Among the top pet peeves that readers consistently tell us they really dislike are dream sequences. These vehicles that are most frequently used to symbolize emotions, foreshadow events, or cannonball into a character’s psyche are surprisingly unpopular among readers. While they might seem like an artistic flourish to the writer, the vast majority of readers view them as a misstep. Here’s why dream sequences fail and some better ways to achieve their intended purpose.

1. They Feel Like a Cop-Out

As a professional editorial reviewer, this is the biggest grind for me personally. It turns out, I'm not alone. Dream sequences come across as a convenient escape for writers unsure how to organically develop their story or characters. To put it bluntly: they are lazy information-dumping ploys. Readers are quick to feel cheated when the drama dissolves into a "it was just a dream" reveal. Such moments leave readers questioning why they were led through the detour.

2. They Undermine Trust with a Bait-and-Switch

Another major frustration is the "bait-and-switch" effect. Authors might present an intense, high-emotional energy scenario—only to disclose that it wasn’t real. This can feel manipulative, once again making readers feel tricked for investing in a scene that is taken away, eroding trust and leaving readers skeptical of future events.

3. They Break the Momentum

Pacing is so important as stories thrive on momentum, and dream sequences are the universal disruptor—outside of over-describing—that murders it. In the throes of rising action, a sudden diversion into a dreamscape rips a reader out of the action. The result is a scene that risks feeling like filler.

What to Do Instead of Dream Sequences

Rather than relying on dreams, writers can use other techniques to convey a character’s fears and desires or foreshadow events. These methods keep the story grounded in reality while engaging readers more effectively.

1. Create Symbolism Through Actions

Instead of embedding symbols into dreams, use a breadcrumb trail to integrate them into the waking world. Have characters interact with objects, settings, or people that reflect their hopes and fears and foreshadow future events. For example, a character haunted by guilt might repeatedly see cracks forming in a once-perfect mirror. These symbols remain tangible and meaningful within the story’s framework.

2. Show Emotional Hurdles Through Relationships

A far better way to catapult a reader into the character’s inner world is through their relationships and interactions. Conversations, disagreements, or shared moments with other characters can reveal much more about fears, desires, or hidden motivations without stepping outside the story’s reality. An author has to trust that they can do this outside a dreamscape, and trust that their readers are clever enough to get it.

I know that many authors can and will argue that their dream sequence is the exception, that readers will embrace their specific dream sequence, or that the artistic license to write whatever they want is theirs. The first two are highly unlikely, and the last will make readers question who the book is written for. An author does have creative control; however, if the purpose is to pull a reader in, this is best achieved by staying grounded in the story’s reality and showing as opposed to telling through tangible, relatable events and interactions.