VERY FRUSTRATED! Need a better way to record my dreams, looking for suggestions.

First of all if this thread is not in the best place please feel free to relocate it.

So here is my problem. My handwriting is atrocious. I mean truly bad. I have trouble reading everything I wrote more than a month ago, when the memory of what I wrote is no longer there to help me. I started to work on my handwriting, but I simply don't have the inclination, interest or time to keep at it. I mean if I could go somewhere, to handwriting summer camp, where I could work on this for a solid week, that would work. But I can't stick with my lessons normally, and it's taken too damn long! Meanwhile, if i were to keep a written Dream Journal, I would be having to eventually decipher writing that is worse than usual, because it would have been written while I was half asleep!

Some time ago I went to audio recordings. But I listened to one of them today, and tried to transcribe it in Dragon Naturally Speaking, and I could barely understand myself, much less make the stupid program understand me! I just spend 2+ hours training that piece of garbage, wasting my time, because it made no difference!

So I can't keep a written journal, or an audio journal. OK, how about writing it down on the computer? Tried that, failed. That bright light, when you just wake up? Washes the dream memories right out.

So now I am at a loss... My recall is good, but it fluctuates - never understood that. But I remember bits and pieces of dreams even at the end of the day, hours after recording my initial impressions! So at least I have that unique skill.

I am about to browse Cnet, see if any other software exists that is better than DNS. Maybe something has better text to speech recognition. Meanwhile i need suggestions! Outside of writing my dreams down in a journal, using the computer to write them down, or recording them via audio, what can I do to record my dreams?

For example, is there a PDA with a low-light screen and good handwriting recognition? Something that I can train, successfully, to recognize my handwriting and correct it? Is there any other sort of inexpensive digital notepad? Anyone have any knowledge here?

I was going to start working with my dreams, transcribing them, keeping a record, just setting aside time each day for that previous nights experiences. But this has thrown a serious monkey wrench into my plans :(

Appreciate your help!

Can you not just type them up later in the day? You say your recall is good enough to remember it hours after you wake up, why not type it when the screen won't bother you. Maybe just jot down in your written journal some key words to make it easier.



*Shameless plug: By the way, if you happen to have Windows 8 phone you can try out my dream journal app, it has a dimmer! :chuckle:

What helps for me (my writing is gibberish, especially after waking up) is DRAWING!

I can't draw really good but I can visualize dream scenes and make a sketch of the space. There needs to be less writing in this way and any words or audible parts of the dreams are written in short sentences and keywords.
It never fails to help me to vividly remember the dream upon counceling my dream book.

Do you have a smart phone or a tablet? Look at the dreaming apps and find one that has a DJ with a dark background. I'm going to start doing this and I think the darkest background of the free apps is Dreamer, but it only lets you keep 7 dreams at a time, which is ok for me since I will transcribe them into a journal later.
I hope that helps.

I do not have a tablet or a smart phone or anything like that.

My recall is very good, but its more scenes I didn't initially record come to me, rather than me recording the dreams later. I am not sure waiting to record my dreams until later is such a good idea.

Thank you for all your suggestions!

Going to tackle this through self hypnosis for now. Program myself to be more mindful, more present when writing, To slow down my recall, my thinking, so I can take time to write everything. To silence the inner critic whenever I use a writing implement. To have a desire to practice my handwriting, improve it, and do the exercises daily.

Dthoughts
The idea of sketching out my dreams speaks to me. I need to practice drawing, and what better way to do so? However, I need some help with this. Obviously I'll need a notebook that has every other page blank, or the backs of pages blank, or something, so I can sketch. I will want something at least 9" x 7" - larger is better. I will want something either inexpensive, so I can buy several, or somewhat expensive, and easily refillable. I think I would like to try using graph paper to write on, although lined is fine.

As you obviously have some experience recording your dreams this way, do you have any notebooks you like and prefer to use? Any suggestions for me? I found some of these that have the top blank, and half the page lined, and will go with that, unless there are better suggestions.

I appreciate all your help!

This may help, can't say I have tried it though credit to zoth! http://www.dreamviews.com/dream-sign...ml#post1947583

Haha DreamBliss, I think you are fine with whatever you pick. I have a really tiny journal which is simply line after line for text only. I draw in it and it is the messiest thing ever. But I know what I have written for most of the time so It's all good for recall. It is less of a creative masterpiece than one would expect from a Dream Journal. I am glad to hear that you are already into drawing. That should make things more interesting. I wish you good luck. And happy dreaming.

I take a audio memo on my Iphone/Ipod touch and that's pretty easy, you just talk and describe everything, saves the date and time of rec.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blizzardesigns

I take a audio memo on my Iphone/Ipod touch and that's pretty easy, you just talk and describe everything, saves the date and time of rec.

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Except I have a chronic case of mush mouth.

Not really my fault. My teeth are INSERT_BAD_WORD_HERE. My parents couldn't afford braces for my brother and I. You can imagine the result after 3 decades.

Well I'm stumped, but a way to help you easily recap most of your dream hopefully is to get a chart that comtains your dream signs. A lot of your dreams will contain a dreamsign, so you just tick besides it if you had it.
Also the drawing idea is awesome.
Also, how horrible can your handwriting be? Write down keywords in huge letters so you can read them. Sure it'll take a full page per night only for keywords, but try it out.
Hope I helped

You all have helped out a lot, thank you.

I have started taking up handwriting exercises again. So I am no writing out my dreams again, as well as narrating them as I do so.

I will buy one of those top page blank notebooks soon. Any ideas as to a notebook that has every other page lined? Not sure how to search for this.

I don't know how to find it but it sounds pretty good. When I finished the pages of my book I think i'll get one of those where you can just insert pages. having to rip out pages on ocassion with my hardcover book makes it all a bit messy. And being creative and making something beautiful is part of the fun.