The moment before sleep.

[BilboBaggins]

I think someone once told me about a philosopher or great thinker of some sort that would fall asleep in a chair while holding metal balls in his hands, the idea being that they would drop right as he drifted off and startle him awake. Apparently the reason for this was that some of the greatest ideas happen in the moment right before sleep.. I found this very interesting because I have definintely noticed that I sometimes have my greatest revelations right before dozing off. I also daydream the most intensely and realistically. Has anyone else noticed that they're more connected to their daydreams right before sleeping? 

It's at that point, too, when new ideas tend to come to me. Generally when introducing a new character into my daydream world they'll be around, but I couldn't describe them as definitively as my constant and older characters, and I keep them sort of description-less until inspiration hits. Last night I suddenly realized what my new guy looked like- it was great! Does anyone else suddenly realize what a new character looks like and have it feel so right and perfect for that person? I love that feeling. I have a character that I know I want in my daydreams, but I keep changing how he gets introduced and I haven't quite figured out what he looks like yet either, I'm hoping it hits soon. 

[Skylar Grey]

yeah that is so true! This is probably why i never get any sleep XD.

[varghese e david]

its surrealist artist Salvador Dali,he used to practice this technic.See some of his works.its amazing!!

[BilboBaggins]

I'd never heard of that Hypnagogia thing! I mean, obviously I knew what it was, just not the technical term! Thanks! And yeah, I suppose that moment right before sleep is your brain making the passage way into dreams, so everything is very vivid and strange.

What's actually funny is that I tend to hear voices, too. Just slight murmers of people talking before I fall asleep and I find it so comforting because I have trouble sleeping, and it's like my brain's way of telling me that I'm almost there! :P

[Dusty]

Yes, that sounds just like me. I feel much more connected to my characters when lying in bed (though occasionally when bored in class..) and feel their emotions better. And I come up with the best ideas/revelations as well, even about real life (like "I should get teal eyeliner!" was an idea I came up with lying in bed a couple nights ago and guess what I'm wearing today:P) or I'll think of how to manage an important or stressful task. Overall I think a lot better I guess, not sure why.

And like Emily, I also have very in-depth and intense hypnogogic images, but they are not connected to my daydreams. Usually the images are very realistic and involve situations like taking the bus to school or being in a group of people talking and I can hear their voices. It's pretty weird. And I'll trip over steps in the images and then I'll get that really realistic falling feeling (you know the one) and wake up. Sorry for rambling :P

[Emily]

I've had some fun times with Hypnogogic (sp?) images :D It's possible the man you were talking about, as I've heard of many people who've done things like that, was into Astral projection or Out of Body Expieriences. Idk, but that's certainly what it reminded me of.

Anyway, a few nights ago, as my brain became foggy and i drifted off to sleep, i realized someone was speaking and noticed i was having such an expierience. I noticed that i was watching/listening to two men fighting. But as soon as i learned this i lost it :/

All in all, i personally don't end up incorporating them into my DD unless something really sticks with me. Still, if I hear voices while falling asleep, im able to match them to my characters. That's the one time I've ever gotten a DD from the verge of sleep expierience.

None of this probably made any sense :P But good luck as you discover your characters and introductions! :)