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Sometimes, when I've had a lengthy period of not writing poems, I focus on my dreams. I have a theory that when I'm dreaming a lot it's good for the bit of my brain that does poetry. This is probably a mad theory, but still...

Sometimes I do write down the dreams, do a bit of dream diary. I don't necessarily make them into poems (although I have a weakness for true dream poems) but sometimes I find that around the same time a phrase for a poem does come.

What do you think?

I don't remember my dreams but I do think dreaming can inspire poems. I find if I'm going through an uninspired phase, that doing something unlinked to poetry but something creativity-linked (eg listening to music, watching movies) helps. I suspect most creative writing takes place in the subconscious with images/words/phrases passing through to the conscious mind/memory so dreaming would help with writing (not such a mad theory after all).

I find the whole topic of dreaming fascinating. I rarely remember mine but I am left with the sensation that I've inhabited a world where the normal restraints imposed by logic disappear. As a sensation it's very liberating, and it definitely frees up my creativity. Images somehow seem to become more intense as well. Maybe it's about gently lifting us out of and refreshing our usual viewpoint?

Just to say the last message was mine - I somehow managed to sign myself in as a guest.

Pam Hogan