Format for writing dream journal?

Heya, for a while I was trying for lucidity, and I had some success, but I got busy and stopped for a while. I kept a small notebook (those 7 inch ones) near my bed for recording dreams (lucid or not), but I never really used it...
Well lately I've had some extremely strange dreams (Even for me. 'Normal' dreams are usually as weird as Me, and that Jared guy from the Subway commercials on jetbacks in Moscow digging for pennies in a pumpkin garden, lol), and I've wanted to start recording them, so this morning I tried for the first time.

It's a bit harder than I thought, I actually kind of wrote in a backwards format. Starting from the moment I woke up, to the earliest thing I remember that happened in my dream. And since I woke up a few times, the theme/problem/story/setting/EVERYTHING in the dreams were competely different every time I went back to sleep. I guess that's alright, it's not like I'm trying to write a novel, but is there a way I should try and write them?
I found it difficult to distinguish a timeline, and remembered lots of tiny and seemingly ridiculously unrelated details/moments that I couldn't pinpoint to a specific part of my dream, but still wanted to mention.

Btw, now that it's been about an hour and a half since I wrote it, when I look back on it, I notice my grammar/spelling sucks when I start writing 3 seconds after I wake up, lol

EDIT: few afterthoughts, any statistics I should try and record too? I wrote down the date of course, how many times I woke up, and how many hours I slept.

You can see my format in my journal, I have the tags written down on the first thread of every page. For small fragments I just do the title and the fragments in purple.

I don't write down my dreams in any particular format, because that's really hard to do at like 7:30 in the morning.:P

I'd say it would be helpful to start at the beginning of the dream, because then you can work your way forward to the end, and you're probably more likely to remember important details of the dream.

I wouldn't be too worried about how you do format it, it's hard enough writing them down legibly early in the morning, and besides, you can always give them nice formating on your DJ here or on your computer when you're more awake.:)

Welcome.:)

I use my PC. Since my PC is in my bedroom, it takes me a few seconds to boot it up. I'm a much faster typer than writer, and this way, if my mind gets jogged by recalling a previous dream, I can just go back and type in order.

It would be good to write the Date, Time, Lucid/Non-lucid, as well as listing key areas, locations, or people that are common in your dreams. This way, when you are reading your journal months later, you can easily sort the dreams, and find your dream signs!

(IDEA: Write your lucid dreams in another color pen!)

Welcome to DV, and have a great time!

My DJ is colorcoated which makes it easier to see if it was a normal dream or a lucid one. I write keywords on paper and then later type my dreams on my computer. I also put the date on and of course have a title for the dream.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Enzo

My DJ is colorcoated which makes it easier to see if it was a normal dream or a lucid one. I write keywords on paper and then later type my dreams on my computer. I also put the date on and of course have a title for the dream.

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Kind of sounds like what I said.

PWneeedd
lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AmazeO XD

Kind of sounds like what I said.

PWneeedd
lol

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:lol: Ya, but I'm serious thats how I do it. I've been keeping it like that since December before I got on DV.

Well, regardless of what you do, it would be smart (like Enzo does) to keep it formatted and never change it. This way you won't be confused when you review it later on.

hey, sorry for ressurecting this thread, but since it's been a few weeks since I started recording, I have another question...

During nights when I only remember fragments of dreams, should I record those too anyway? Even if it might only be a scene or two?

You should write down everything. More might come to you later. This presents a problem with my formatting :P but you usually can work it in. My system is:

Dream (Date) For dreams

Lucid Dream (Date) For Lucid Dreams

(Date) For anything too short, incoherent or weird to be called a dream

I have never used a dream journal. I think it is better to practice "pure recall". Lose the crutches!

This will exercise there areas of consciousness you are interested in.

Recall the dream while you are in a semi conscious state and then recall it several times during the waking hours of the day to reinforce it.

Go natural! :boogie:

Welcome! :) I have good dream recall naturally but keep a dream journal anyway to go back and read, it is pretty cool to look back. I write down everything, even fragments or short ones. It is your journal, all up to you. I also handwrite mine in a notebook on a stand with a lamp right by "my side" of the bed. Makes it easy to get up and write them, altho sometimes I put it off until later. First thing is better though. Mine are only labeled by date right now.