The Storyline Technique.

[Sandform]

Ok you guys, i'm not promising that this is a "new" technique, or that it is the end all technique, or even that it will ever work for you. So don't get prissy and tell my I wasted a whole night that you could have been lucid trying this stupid technique of mine =P. Anyways here is my poor way of describing my technique...unlike most other techniques that have you "clear your mind" or whatever, this one has you focus on a set story line. This is how it works. You must come up with a story line before you go to bed. The point of this story is for you to think about every time you go to bed. You continuously dwell on this story, from start to finish, preferable it is a long story, maybe watch Titanic and steal that plot line. The point of this story is to focus your mind on what your thinking. If you see any thoughts arise that you didn't think yourself, which I know sounds like a perplexing proposition, but none the less I know you understand what I mean, then you know your either already about to be dreaming, or you are dreaming. But you have to be on the look out. Some things I'd like to note. After a while a fixed storyline will become pointless, you should be able to spot your thoughts change fairly easily at that point, and really this method will help you DILD more often as well, it is my theory that we are always a inch away from knowing we're asleep, it is just a matter of realising that your thinking something that you wouldn't normally be thinking. Because of this technique, for me I often simply realize during some random moment, hey wait, i'm actually in bed sleeping...then things go off from there? Also I said Titanic because that's one of my favorite movies...right up there with legally blonde. I actually developed this method skipping the fixed storyline method, but oh well. Please let me know if any of you try this out, or if this has been put up in the air before.

[ThiefDeath]

My subconscious introduces foreign thougts alot, especially when I'm in bed. It doesn't mean I'm dreaming. There are also various levels of dreams and different 'mind-spaces' they occur in. Most of the ones I notice while still awake are on a rather subliminal or observational level, and non-interactive, sort of like watching a television. These types of 'dreams' hold no interest to me as a potential lucid dream. I want to be actually 'there'.

[Meakel]

Lolz, I started doing this a week ago. What a coincidence. Though, It's slightly different. I normally improvise, not plan it out. And, I kind of slip in. As I'm thinking through the story, I slip in to the story. So say I want to fly ine the next dream. I think of a story that takes place in the mountains, or in a big city. Star Wars, I think I about Tatooine or someother planet. Etc.

[Sandform]

My subconscious introduces foreign thougts alot, especially when I'm in bed. It doesn't mean I'm dreaming. There are also various levels of dreams and different 'mind-spaces' they occur in. Most of the ones I notice while still awake are on a rather subliminal or observational level, and non-interactive, sort of like watching a television. These types of 'dreams' hold no interest to me as a potential lucid dream. I want to be actually 'there'. There is a difference between what you experience, and what the experience is in this method. It is not the same as...say randomly remembering that you left your glasses in your car. It is an entirely different experience. I'll try to give you a comparison... It's like looking at a red wall, that suddenly turns blue. And your right, it doesn't mean your dreaming, it means your slipping into a dream.

[LucidInCuB!zt]

This is pretty cool. It's like planning ahead what you want to dream instead of just trying to remember what you planned while you are in your dream. This is a great idea because it keeps your mind focused right before you doze off into a dream increasing your chances of having much awareness over your scenario and finally bumping into a DILD *I have no idea what I just said* LOL

[ThiefDeath]

...say randomly remembering that you left your glasses in your car. This is not what I was referring to. It's like looking at a red wall, that suddenly turns blue. This is what I was referring to. And your right, it doesn't mean your dreaming, it means your slipping into a dream. But I could be in this 'slipping' state for a half hour. I've even stayed in this state for entire nights without dreaming at all (and not because I wanted to). It's still not a desirable state to have a lucid dream, because it is distant and noninteractive.

[Sandform]

This is not what I was referring to. This is what I was referring to. But I could be in this 'slipping' state for a half hour. I've even stayed in this state for entire nights without dreaming at all (and not because I wanted to). It's still not a desirable state to have a lucid dream, because it is distant and noninteractive. Ok fine whatever, if it doesn't work for you i'm sorry, I did write a disclaimer at the beginning of the post that said it isn't the end all technique, many techniques don't work for people, you just have to find the right one.

[CrimsonWolf]

Ok you guys, i'm not promising that this is a "new" technique, or that it is the end all technique, or even that it will ever work for you. So don't get prissy and tell my I wasted a whole night that you could have been lucid trying this stupid technique of mine =P. Anyways here is my poor way of describing my technique...unlike most other techniques that have you "clear your mind" or whatever, this one has you focus on a set story line. This is how it works. You must come up with a story line before you go to bed. The point of this story is for you to think about every time you go to bed. You continuously dwell on this story, from start to finish, preferable it is a long story, maybe watch Titanic and steal that plot line. The point of this story is to focus your mind on what your thinking. If you see any thoughts arise that you didn't think yourself, which I know sounds like a perplexing proposition, but none the less I know you understand what I mean, then you know your either already about to be dreaming, or you are dreaming. But you have to be on the look out. Please let me know if any of you try this out, or if this has been put up in the air before. I have done this for most of my life, not for dreaming purposes but just because I find it enjoyable. It has never worked for me, I have never had dreams of anywhere I have imagined before sleeping. Not saying that it won't work for others though.

[Sandform]

I have done this for most of my life, not for dreaming purposes but just because I find it enjoyable. It has never worked for me, I have never had dreams of anywhere I have imagined before sleeping. Not saying that it won't work for others though. Well...my intent isn't really for the creating of the dream lol, the only intent here is to notice when your about to fall asleep. It is basically like the WILD technique, except you remove the physical sensations with that of involuntary mental thought.

[Xaqaria]

I have done this for most of my life, not for dreaming purposes but just because I find it enjoyable. It has never worked for me, I have never had dreams of anywhere I have imagined before sleeping. Not saying that it won't work for others though. I think doing the same story every night would increase the chances of inducing a lucid dream significantly. In this way, the story can become a dream sign habit.

[ThiefDeath]

I'm not trying to say "it doesn't work for me". I haven't even tried it yet. What I'm trying to say is, based on my analysis, that it probably wouldn't be as effective of a technique for most people as you think it is. This is because the point at which your imagination starts getting invaded by your subconscious is different than the point at which you enter a full dream, and the points are almost always separate, and can be for potentially a long amount of time, depending on how long you spend in certain phases of sleep. If you're in a state where you can go straight from waking to REM then I suppose it could work though.

[Super Duck]

Sounds a bit like VILD. Nice work

[Mike the Bass]

I've tried something similar to this, Before falling asleep I'll turn off the lights go to bed like usual and try to keep my mind focused on a certain place or story of some sort so that hopefully I'll end up dreaming about it but I usually don't dream about it but I'll give your method a try hopefully it works.

[Xaqaria]

I've learned something similar, although its not supposed to be related to dreams. In it, you imagine your front door, until you can remember every small detail you can think of. Once you do, you imagine opening your door and entering your house making sure to look around. What you are looking for is something that you didn't think to yourself, (example) "okay, I know the tv is in the corner...,' but you 'see' it in your imagination anyway. Sometimes this is a thing that is actually there but you didn't really notice before, and sometimes its something that is not in the house at all. Either one could be easily used as a signal that you are now dreaming. You continue through your house, to your bed or until you find something important. The interesting thing about applying this to dreaming is that if you get to your bed, you should be in it.