How do you find some of the answers or solutions to creative issues? Some of the answers are found by sharing our problems with others, hopefully, who are trustworthy. Then, some can readily focus on an issue and arrive at a solution or several alternatives. While there may be other methods, I have always been fortunate to find most solutions in “dream time.”
I’ve been blessed or cursed with having too many ideas. From living a life as a songwriter, sculptor, author, lyricist, poet, musician, graphic artist, painter, craftsman, and game designer, I find that a large majority of solving issues in many of these categories are resolved in dream time. I’d nap with a pad or notebook on my nightstand and, at some point (usually shortly before waking), an answer to a needed lyric, storyline, art piece, or game design would pop into my head. I’d sit up and scribble what came through, see if it made any sense to the current problem, then walla!
I can even go as far back as over 60 years ago when I was an architectural student at Art and Design High School in New York. I had my drafting table in my bedroom; I would plop out of bed in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning and add a design or extension to a floor plan I was working on.
I suppose it had to do with relaxing the mind in the dream state and allowing the answer to flow through unhindered by the pressures of “having to” solve it right now. Our last game, KITUNDA, came through a dream.
One night, I found the rules for a game called “Chess Plus,” a game I created years ago during the time of the renowned chess player “Bobby Fischer.” I introduced two new pawns and a different-looking chessboard. Took the game down to Fischer’s chess club in New York. I was ridiculed for “bastardizing” the game of Chess. There was some support, probably given out of kindness to a young man who didn’t know any better.
Having found the rules, I read through them and chuckled to myself when remembering the incident. Placed it on my nightstand to take my evening nap. In a dream, I was shown the four-sided board and told to forget the royal pieces, use only the pawns, and have them enter the board from a trench or dugout. The powers of the Royals would be given to the pawns via the roll of a die.
I went to my computer, designed the game board based on my dream, and printed it out.
I always keep scrap pieces around for game ideas. Told my son to come play. We tested it. He enjoyed it but naturally had questions; we resolved some. The rest I took to sleep with me for another short nap, and I woke up with the solution given in a dream.
I’ve learned to appreciate the ideas and solutions shown in dreams or waking moments. I remember disliking nap time as a kid; now, I look forward to it.
I imagine we all have a way of relaxing our minds to solve issues; some go for walks, some listen to music, etc. There are a myriad of ways. What’s yours?
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