Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On

Creating Dynamic Characters Workshop

Here's a creative exercise to help you craft a dream scene that reveals character and defines conflict.

Dream sequences are often used to explain to characters (and readers) something the characters may not understand about themselves. For example, a mother and daughter may constantly fight with each other, yet always about petty things, never understanding the root of their conflict. Write a dream sequence from each of two characters' POVs in which the reason for their conflict is revealed. However, because dreams are symbolic, you can have one or the other character appear in the dream but not both. Nor can anyone in the dream directly discuss the conflict.