Ideas for dream settings?

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DAYDREAMER

New Member
I am currently writing a story that involves my main character, Ophelia, getting lost in her dreams. In the middle of the book I am planning on her dreams consuming her where she will spend a large amount of her time daydreaming or sleeping.

Do you have any settings that you think are good or uncommon? I am aiming for dreamcore settings in these dreams, such as abandoned malls, waiting rooms, etc. I am also drawing inspiration from my own dreams like garden mazes, expansive beaches, strange malls and more.
 
My first question to something like this is: What is the thematic importance of those dreams? How do they advance the story?

That matters because you can create settings for your dreams based on their significance. It shouldn't be just random cool dreams. It should all tie into a bigger picture somehow.
 
ps102 said:
My first question to something like this is: What is the thematic importance of those dreams? How do they advance the story?

That matters because you can create settings for your dreams based on their significance. It shouldn't be just random cool dreams. It should all tie into a bigger picture somehow.
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The dreams are supposed to serve as Ophelia's safe space, but whenever she has thoughts are tries to escape these dreams they become darker, like a warning.

For example, she could be in a wonderful, fantastical mall in her dreams. But whenever she dwells on escaping or it not being real, it will shift to an abandoned dark mall.

Although, you are correct, the settings should have some significance to her. I will be sure to explore the significance in my book. I realize now that I have not given enough detail on Ophelia. She loves to be in the water, photography, the internet, and collecting anything shiny. She hates ballet, dirt, wasps, vomiting, and being watched.
 
DAYDREAMER said:
The dreams are supposed to serve as Ophelia's safe space, but whenever she has thoughts are tries to escape these dreams they become darker, like a warning.
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This is a good starting point. It suggests some sort of conflict within Ophelia. You say they are her safe space, now you need to define from what. What is she escaping from? That should give it a bit more depth.

A general rule of thumb is that everything in a story must have a solid purpose. It shouldn't just be there, otherwise, the reader will question it. If the story is just about Ophelia dreaming all the time, that would be rather unlikely to hold the reader's attention.

Don't be discouraged though! Every story is like that at first. You just need to keep working on it until the concept becomes something solid. I think this has the potential to turn into something interesting if you just ask yourself the right questions.

A bit off-topic, but it really does relate—don't just choose random ideas for your dream settings. Make them meaningful in a way that they advance the story.
 
Drawing a link between dreams and real life is a fascinating concept. Some of the questions you may want to explore is what connection do her dreams have to her real life. What's more powerful - her dreams or her real life? This would require revealing some of her real life that is manifested in her dreams. Some understanding of dreams may also contribute to the story.

Here's one interesting article, and there are a lot more -

An Overview of Dreaming​

 
DAYDREAMER said:
For example, she could be in a wonderful, fantastical mall in her dreams. But whenever she dwells on escaping or it not being real, it will shift to an abandoned dark mall.
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I've actually seen this concept in a video game called Fable II. I don't know if you care about spoilers for an Xbox game from 2008, but that's almost exactly what I thought when I heard that. I LOVED this part of the game, and I'm a sucker for dreams with deeper meaning or locations that are symbolic for the character.

I don't know how related it is to your original question, but if it helps then goody!

From the Fandom Wiki:
Although this level's underlying meaning is open to player interpretation, one possible explanation is that it largely represents a test for the Hero; the save game "card" refers to it as "the ultimate test". In this dream-like reality, the Hero is gifted with an opportunity at experiencing their own perfect existence, with all their loved ones alive and living happily in a wealthy estate away from the slums of Bowerstone where they can regain the innocent pleasures that were stolen from them. This dream is something that Lucien has dedicated his life to achieve and the Hero has dedicated their life to prevent. At night, however, the Hero is awoken by the sound of the Music Box, the object that brought the wrath of Lucien down upon and destroyed the Hero's, however poor, innocent life with Rose. The Hero's leaving behind of this innocence represents his/her call to accept their blood filled destiny as a Hero. The dark path strewn with corpses is symbolic of all the death that the Hero's journey has brought to the world, even if he or she has dedicated themselves to a life of righteousness. Only by having endured the hardships Lucien had caused, and rejecting a chance to ignore them for a peaceful life, does the Hero prove that they are stronger than Lucien and worthy to stop him.
 
That would be YA then. It's a bit younger than your intended audience, but have you ever read Marianne Dreams, or watched the movie adaptation, Paperhouse?
 
No, I have not. As of late I do not read too much, unfortunately. The past few weeks I have only been reading a select few fanfiction, graphic novels, and trying to get back into reading the updated edition of Folger Shakespeare Library Hamlet.
 
DAYDREAMER said:
No, I have not. As of late I do not read too much, unfortunately. The past few weeks I have only been reading a select few fanfiction, graphic novels, and trying to get back into reading the updated edition of Folger Shakespeare Library Hamlet.
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This is supposed to be in reply to Naomasa298.
 
Naomasa298 said:
The film deviates from the book quite a lot, I think. In the UK, it's on Kindle for around £3.99.
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That is kind of the issue. I would much more like a physical copy. And for that I would most likely have to go to Barns and Noble, which I can only go to on the weekend, which will not be happening for a week or two since my family has things scheduled.
 
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