Dreams and Voices

I want to tell you what I remember of a dream I had a few nights ago. In it, Live-In Handyman and I were in Brussels, Belgium. An international trial was being held there with jurors chosen from around the world. I was one of them. Don't ask, I don't know. All I know is the trial involved an oversized clawfoot bathtub and shopping carts.

When I told Live-In Handyman about my dream, I got the look. He said, "I've heard enough."

Sometimes I remember a lot of strange details, but this time it was good Handyman had heard enough since I had nothing more to tell. I'll just say he knows that just because he's heard enough doesn't necessarily mean I've told him enough. Which is probably why he reinforced his words with the look. Doesn't matter. He'll wonder why the look doesn't work next time when I do have more to say :)

Anyway, dreams are like that - most of the time they don't make a lot of logical sense, especially in the cold light of day.

My ideas for stories are like dream fragments. The bits and pieces that start floating to the same corner don't seem to fit together in any discernible pattern. Rarely do I begin with something I can grab onto and say, "I'm going to write about THIS!"

Usually I have to wait for the whisperings to begin before I figure out what it's all about. Whisperings lead to voices. And voices lead me to the next part of this post. How's that for a segue?

I'm going to participate in the

I'm Hearing Voices Character Blogfest

February 6-10

The blogfest is hosted by Cassie Mae at Reading, Writing, and Lovin' it! and Angie at Live to Write...Edit when Necessary and it sounds like a ton of fun. Here's what it's all about, straight from Cassie Mae's blog:

February 6th - Monday: Characters on the couch: Have one of your characters answer the following questions (to make this work to your benefit, choose a character who is the hardest for you to write :) Max 250 words (Not including the questions—only the answers).

1. What is your biggest vulnerability? Do others know this or is it a secret
2. What do people believe about you that is false
3. What would your best friend say is your fatal flaw? Why?
4. What would the same friend say is your one redeeming quality? Why?
5. What do you want most? What will you do to get it?

February 8th - Wednesday - Dialogue Introduction: Have two characters introduce each other using only dialogue—no backstory, no internalization, just dialogue between the two. Max 250 words.

February 10th - Friday - Emotion Flash Fiction: Emotion is the engine of a story. Pick an emotion and in a flash fiction piece of 250 words MAKE us feel it! We want to connect with your character. This will be a challenge in 250 words.

I'm looking forward to participating. Maybe I'll see you there, too.