A guide for writers who love symbolism, prophecy, and mystical narrative threads
Dreams and visions have always been powerful storytelling tools. They blur the edges of reality, reveal buried truths, and allow writers to explore the deeper emotional and mythic layers of a character’s journey. In fantasy, they become even more potent: a dream can be a message from a god, a warning from the future, a reminder from a past life, or a doorway into forgotten magic.
If you’ve ever wanted to weave dreams and visions into your worldbuilding or character arcs, this guide will help you do it with clarity, depth, and meaning.
Why Dreams Work So Well in Fantasy
Fantasy thrives on the unseen—the whispered magic, the hidden history, the forces that shape a world from the shadows. Dreams naturally fit into this realm because they:
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Reveal information characters shouldn’t logically know
Prophecies, ancestral memories, past-life echoes, and divine warnings all flow naturally through dreams.
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Strengthen emotional intimacy
A dream can expose a character’s deepest fear or desire long before they are ready to say it aloud.
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Deepen the mythology of your world
If magic has rules, dreams can become part of that system—visions gifted by elements, spirits, celestial beings, or the land itself.
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Introduce stakes or foreshadowing
A dream can hint at things to come without giving away the entire plot.
Types of Dreams & Visions You Can Use
1. Prophetic Dreams
These provide glimpses of possible futures—but the fun comes when the dream is symbolic, incomplete, or misinterpreted.
Example:
A character dreams of a burning crown, believing the king will die—when in truth, the “crown” is a volcano’s rim about to erupt.
2. Memory Dreams
Perfect for characters with amnesia, sealed powers, or reincarnation.
Example:
A warrior dreams of fighting beside a stranger, only to later realize it was their past self and their soul-bonded mate.
3. Warning Visions
Delivered by spirits, gods, ancestors, or even the land.
These often trigger a quest or shift the plot’s direction.
4. Emotion-Driven Dreams
Nightmares fueled by trauma, grief, or desire. Great for building internal conflict.
5. Realm-Crossing Dreams
Dreams that act as portals. The dreamer may:
- meet a deity
- speak with the dead
- step into a magical plane
- encounter a version of themselves they didn’t know existed
How to Use Dreams Without Overusing Them
Dreams can be powerful—but if used too often, they lose impact. Here’s how to keep them meaningful:
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Give each dream a purpose
Ask yourself:
Does this vision reveal plot, deepen character, or expand the world?
If not, cut it.
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Make dreams ambiguous
Fantasy readers love puzzle pieces. A dream should guide your character, not give them the answer.
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Limit who receives visions
If everyone gets magical dreams, they stop being special.
Give this ability to:
- a chosen character
- a cursed character
- a magically bonded pair
- someone touched by gods or ancient magic
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Use sensory details that echo waking life
This creates immersion and subtle foreshadowing.
Example:
If a character hears whispering wind in their dreams, and later a wind spirit appears, the reader feels the connection immediately.
How Dreams Can Shape Character Development
Dreams aren’t just plot devices—they’re emotional landscapes. They can:
• Reveal fears the character hasn’t admitted
• Force the character to confront temptation
• Trigger a moral dilemma
• Provide comfort, hope, or guidance
• Act as the first hint of a magical bond or soulmate connection
Example:
A character dreams of someone they’ve never met touching their hand. When they finally meet, the same sensation hits—and both realize fate has already tied them together.
(Fantasy romance writers especially love this!)
Dreams in Magic Systems & Worldbuilding
You can integrate visions into your world so they feel like a natural part of the lore:
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Moon magic causes vision-dreams on certain nights
Perfect for your Moon Journals.
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Elemental mages dream in symbols tied to their element
Water mages get fluid, shifting dreams.
Fire mages see flashes, emotion, and burning truths.
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Warriors share battle memories with past generations
Through ritual dreaming or ancestral bloodlines.
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Cursed characters experience prophetic nightmares
The curse itself leaks truth into their dreams.
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Nature-born beings dream the land’s memories
Trees, roots, fae forests, or ancient spirits speak through dreamscapes.
Dream Scenes Writers Can Use
Here are some ideas you can add to any fantasy WIP:
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A dream where the character hears their true name for the first time
(This can unlock sealed magic.)
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A vision of a future enemy wearing the character’s symbol
(Betrayal or fate twist.)
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A dream shared between soulbonded or magically linked characters
(Intimacy + foreshadowing.)
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A nightmare showing a warped version of the world
(A prophecy of what will happen if the villain wins.)
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A dream that repeats—but changes slightly each time
The character must decode what’s shifting.
Writing Challenge: Dreamcraft for Fantasy Writers
Try these for your blog readers:
- Write a dream where nothing feels wrong… except one tiny detail.
- Write a vision from the POV of a future version of your character.
- Write a shared dream between two characters who haven’t met yet.
- Write a nightmare that contains one comforting symbol.
- Write a dream that becomes physically real when the character wakes up.
Final Thoughts
Dreams and visions are some of the richest tools in the fantasy writer’s toolkit. When handled with intention, they:
✨ deepen character
✨ enrich the world
✨ push the plot forward
✨ create emotional resonance
✨ leave readers with that “enchanted” feeling
If you lean into symbolism, emotion, and mystery, your dream scenes will feel powerful—not random—and your story will benefit from layers of magic and meaning.
Happy Writing ^_^
Sara's Writing Sanctuary 