Thread: Dream Journal

Haha, I noticed that to, and realized I did it as well. I do it because when I am writing an entry all the memories, and thoughts that are happening are in the present. And it is for helping with reading, because when you read something in the present tense it helps you visualize what is going on, not what went on.

I'm one of the present-tense dream journal writers. I remember reading somewhere (no idea where) that dream journal entries should be written in the present tense because it makes the events of the dream you're recalling seem more immediate, like they're part of the present moment when you're writing them, thus helping with recall.

Also, welcome!

Hmmm. Thanks guys, I'll try posting them in present tense next time and see if it helps. Hey on another note, do you guys write your DJ's down in a notebook before posting on here, or do you just go straight here?

I'm horrible; when I write my dreams out — transcribing them from the original voice recordings — I have this bad habit of going from past tense to present tense and making a real mess of it. If I'm writing anything else I won't have this problem, but when I'm writing my dreams out it's something I need to look for to fix when I read back over them.

Reading the thread I just realized that I always write my dreams in the present tense and had never noticed it.
I guess the only reason is that it comes spontaneous to me.
Regarding my DJ, I actually have 2: one is a little black notebook on my bedside where I write what I remember as soon as I wake up, the other one is a Journal software on my computer, where I write my dreams later during the day and with more details (if I remember them); I can even write some kind of comments on it, about the characteristics of the dream (particularly if they are not ordinary dreams, i.e. if they are lucid, or involve OBE or anything else noticeable).

I find that I tend to go back and forth on present-tense and past-tense depending on the dream. Maybe it's just habit, but it also makes me feel more immersed in the dream. I write it down as I remember the details, and it just happens to be present-tense most of the time!

I keep a dream journal notebook right beside my pillow (it's one of those composition books). When I wake up recalling a dream, I write down as much as possible even if it takes me a while, because I'm bound to forget some of the details by morning. Sometimes though I won't remember enough or the dream was too confusing, so I just leave keywords and fragments.

Then later in the day (morning or night) I go type up the full dreams to my DV DJ. If I left good enough details, I can even remember stuff I didn't write down but remembered while trying to get back to sleep.

I used to use Banhurt's Dream Journal as well (useful for tags and the chart was kinda nifty) but my file and backup were erased.

I keep a notepad and pen next to my bed, and use them to write very brief notes on my dreams when I wake up during the night after a sleep cycle. When I get up in the morning, I take the notepad to my computer and start typing into a word processor document named Dream Journal - Master.odt. If I can recall any more details than what I wrote down by hand, I add them in while I'm typing. I also usually type up my last dream before I woke up at this point (I don't bother noting that one on the notepad). When I've finished the entry, I copy and paste into my DJ here at DV.

I have two exercise books, one is really rough where all I write down is key details maybe a summary and the time. The other one is a good copy, in the evening before I go to bed I transcribe my rough notes into paragraphs in my good copy. I find this helps to solidify the dreams I had the previous night right before I go to sleep. I generally also alternate between present and past tense depnding on the dream and how many details I remeber .