Can anyone think of a good piece of fiction about dreaming?  One that portrays this practice roughly the way we see it?  Perhaps we should do something about that.

The first step is to see who might be interested in working on a writing project.  Let’s give this phase a couple weeks to give everyone a chance to speak up, and to see Inception before it’s inevitably spoiled during brainstorming.

From discussions in chat, I think there will be a lot of interest.  Based on my experience with World of Warcraft, large groups are so difficult to organize, it’s probably best if we then split into smaller groups where everyone’s comfortable.  Each group can then head off and work on their own dungeon -- so to speak.

I saw inception last night and I'd love to help. I have a boat load of ideas too.

-tips hat-

Interested too! Will be seeing Inception fairly soon too, I would imagine. But either way, if I don't see it before the brainstorming begins, I don't care if I get exposed to spoilers.

I'm interested. However I'm curious as to why Inception is related to this at all; is this MM's "answer" to Inception, or what we feel a relevant lucid dreaming fiction should be like? I think its possible those two goals could become one work, but its probably best we focus on one or the other.

Quote from: AspirationRealized on July 20, 2010, 09:43:44 PMI'm interested. However I'm curious as to why Inception is related to this at all; is this MM's "answer" to Inception, or what we feel a relevant lucid dreaming fiction should be like? I think its possible those two goals could become one work, but its probably best we focus on one or the other.

Originally, I think this was an idea brought up by ment's (ill-placed or not) disappointment in the movie, Inception.

So, the purpose of this novel may have been rooted as an answer, but it should probably be seen more as a way for us dreamers to try to get the word out, while also having fun. As such, comparisons will definitely be made seeing as Inception is the newest dream related media out and about. On top of Inception, I expect references to several movies (Matrix, Waking Life, etc...) but by now, most people have seen those. Inception is only so old.

I have acutally been wanting to write a book with ravenknight and waking nomad, based on our dream adventures. But me personally I want to write a fiction book based on our adventures with asuka.

I've not seen Inception, and if this gets rolling I will not see it.  Although I've no problem with the idea to get this started being a reaction to one or another movie, since what I assume we want is something new and completely different, I'd rather not have any other movie (or book, or anything) in mind at all.

That said, if we need strange and incomprehensible descriptions of dream stuff, count me in.

Speaking of "Incomprehensable dream stuff" Inception didn't have nearly enough of that. No bizarre interactions with DCs, a little bit of impossible architecture (which weaved its way into the plot), no impossible dreamscapes, and certainly nothing close to the weird crap I see while lucid. (I.e. A bicycle raping a washing machine)

The other thing is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of mainstream stuff out there that really reflects on the natural side of lucidity. Like all of the mental preparation and the training and the YEARS it takes to have frequent lucid dreams. These movies make it seem like you can pop a pill and bang, you're lucid.

I saw it with Avatar and we'll probably see it with Inception too... the masses that swarmed into the DV Newbie forums full of people who were interested in LD's (yay!) and then left after a few weeks when they didn't have them (boo!). We can say til we're blue in the face that it doesn't happen over night, but yeah. I'd like to mention something about the mental training.

I can get what you're saying, Serenity, but at the same time I believe in the power of belief in dreams. I think that reinforcing that it takes years to do it properly will reinforce that as a reality of the dream world.

But I'm not sure if those beliefs are very popular or not o0 so disregard if you please I guess.

I understand what you mean. I think what I am trying to say more is... put less emphasis on a gimmick to get lucid (as in avatar's coffin-thingy) and more emphasis on the fact that it can be done naturally. Like awareness

Yes. I agree on that front. Its not instantaneous and its not a struggle. It just is.

Maybe we should have characters reflect both to express this duality.

Quote from: Kraftwerk on July 20, 2010, 10:29:17 PMSpeaking of "Incomprehensable dream stuff" Inception didn't have nearly enough of that. No bizarre interactions with DCs, a little bit of impossible architecture (which weaved its way into the plot), no impossible dreamscapes, and certainly nothing close to the weird crap I see while lucid. (I.e. A bicycle raping a washing machine) I think I've yet to see anything even approaching a good portrayal of the strangeness of dreams.  In most cases it's something like a fantasy land, or the fact that it's a dream used to explain impossible occurrences, etc..  In other words, it could almost always be someplace other than a dream.

