The Snowflake Chronicles

Fantasy Newsletter Deadline January 16, 2023

Research

Editor's Picks

1. Mentally and Physically
2. Catching the Last Bus
3. Old Cunning
4. How else can you explain the Helium?
5. The Nerve of it all
6. Stalking Supernovas to Survive
7.
8.
9.

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Dreams, Nightmares, and Plots

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Can you use your dreams or nightmares in story plots?

Hook

Have you ever used a nightmare or a dream to inspire a story?

About This Newsletter

Have I written a newsletter about dreams before?
Or was it a dream about writing a newsletter about dreams?

Letter From the Editor

I have had a number of inspiring, frightening, and weird dreams in my life. The inspiring dreams usually generate poems. Since I am recovering from arachnophobia, the frightening dreams always contain spiders in one form or another. It amazes me how many unusual forms spiders can take in a nightmare. The weird dreams, those without spiders in any form, are weird and sometimes funny.

It has been a while since I have written a short story. I do consciously know the reason. Instead of looking for the reason I have not written a short story, I am going to use some of my frightening and weird dreams to inspire a short story or two. I am not sure how well this will work, but I am going to make an attempt.

I think the best way to start incorporating my dreams in my stories is to answer the standard question of who, what, when, where, why, and how. At least four of those six questions should help generate a character description or a story plot.

Let me start with the what question. A dog singing Italian opera, at least I think it was Italian opera. At least I think it was Italian opera, the only opera I have ever seen were in English, without any dogs, cats, or any animal except humans in them.

Next comes the snow spider dream. I have to admit, despite my fear of spiders, I like the idea of writing about a snow spider, because I can think of two or three ways to use it in the plot of a story.

Have you ever used one of your dreams in a story? Please let my readers and me know.

Editors Picks

Mentally and Physically  (18+) A mental or physical challenge would save this Land Mass. This year they may just do it. #2286741 by PureSciFi

Catching The Last Bus  (13+) An update of an ancient tale. 1580 words. Australian spelling, etc. #2287352 by Santeven Quokklaus

STATIC

Old Cunning.  (13+) When fox hunting goes wrong! #2288244 by Pennywise

How else can you explain the Helium?  (E) Some new data about Helium on Earth meant that we had a mystery on our hands. #2288270 by Jeffhans

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2287375 by Not Available.

Stalking Supernovas to Survive  (13+) Trying to save Earth by learning how to cope with the sun's imminent explosion #2288003 by Aurora Elwood

Submitted by Readers

Activities, Groups, and Contests

Feedback "Fantasy Newsletter (December 21, 2022)" 

Paul writes: I do the same thing I do on every other cold winter night, have dinner with my partner then watch a little TV with her, mostly foreign, detective shows, (French or Italian) then go to bed and snuggle until we fall asleep. We’re both retired so we do what we want when we want to.jj

Aiva Raine writes: Thanks so much for including my story in your newsletter!

I love that you included the winter solstice info here. It is too often forgotten during this holiday season.

Feedback "Fantasy Newsletter (November 23, 2022)" 

brom21 writes: For some reason, cold temperature comes into play when it is raining or snowing. With heat, it's always fires, torches, braziers and of course the sun. Every time I use the sun, I use different descriptions. For cold sensations I try to avoid the "Chill down my spine" phrase or "Hair standing on end" and so on. I try to be as original as I can. Thanks for the NL!

Beholden writes: Thank you for featuring my short story, Obdinagong's Quest.

oldgreywolf on wheels writes: People expect climate. What they get is weather.
Geographic features can affect weather.
There're indications big cities alter thermal patterns and create or amplify storms.
Different geographic features are also islands of genetic biodiversity. EXAMPLE:Why did you get bitten by a spider while taking a whizz in the bushes when that spider species only lives in trees 300 miles away?
If you're in a tropical or semi-tropical zone, each tree is s separate island of biodiversity. (You'll be told to watch out for snakes, spiders, and fuzzy worms. They might forget to warn you about the ants.)
Our planet's climate is dynamic but predictable. Weather really isn't predictable for longer than 5 days, but can go from pleasant to deadly faster than you can run.

Annette writes: You made me look for a story that uses the weather. I didn't find anything that made me think it would really fit. But you are so right that the weather feels different over the years. And this winter does feel colder.