Your Life Is the Source
This technique comes from the poet Joe Brainard. It works because memories connect to other memories in ways our conscious mind doesn't control.
The exercise is especially powerful when you're stuck. I Remember reminds you that you're already full of material—your life is the source.
Follow the Chain
Begin with 'I remember' and complete the sentence with whatever comes to mind. It can be tiny—a smell, a color, a moment.
Now write another sentence starting with 'I remember.' Let the first memory trigger the second. Follow the chain wherever it goes.
Keep going for the entire session. You'll be surprised what surfaces.
Related Exercises
Interval Training
Structured writing sprints with built-in breaks—perfect for building stamina without burning out.
Character Interview
Answer questions as your character—discover their voice, quirks, and hidden depths.
First Line Continuation
Skip the blank page—start from a compelling opening line and see where it takes you.
No E Challenge
The classic lipogram constraint—write an entire piece without using the most common letter in English.
Tighten Up
Practice the art of concise writing—learn to say more with fewer words.
Prompt Frenzy
Stay on your toes as random writing prompts appear mid-session, challenging you to adapt on the fly.
Timed Sprint
Race the clock and push your writing speed—see how many words you can produce when time is tight.
Social Media Story
Tell a story through social media posts—master the art of narrative compression.
Hemingway Mode
Silence your inner editor—the backspace key is disabled, so you can only move forward.
Word Avalanche
Can you keep up? Word targets increase throughout your session, pushing your endurance to the limit.
Genre Roulette
Your genre changes at set intervals—can you keep your story coherent while jumping from horror to romance to sci-fi?
POV Swap
Write the same scene from three different perspectives and discover how point of view transforms a story.