CAN A DREAM TEACH WRITING?

THE CLASSROOM:

Can a dream teach writing?  Woke up a few minutes ago.  I wish to relate my dream, which may apply to writing.  First, the classroom.  The classroom has a 40-something years old, male instructor.  This is a college class.  There are a number of students, but I only see four, including myself.  Two are college age young ladies, myself (probably as old or older than the instructor), finally, there is my nephew, who is perhaps 12 in this dream.  There is a television in the classroom, which is broadcasting a TV show of unknown type.  It's set at a normal volume.  I am unable to make out what is said on the TV.  The instructor is lecturing on a scientific topic, while sitting at his desk.  The overall feeling is of being in a giant livingroom, yet still a classroom.  (Dreams are like that, aren't they?  Calmly bizarre at times.)  There's your setting!

THE LECTURE:

The instructor is lecturing on his scientific topic.  The topic is never disclosed in this dream.  Think it's one of my least favorite sciences, something biological; otherwise possibly environmental.  After several minutes of lecturing, the instructor stops to announce we will participate in his classroom, if we wish to pass.  His tone sounds emphatic on this.  Then he calls the name of a female student to ask her a question related to the lecture topic.  The student is one of two young ladies sitting to my left.  Her textbook is open to study along with the lecture.  The question does not faze her.  (Not my real world classroom experience.)  She gives a good-enough response to the question, whatever it is.  The dream annoys when it comes to details, such as what questions are asked and answered.  Next, the instructor asks another question, calls the name of the student, who turns out to be the other young lady.  She too demonstrates, like her friend next to her, she takes the time to study her courses.  The answer given seems sufficient for the question asked.  What a classroom!  (Whether high school, college, or workplace meetings, getting a worthwhile response out of students / employees can be like pulling hens' teeth.  Or so I have noticed.)

CONVERGENCE OR THE QUESTION:

The final question is directed at my nephew, who at 12 has to be the youngest student in this college class.  In real life he is bright, but won't be in college before 18 at the earliest.  Still, he gets the one question whose answer I hear and understand.  The TV in the background, whose sound is loud enough to be disturbing and distracting for me, comes into play on his question.  The TV is presenting something on the late President John F. Kennedy as President.  The question relates to J.F.K. and a businessman, who was in Germany or some part of Europe during his Presidency.  As though the question goes to an environmental topic, my nephew replies by explaining the President, at the time this man was trying to do important business deals, makes a decision, which allows this businessman to succeed on 6 of 7 business deals he was in Germany / Europe to make.  These prove crucial to the success of his business at the time.  My nephew, explains, the environmental decision by J.F.K., made a positive difference to this businessman's present and future.  (Think you could say, my nephew aced his question!)

MY TURN:

Because the Kennedy Presidency was part of my lifetime, and the TV was speaking, in part, to the topic my nephew was responding to, my mind drifts, so I am unprepared for any question I might be asked.  I rescue myself by choosing to speak to a point related to my nephew's topic, without being asked.  (I am not sure if I was dreaming at this point or awake, thinking forward, as if the dream continued.  Seems comical not to know.)  I mention Kennedy as a real part of my lifetime, then go on to explain, here is a case of a President making an "arbitrary" decision, which for him is part of a routine day as President; never knowing personally, who his decisions affect.  While this businessman, whom my nephew pointed out, completed 6 of 7 proposed business deals, results from an international diplomatic decision on the environment by Kennedy.  For this man, Kennedy's arbitrary decision makes a positive difference in his present and future life.  It was now many years later and the man was seen as a very successful businessman and person.  Had the decision been the opposite, he might have turned out a business failure.  At the time, this would have definitely been the case.  (From there, I have no doubt I woke up, class finished for me.  The dream ends unfinished, as dreams often do.)

ARBITRARINESS:

Can a dream teach writing?  Maybe so.  How often in real life or in fiction is a person's life affected by arbitrary events a person has no control over?  In many cases, the arbitrary is so minor, we fail to notice.  A person turns a corner, meeting the person of his / her dreams.  The person fails to turn the corner, meets someone else, marries, and life becomes torture. Some arbitrary events in our lives are big enough we recognize them; often times not.  How often does arbitrary events direct the characters in your story?  Readers and writers may prefer stories that are concrete; little that's arbitrary.  Real life is different.  Much of life is out of our control, while part of life is fully within our grasp.  When and how should characters reflect on the arbitrary in their fictional lives?  

TO CLOSE:

Hasty writing of this post to recall dream details may make the post longer than need be.  I may return to rewrite this post for brevity and clarity.  However, I find it amusing, the first thing to come to mind, once fully awake, is the dream speaks to writing.  (At least for me.)  I don't know if authors speaking about or writing about the Art of Writing, say much about the importance of the arbitrary in the Art of Writing.  Perhaps they address it less formally or as part of a more fitting topic.  I know it is sometimes addressed in reading literature.  I want to make sure the topic is discussed.  Thanks for reading. (Has been a dream fit as food for thought.)  Until next time!