Thread: Using present tense in dream journals

I've heard it advised that dreams be recorded in present tense, not past tense.

Even though I prefer recording dreams in present tense as I feel more in-the-moment, I've found it strangely difficult to do. I begin writing down every dream in present tense, but almost without exception, I've unintentionally gone back to past tense within a few sentences.

Why is it suggested that dreams be written down in present tense? Which do you prefer and why? Does anyone else have difficulty maintaining present tense?

I don't think I've ever heard it being advised to record dreams in present tense. That's interesting. I can imagine that, during the recall process, it could help remember more details, because it kind of puts you more in the moment, like you said. Although, from a story-telling stand-point (that is, going back over and reading the dreams), I enjoy having them in past tense.

I usually write down notes of my dreams before fully fleshing them out, anyway, which really don't have much sense of time (and I often use both, when doing it). So I don't think it hinders me too much, if that's the reason against it.

I always use past tense, it seems natural to use the past tense when recalling memories.

Originally Posted by stonedape

I always use past tense, it seems natural to use the past tense when recalling memories.

i agree, i like to write my dreams as if they will be read later like a book, although i remind myself that it will not be read so that i can write down the stuff that i might be embaressed about

I often do the same... however there's something about writing in the present tense that makes the language and events a little more engaging... it's that first person experiential point of view. I feel like the present tense reaffirms the dream, puts me back there psychologically as if I'm seeing it again.

I always use present tense. I dunno, it's just the way I write. I do it during english writing too, unless I've specifically been told to use past tense. I end up struggling to do that because I write in present tense.

But I do find it puts you in the moment more.

You've heard it advised? By who? Where? It's your dream journal, write in whatever tense you want. Unless you're writing to try to impress people or something...then I don't see what difference it makes.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

You've heard it advised? By who? Where? It's your dream journal, write in whatever tense you want. Unless you're writing to try to impress people or something...then I don't see what difference it makes.

I must have read or heard it online somewhere. Then I thought the idea must be common knowledge after seeing that many people on this website write their dream journals in present tense. I guess those people just find it easier.

It's really just a personal preference. I write in both, on different occasions.

Never for any conscious reason though.

I've also seen it advised to use present tense- and I thought it was here on DV, but I could be wrong. Writing in past tense seems more natural to me, so that's what I do.

Originally Posted by SophroniaLee

I've also seen it advised to use present tense- and I thought it was here on DV, but I could be wrong. Writing in past tense seems more natural to me, so that's what I do.

It was probably just somebodies opinion.

Yeah I heard it was recommended too. It was when I first heard about lucid dreaming and started researching. But I write in present tense anyway

I think maybe Robert Moss suggested it in his book Conscious Dreaming. But I'm not completely sure.
When I first wake up and jot down the main points of a dream, I write it in present tense without even thinking about it. Later when I right the dream with more detail in my dream journal, I use past tense.

Originally Posted by insideout

I think maybe Robert Moss suggested it in his book Conscious Dreaming. But I'm not completely sure.
When I first wake up and jot down the main points of a dream, I write it in present tense without even thinking about it. Later when I right the dream with more detail in my dream journal, I use past tense.

That does seem like a good idea, but I hardly even use a tense when I'm just writing down main points, mostly nouns.

I once read somewhere (don't remember where) that writing in the present tense in dream journals helps you recall the dream because it makes the events of the dream seem more immediate and present to you as you're thinking about them. I can't personally vouch for the truth of this, though. Now I mostly just do it out of habit, and to stylistically distinguish dreams from anything else I write about. It was a little hard to remember to write in the present tense at first, but now, after 50+ DJ entries, I do it without thinking.

Originally Posted by Emiko

I once read somewhere (don't remember where) that writing in the present tense in dream journals helps you recall the dream because it makes the events of the dream seem more immediate and present to you as you're thinking about them. Now I mostly just do it out of habit, and to stylistically distinguish dreams from anything else I write about. It was a little hard to remember to write in the present tense at first, but now, after 50+ DJ entries, I do it without thinking.

Bingo. This is pretty much what I was trying to say, but with a much better explanation

I've been going through LD videos I've watched in the past to see where it's suggested to write in present tense, and am not finding it so far. It seems like it was a video, but it might have been an article. I haven't found it yet, but I wonder if we all heard it from the same source.

I don't personally find I can recall the dreams better when I write them in present tense. The problem I mentioned in the original post still happens though. I start out writing in present tense, and within a few sentences I've somehow switched over to past tense. Then I usually make myself find the place I switched over and changed all the 'was'es to 'is'es, etc.