It was never real.

[remems3]

Something like an isekai or a reincarnated/transported to another world but at the end, the protagonist wakes up only to find that everything wasn't real. That there was no world that she/he was in, and that everything that she/he remembered was just a dream.

And there's no way making that dream a reality, or going back there again to stay there forever. End it really bittersweet, that makes readers feel sad for the protagonist but also recognize the character development the protagonist underwent, y'know self-actualization and etc.

 

[Erroneous]

Are we talking about a Jacob's Ladder situation here?

 

[Lukha]

Wow, sounds really sad. Personally, I'd find it sort of dissatisfying for the protagonist to go through so much to only have it be a dream. I'd read it as a short story, but if it was a full blown novel, I'd avoid it. I'd become too invested in the characters and then be too upset at it falling into the whole "it was a dream" schtick.

 

[remems3]

Are we talking about a Jacob's Ladder situation here?

(im not sure what jacob's ladder is so i googled it) but sort of? From my understanding Jacob's ladder was mostly hallucinations, and all of which were tragic and horrifying. I think for this prompt, a dream would be better, something nice-er than the reality a protagonist would live in.

But yeah something like Jacob's ladder; I'm not against the angst or anything but when I thought of this prompt I thought about the feeling you get wherein you wake up from such a nice dream you wished it was real and cried when opening your eyes (or at least teared up). It's something bittersweet, knowing that all the good things weren't real and then waking up; you obviously get sad about it but eventually you'll stand up from your bed and face the day, probably a bit more motivated to do things and to set your life right. If anyone writes something with this prompt in mind, I hope that same feeling would get across to the readers.

 

[remems3]

Wow, sounds really sad. Personally, I'd find it sort of dissatisfying for the protagonist to go through so much to only have it be a dream. I'd read it as a short story, but if it was a full blown novel, I'd avoid it. I'd become too invested in the characters and then be too upset at it falling into the whole "it was a dream" schtick.

Oof I share the same sentiments, but with that said, I think that when you really get invested and to find the ending just like that, I think readers would find character development more valuable(?), if you get what I mean. I think for this prompt to work, you have to keep a balance of interesting plot points but also the way a character feels and responds to a situation; I don't think the story should solely focus on the protagonist's development but rather by the end of the day, readers should be able to realize that this story goes beyond the dream of the protagonist, beyond the fantasy world they've experienced. They should also see that the 'fake' world that the protagonist was plunged into, was necessary for their growth as a person.

Using this for a short story would work just fine too but like I said earlier, readers may not value the character's progression, as they are likely to still feel a bit distant with the story. And also, I think that a writer would get a laugh out of the readers' frustrations at the end and that'll probably be something fun

 

[Lukha]

Oof I share the same sentiments, but with that said, I think that when you really get invested and to find the ending just like that, I think readers would find character development more valuable(?), if you get what I mean. I think for this prompt to work, you have to keep a balance of interesting plot points but also the way a character feels and responds to a situation; I don't think the story should solely focus on the protagonist's development but rather by the end of the day, readers should be able to realize that this story goes beyond the dream of the protagonist, beyond the fantasy world they've experienced. They should also see that the 'fake' world that the protagonist was plunged into, was necessary for their growth as a person.

Using this for a short story would work just fine too but like I said earlier, readers may not value the character's progression, as they are likely to still feel a bit distant with the story. And also, I think that a writer would get a laugh out of the readers' frustrations at the end and that'll probably be something fun

That's true. I do agree that although it would be sad, if it was a coming of age-ish type story, similar to Alice in Wonderland, it could be beneficial to focus on the character's development and interaction with those around them. Hopefully you spare us from the romance though because I'd cry too hard if their love interest was only a dream.

It'd be a bit difficult, but if you can balance the light-hearted nature of a slice of life genre with a coming of age story, that'd be really interesting!

 

[sufod01]

I think chinese drama are using this kind of setting as a way to get around the censopship (« wake up and all is a dream ») for time-travel drama. However no self actualisation or such because the end came right after MC wake up :/

 

[remems3]

I think chinese drama are using this kind of setting as a way to get around the censopship (« wake up and all is a dream ») for time-travel drama. However no self actualisation or such because the end came right after MC wake up :/

oof :<< idk what chinese drama this is but its sad that there was no self actualization in the end :<<

 

[compass96]

How about if the "it was a dream" was in the middle of the story or at least a few chapters before the end. Or maybe there's an epilogue after he/she wakes up. So that, there's still some story after they wake so that the reader is shown the character development. Maybe the mc tries to become rich to fund a project that could open open a portal to what they think could be the world they were in. Deepdown they know it's a dream but don't want to give up on the past and the story ends on the mc still trying to get into that world even though they never will.

 

[taesijr123]

Watch Shelter.
A good mini-music video.
That will show you its all a dream.
With feelz.

 

[Wintertime]

Watch Shelter.
A good mini-music video.
That will show you its all a dream.
With feelz.

Idk if you've watched Shelter, but that's not a good example.

 

[taesijr123]

Idk if you've watched Shelter, but that's not a good example.

=3=
True, not a real good example.

but still fit the theme of everything that the protag hear,see is not real.
But simply a construction of a program allowing her to continue her dream-like state.
Based on messages and memory left by her parent/technology of her world.

Despite the actual horror drifting in space that she is currently in.

Side note: Go watch evangelion then.
How the protag thought he was becoming a hero then turns out its all just a wet-dream noodles.
I recall an episode of that happening.

And boy that was freaking bullshit.

 

[remems3]

How about if the "it was a dream" was in the middle of the story or at least a few chapters before the end. Or maybe there's an epilogue after he/she wakes up. So that, there's still some story after they wake so that the reader is shown the character development. Maybe the mc tries to become rich to fund a project that could open open a portal to what they think could be the world they were in. Deepdown they know it's a dream but don't want to give up on the past and the story ends on the mc still trying to get into that world even though they never will.

Ooh that'd be nice too! It'd give readers some sense of resolution, making them think that there is a story beyond the dream.

 

[Myriadfold]

this is like the 1 scenario that almost ensures an angry horde of pissed off readers hunting you down with burning pitchforks.

the dream can be used, but you need to convince people it wasn't just a dream and that it had real effects and results, even if the MC misunderstands it as just a dream.