What do your characters dream about?

Your dreams can tell a lot about you. While dreaming, you’re the closest thing to your true self than at any other time. Dreams are often confusing and haphazard, but they have a lot of symbolism in them and they usually tell you something about yourself or your current situation.

In case you haven’t guessed, I want you to write a dream that one of your characters might have. If you’re going to write one of their dreams, you’ll have to know them very well and all of their hopes, fears, etc. You might include something in the dream that they’re worried about at a certain point in your story or maybe you could just explore their mind. Do whatever you want, but make it interesting

I want this dream to also be a bit of a teaser, so I think it would be good to refer somehow to what’s going on in the character’s life. But don’t explain anything to me unless it’s absolutely necessary. If your character knows what’s going on in the dream, assume I do too. I guess the best way to write this would be to imagine that you’re simply putting a short dream sequence into your story somewhere.

This is a character development exercise; you can use a character that you make up on the spot or one that you’ve used in a short story, but this contest will probably be easier for those writing novels.

I’m judging the winner on:
- Creativity
- Use of symbolism and imagery
- Intrigue (Does it draw me in and make me want to know more?)
- Depth (In spite of it being a weird and confusing dream, I want it to mean something.)

Rules: (the usual)
- Nothing above 2000 words. Most dreams aren’t much longer than 1000 words anyway.
- None of ThIs CrAp
- Reasonably good grammar and spelling would be preferred. As long as I can read it, it’s cool, but nicely edited writing seems more finished and might mean the difference between a gold or silver trophy
- Erotica is ok I guess, but it would weird me out a little and that might cost you xD Other than that, I’m not offended by bad language or anything like that.
- While I’m here, I might as well make you put some random lyrics in your author’s notes, just so I know you read this carefully.
- Pre-writes are allowed, but if your story doesn’t seem to be what I asked for, you won’t win.

I give lots of trophies away and usually give detailed comments, so please enter! It’s really fun ^^

Contest is Over

  • Contest was judged on January 2
  • Rewards: Gold: 500, Silver: 100, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 8 people
  • Final notes:
    Hey everybody!

    I'm so sorry this contest took so long to judge; there was always something stopping me from getting it done. Even when I got holidays, I ended up getting really sick, lmao! Well, I hope it's ok; I've judged it now. And next time I do a contest I'll make sure I have time to judge it O.o

    So congratulations to the winners! I judged more on how much the story was what I was looking for than anything else, if that makes sense. But all of the entries were of a high standard ^^

    Eph

Contest Winners

  1. A Dream of Warmth
    The night is a twisted labyrinth of hell-fire stars. The boy— who is he?— dances furiously, fire leaping up after every one of his graceful
    by Wait-for-Quiet 500 words, 4 comments, on Nov 21 11:47 PM 2008. In Fantasy, First person, Fragment, Love
    Gold trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  2. Dream from "Between the Realms"
    As I slipped into a dream I stood in the middle of my parents back hay field. It was very strange. The field felt like a warm spring day bu
    by RoseBlossom100 300 words, 3 comments, on Oct 26 7:45 PM 2008. In
    Silver trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  3. Erin's Dream
    WARNING!Spoilers! Well, sort of. This is a tiny piece that will be in the next chapter of Conner......
    by MoonRoseWolf 400 words, 2 comments, on Oct 15 6:32 AM 2008. In , Dark, Dream, Fragment, Horror, Other, Short story, Strange, Unfinished, Werewolves
    Bronze trophy winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  4. Embracing It
    by MessOfADreamer 700 words, 2 comments, on Oct 26 10:40 PM 2008. In Contest, Dream, Fragment, Horror, Identity
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  5. Joseph Farley
    1 / First section: Character Profile2 / 1.Joseph(Joe) / 2.Farley / 3.44 / 4.Male / 5.Human / 6.Six feet, developing a paunch, big, blue ey
    by Andy Stephenson 600 words, 10 comments, on Jun 3 7:09 AM 2008. In , Fantasy, Fiction, Other
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
  6. Fire of Life, Sting of Death
    A dream Sylvia had that could save a foreign world through the knowledge of the past on her own world.

    Sylvia is taken to the past of he
    by angellove 500 words, 16 comments, on Oct 14 7:57 PM 2008. In , Contest, Dream, Novel, Prophecy, Science fiction
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  7. Biorhythms
    A twist of smoke spiraled lazily away from the glass concavity from which it emanated, coiling into serpentine and more fantastic forms as
    by intoothandclaw 900 words, 1 comment, on Oct 14 9:00 PM 2008. In Abstract, Cannabis, Contest, Dream
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  8. Michael's Dream
    I opened my eyes as the sun shone brightly, hitting my face. Standing up I wiped the dirt off my clothing. The house wasn’t far from where
    by Mel-the-Believer 400 words, 3 comments, on Oct 17 8:13 PM 2008. In
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  9. This Dream Was Life
    I fell asleep that night scared about the dreams that would soon show my future.1
    by TyShade 400 words, 4 comments, on Oct 17 9:06 PM 2008. In Death, Family, Fantasy, Life, Love, Pain, Short story, Teen, Vampires, Weird
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  10. Arbitor Blade's dream
    Arbitor's Dream
    by arbitorblade 300 words, 2 comments, on Nov 22 3:25 PM 2008. In
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]
  11. The Dreams of Lydia
    Me an mommy are happy, and we're not running anymore. We don't have to hide fom daddy, and I didn't forget Ms. Sunshine at our old, mean house.1
    by Rabecky-Citrus 200 words, 1 comment, on Nov 16 12:27 AM 2008
    Honorable winner
    • Commented on by judge. [remove]

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