DV). In the past couple of months, I've had long, story-like non-lucids that actually continue on from each other over separate nights. It's gets easier to remember a whole bunch of details as scenes shift. It's helped my lucidity a lot, too.

**Chassit** · 08-05-2010 01:12 AM

I always have a sheet of looseleaf by my bedside. When I wake up from a dream, I stay in bed for a few moments, not moving, and recount the dream, summarizing it up. I then lean over and grab a pencil at my bedside (eyes still closed), and write down jot notes. It helps me remember in the morning, when I actually have time to write down the entire thing.

That sounds really helpful actually. Thank you.

Haha, that would have been cool. No, this was the (female) character from Supernatural. Bela Talbot and the Man in the Suit were two separate people.

Aah. I'm not too familiar with the show (I've watched... three or four episodes?) but I know the general premise of the show, thanks to friends who've seen it.