Books Inspired By Dreams 11 famous works that began as dreams

Artists and creatives are known to struggle with ideas from time to time. Writer’s block can happen to anyone, regardless of their skill. To combat this, writers like Tolkein found inspiration while grading exam papers, and Maya Angalou advises to never stop writing words, even if they make no sense. Each creative has their different method of harnessing creativity.

Most prolific artists, authors, and creatives find inspiration wherever they can — even in their dreams. From Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory to John Lennon’s “#9 Dream,” dreams have a history of inspiring the most creative works of art.

Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Editor

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In This Article

You may know that many books are inspired by dreams. In this article we have covered how dreams can be used for writing literature in our 11 famous examples.

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Why Are Dreams Good for Creativity?

Dreams connect information, ideas, and memories, often synthesizing them into interesting new experiences and occurrences. For those who easily remember their dreams, they become a source of inspiration for years.

As many of the most easily remembered dreams are bizarre, fantastical, or otherwise nightmarish, it makes sense that they often result in well-known horror novels, like much of Stephen King’s work.

As an artist or creative, you too can find inspiration in your dreams for your work. All it takes is getting enough rest and some practice recalling and recording your dreams. For insights on which of your favorite novels were inspired by dreams, and how you can leverage your own dreams, check out this infographic below.

How Can I Remember My Dreams Better?

Remembering your dreams is key when it comes to using them for creative inspiration. Some people have difficulty recalling their dreams even just minutes after waking. Therefore, you’ll need to record any dream details as soon as possible. Keep a notepad and pen next to your bed on your nightstand every night. If you dream, write down as much as you can remember immediately after waking up. The notepad will provide a tangible reference to what you’re dreaming about.

Sources:

Stephen King | WorldofLucidDreaming | BachelorsDegrees | TopTenz | LaTimes | TheCut