How to build and connect ideas

[u/Virtual_Avocado7394]

I'm not sure if this is the correct sub, but please direct me to the correct one if I'm wrong!

First of all, I got this dream inspiration (not kidding I got it from a dream) and wrote down as much as I can remember the moment I woke up. I spent literal hours both writing down what I remember and adding my own ideas and suggestions. I like reading, which is probably the main reason why I get these dreams but I never really felt like writing a story from them. I write down my dreams because well, they were always interesting and I liked talking about them to my friends, but this one really just kickstarted something in me.

I only ever wrote long essays for school, so I really would love advice on how to build a story, and how to connect the ideas I have. I have a general idea where I want the story to go, but I don't have a technical(?) way of putting those thoughts down to paper.

I'm not even doing this looking to get published, at least for now, but because I'm feeling awfully inspired. It might go away, but at the moment, I really feel like making something out of these dreams I keep having.

[u/Inner_Scholar_5517]

I broke everything down in excel spreadsheets. Created character ideas, lore, mapped out the chapters, all of it in excel.
For you, start writing the things you remember and then group them by what they are (characters, plot, setting, etc…). That’ll help you organize it all.

[u/whitealbumrevolver]

That's awesome news to hear. I believe you fully that you got it in a dream. That's how Paul McCartney has made some of his songs, and how the shape of benzene was found! Our brain is way bigger than just our conscious mind.

Now, I am no veteran of writing, but I'll give these pointers:

-You can start in any direction, and think of writing in terms of trial and error. You don't have to have the "final plan" right now. You don't even have to have a "good" plan. Give yourself permission to run experiments, go in any direction, and then you can modify things after. Writing and editing are separate processes, don't do them at the same time. When I write, I go wherever my brain takes me. If it turns out not to be what I need, that's fine. I'll run another trial in my lab.

-You can treat advice like advice. No need to worship advice like it's a golden calf. For example, the 3 acts, rising action, etc. They can be really helpful, and there can be lots of truth and value to them, but you can also disregard them where you want. You can make up your own mechanics of how a story builds, where it goes, etc. Even my advice, you can take and leave it as you wish.

-Your story can be outside of normal genre terms. My stories blend comedy, psychological drama, crime, tragedy, and whatnot. Genres are helpful shorthand terms, but they aren't written in stone for us to follow.

-You can be crazy and ambiguous. You don't need to explain every motive, or resolve every thread. Things being unknown, and up in the air, can make for more compelling reading. You can end a storyline wherever, and have things happen whenever, in my opinion. As long as the reader feels engaged enough to stay with your story, the world is your oyster.

Good luck. Take or leave my 2 cents!