Nothing I've seen really feels like a dream; something is completely missing.  And I'm not saying there should be mere strangeness for its own sake.  I don't find your example there the least bit unusual, for example, because I can imagine the way it must have fit in with the rest of things.  The way that sort of thing can happen, the state of mind that allows it to, is what needs to be expressed and shared with those unfamiliar with it.

Quote from: Serenity on July 20, 2010, 11:13:49 PMThe other thing is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of mainstream stuff out there that really reflects on the natural side of lucidity. Like all of the mental preparation and the training and the YEARS it takes to have frequent lucid dreams. These movies make it seem like you can pop a pill and bang, you're lucid.

I saw it with Avatar and we'll probably see it with Inception too... the masses that swarmed into the DV Newbie forums full of people who were interested in LD's (yay!) and then left after a few weeks when they didn't have them (boo!). We can say til we're blue in the face that it doesn't happen over night, but yeah. I'd like to mention something about the mental training. It's an art and science, as a certain website says.  I can't begin to understand that sort of impatience..  If they wanted to learn a musical instrument, or paint, etc. would they think like that?  (I guess some of them might..  )  Frankly I can't understand the "I want to do that exact same thing" mindset either..  You tell people they can do whatever they want, anything at all, and it's like they haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.  They need to be told what they want, and have someone do it for them.

I had no idea I was in such a fine mood today..

Quote from: AspirationRealized on July 20, 2010, 11:19:34 PMI can get what you're saying, Serenity, but at the same time I believe in the power of belief in dreams. I think that reinforcing that it takes years to do it properly will reinforce that as a reality of the dream world.

But I'm not sure if those beliefs are very popular or not o0 so disregard if you please I guess. I think you are both saying the same thing?  It takes a long time to develop, and you'll hardly do so without belief.  I think belief alone is enough--but that's not nearly as simple a thing as it sounds.

Count me in. Absolutely. I'm making plans to see Inception this weekend. It feels like a few of you guys are ready to let loose about the movie.

I would love to be part of this.  I actually started writing a fiction about lucid dreaming a year or so ago - but didn't get very far with it. . . just a couple chapters and some back story.

Perhaps I'm not the best person to write, but I'm sure I can contribute with something

I'm sure there will be much editing done so all ideas will get a chance!

Quote from: Kraftwerk on July 20, 2010, 10:29:17 PM(I.e. A bicycle raping a washing machine)Poor washing machine!

Quote from: Serenity on July 20, 2010, 11:13:49 PMI'd like to mention something about the mental training.I think so too. If anyone has seen Dragonball (original series), my favorite part is when the 2 very different boys do training with Master Roshi! I totally loved seeing them both go through their own hardships and coming out successful in their own way, not because of 'magic', but because of hard work and perseverance. Yah sure Goku was an alien, but my point is about how the training wasn't cut super short like in most movies.. (serious face -_-)

All i know about my writing skills is that i often got A's for creative writing, since i'd basically write out a super trippy lucid dream with a twist ending. Basically my formula was to tie the ending with the start in an interesting way, keeping the reader guessing whether it was a dream or real.

I don't feel a compulsion to see inception for ideas, we have plenty of material right here in MM!

Quote from: Serenity on July 20, 2010, 11:22:15 PM... put less emphasis on a gimmick to get lucid (as in avatar's coffin-thingy) and more emphasis on the fact that it can be done naturally. Like awareness I totally agree. We should write freely about our experiences without worrying how to please the public, because in most cases, movies/books such as this get edited LATER, to fit the understanding of the masses anyway. Thats what editing/publishing companies are for.

Since there will be so many participants, i think it would be a massive effort to cram everything/everyone into one book. I propose that these 'dungeon' groups you speak of, each write a script of their own, but that all the books can relate to each other strongly, such as particular dream sharers/characters appearing in each book, or the Mortal mist tree is a common meeting place.. This way the series of books will be known as a collaborative effort, and there are people out there who simply can't help but to buy a whole collection of something, just to have the whole set.

I hope my ideas make sense... i totally understand if you had a different idea in mind.

I'll give this a shot.