Did you know that some of the best stories that have been written were from the stuff dreams by their authors?

One of the most famous of these is The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was first published in 1886 and the idea for the story came from a dream. Upon awakening, he took that inspiration and used it for scenes that would appear in the story.

Another author that has her dreams to thank was Mary Shelley the creator of the classic tale Frankenstein. This book is often cited as the world’s first science fiction novel, but did you know that it was inspired by a vivid nightmare. She experienced what she described as a waking dream:

“I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world” – Mary Shelley

Not all stories that are the stuff of dreams have a scary theme. Stuart Little by E B White stemmed from a dream he had in the 1920s, although it took him nearly two decades to convert his notes into a novel. The result is one of the most beloved children’s stories ever written.

So why I am I taking the time to share these facts? I believe that dreams are a wonderous thing. For years I have kept journals of my own and I have to say there are some pretty good story ideas in those writings. Have you ever thought about tracking your dreams? If not…why not?

This Week’s Podcast:

We have another story filled podcast this week. We have a rare Black Eyed Kids story, Mark Nelson continues to read the book, Anything You Can Do, and we have a new installment of, Johnny Is It True? You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from iTunes, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Sunday Night at 8:00 PM (PST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.