10 (+1) Best Books for Writers who Dream and Dreamers who Write
I took Toni Morrison’s advice: The book I wanted didn’t exist. So I wrote it. And now, Dreaming on the Page is having a moment!
There are a lot of fabulous books about dreams and there are a lot of fabulous books about writing.
But I always wanted a book that combined the two.
I wanted a book that offered encouragement, writing prompts, and solid information about how to use my dreams and subconscious to enhance my poetry and prose that would also help me use writing to boost my understanding of my dreams.
I wanted a book that gave me practical steps that would lead to surprising results like Writing Down the Bones or The Artist’s Way. Except I wanted the prompts and exercises to be specifically focused on the places where dreams and writing intersect.
After decades of devouring books on the craft of writing, the power of dreaming, and the study of creativity and consciousness, I went ahead and took Toni Morrison’s advice:
The book I wanted to read didn’t exist. So I wrote it.
But first, I filled my shelves with the works of other authors that have educated and mentored me. This list of ten books that inspired me to write my own (listed in the order of the author’s last name) includes some of those. I hope you will find them to be wise companions on your journey, too.
Tzivia’s Ten Books for Writers who Dream and Dreamers Who Write
Around the Writer’s Block by Roseanne Bane.
What It Is by Lynda Barry
From Where You Dream by Robert Olen Butler
Writers Dreaming by Naomi Epel
The Midnight Disease: The Drive to Write, Writer's Block, and the Creative Brain by Alice W. Flaherty
Dreams and Inward Journeys: A Rhetoric and Reader for Writers, 7th edition, by Marjorie and Joh Ford, editors
Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
Writing the Mind Alive: The Proprioceptive Method for Finding Your Authentic Voice, by Linda Metcalf PhD and Tobin Simon PhD`
The Alphabet and the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image, by Leonard Schlain
If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland
And here’s one more for the list: I wrote Dreaming on the Page: Tap into Your Midnight Mind to Supercharge Your Writing because it was the book I wanted to read!
And now, Dreaming on the Page has landed on someone else’s Top 10 List … this time for books on journaling. Plus it was nominated for an Indies Foreword prize. 🎈🎈🎈
Big news!
The Little Deck of Dreams is now available for pre-order!
The Little Deck of Dreams is beautifully illustrated deck of 50 cards. It provides insight into the symbolism and meaning behind common dream themes and types, including recurring dreams, nightmares, and lucid dreams. Whether you’re seeking clarity on a specific dream or simply curious about the meanings behind your nighttime adventures.
Amazon.com Barnes&Noble.com IndieBound
Dream on the beach in the Bahamas
April 15 — 18, 2024
In Person at Sivananda Yoga Ashram Retreat, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas
Enhance your yogic lifestyle by developing a deeper relationship with your dreams. Learn how to listen to your dreams for wise guidance, self-knowledge, and powerful healing. This program draws from various traditions including Tibetan dream yoga, Jungian psychology, meditation, and pranayama. You will learn techniques to improve dream recall and how to interpret the meaning and messages of your dreams as a path for daily self-reflection, self-observation, and self-study.
The best dreams in life are FREE for all subscribers to this newsletter!
Mark your calendar for the next DOTP Minis
Let’s make (more) magic in under and hour!
DOTP Mini Writing Workshops take place the 2nd Tuesday of most months from 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. US ET. Free for all subscribers.The next minis take place:
April 9
May 14
No minis in June and July during my summer break. Stay tuned for more dates.
Both FREE and PAID subscribers receive:
A 45-minute interactive online Writing Circle in real-time.
Prompts, inspiration, and time to write.
An opportunity to share with other members of the community.
Free for all subscribers in April and May.
PAID Subscribers receive all that ☝🏼 PLUS:
Access to session replays that you can watch anytime.
Downloadable PDF Handouts.
Always free of charge.
When you become an annual subscriber, you also get a signed copy of the Dreaming on the Page book! (Mailed to US postal addresses only.)
I’m dreaming with you,