I've owned a lot of books about writing, and they've had varying levels of usefulness. How to Write While You Sleep is the only one that I have kept and referred back to, save for the basic reference works, such as Elements of Style.

What's so great about this book is that the concept of writing while you sleep works both for nonfiction and fictional work. "Sleep on it," we've all heard that phrase relating to decisions. Fundamentally, people using that phrase are counting on your dreams processing the "daywork" of your brain.

Along with the book, you need to buy a notebook and pen to keep somewhere close to your bed. You're going to wake up with ideas, and the more you write them down, the more you're going to have later. Don't think you're going to remember, because you won't.

Using the book to write didn't disturb my sleep. As a matter of fact, during a very stressful time while I was working on my Master's Report, I would read my research materials and tell myself as I was going to sleep that I would "sleep on" what I'd read. I usually slept pretty soundly instead of tossing and turning worrying about whether I'd get the report done on time. When I woke, I'd make notes about what I'd processed during the night.

You can not only write scenes and reports, but re-write your dreams. Something else that might not have occurred to some is that you can use this concept to guide your dreams. If you start having a repetitive nightmare (in my case, the "I'm not going to finish this report" one) just program yourself before you go to sleep with the idea that you are going to finish the report and do well.