Dreaming while doing

Remember my entry about Vision Boards awhile back? And my posts about Creative Journaling? Well, I just learned about another fun idea, closely related, and of course I wanted to share.  For those of you who might like/prefer working in digital media, it’s an option to consider.

"Dream Board" is an online tool designed to help you "Get clear about your goals, your hopes and your vision for your life." Similar to Vision Boards and artistic journaling, it’s a creative outlet as well as a motivational tool. And as with its more tactile equivalents, it’s more about the process of discovery than the actual artistry.

(From the website) With the Dream Boards, you can:

  • Upload photos from your computer
  • Choose from our photo library featuring images by our partner Getty Images
  • Write inspirational quotes, words and actions
  • Change your Dream Board as you change
  • Keep track of your life’s journey with an archive of your past Dream Boards
  • Save image jpgs to your desktop
  • Share your Dream Board with your family and friends

I don’t know about you, but my mind drifted right away to all the fun and practical possibilities Dream Boards hold for us writers. They offer yet another fun way to gain insights about character arcs and plotlines, explore themes, or (aha!) create imaginary book covers…and that’s just for starters.

I set aside 15 minutes yesterday to play/experiment with the website. (Natch, I needed to try it out before endorsing it!) I began with this quotation by John Donahue, lifted from Jo Knowles’ blog entry about battle cries: "May I have the courage today to live the life that I would love, to postpone my dream no longer, but do at last what I came here for and waste my heart on fear no more." (Love that!!)  Some of the collaged pictures are from my own collection; I gathered others from their image library. I had lots of fun and made good headway, mainly because the instructions are easy and the tools are fun to use.

Here are the as-yet-unfinished results. Likely, the images will mean nothing to you personally, but perhaps my Dream Board — the rough edges and blank spaces, especially — will help you visualize the possibilities for yourself.  

Not that this is a replacement for the actual writing, nosiree. But if it helps brings joy and clarity to the writing process, sign me up! 

Edited to add: You might also enjoy THE VISION BOARD: The Secret to an Extraordinary Life, by Joyce Schwarz. Flip through the lovely prose and illustrations (click here, then explore the "Search Inside" feature), or  read the first chapter here. See also: "What the Heck’s a Vision Board–and How Can It Change Your Life?" (from O, The Oprah Magazine, May 17, 2010).

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32 Comments

  2. I loved reading those battle cries, too, and love the quote you chose.

    And the dream board. There is not a smidgen of fear in any of those faces, light, water, or wings: beautiful.

    • …light, water, wings… Exactly so, and you’re very intuitive. 🙂 I’m feeling a sense of release, just for having thought about/played with those images.

    • Each image represents something about myself or my story, and in the selection process, I found myself thinking about the possibilities. So cool–and I guess that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? I remember your saying you love collages. Maybe you’d enjoy creating one with your gorgeous birds…

    • Thank you! I’m still not able to run around as much as I’d like, but this felt like a release…a little like sending myself outside for recess. 🙂

    • I’ll bet you love it, Robin. I suspect your kids would enjoy it, too. You could incorporate so many of your beautiful nature pictures–or snapshots of your family, etc….Hee, and of course, your writing projects. 🙂

  7. Great quote and great start on your board! If it’s that inspiring half-finished, just imagine the completed masterpiece! I adore the pic of you in the hat!!

    • Thanks–I like the hat picture, too. It’s from the time I went to see the play, “Crowns.”

      I missed “Hattitude Sunday” because of my leg injury, but this picture helps me remember I can wear a crown anytime I damn well please. 🙂 🙂 🙂

  8. Great quote and great start on your board! If it’s that inspiring half-finished, just imagine the completed masterpiece! I adore the pic of you in the hat!!

  9. I love the way you are always reaching out to find new ways to connect yourself with your writing and then bringing it back to share with us. Your board is lovely.

    • Thank you for the lovely compliment, Susan. I suppose it’s somehow connected to my childhood, but I’m all about the kumbaya moments. 🙂

    • Thank you for the lovely compliment, Susan. I suppose it’s somehow connected to my childhood, but I’m all about the kumbaya moments. 🙂

  10. I love the way you are always reaching out to find new ways to connect yourself with your writing and then bringing it back to share with us. Your board is lovely.

    • You’re SO very welcome!! Matter of fact, you have no idea how fun it is for me to share things like this…to geek out about creative stuff with people who understand. 🙂

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