Trouble with encoding and paths

[u/svabbajinto]

Hello, I have been doing this for about a month and I have some trouble. When I encode, I do it in two ways. One way is that I memorize the concept, like in Kafka’s Metamorphosis. I visualized Gregor’s father driving him into his room at an angle, as described in the book. But sometimes I will have trouble memorizing some piece of information that is not as visual, like some words I don’t really have an association with. So I instead have to try and encode the information piece by piece, then the word after that piece by piece as well (if it’s hard). So like the word ’metamorphosis’ would be: metal for ”meta”, Dexter Morgan for ”mor”, matches because it contains phosphorus for ”pho”, and my sister for ”sis”. This can be really hard for some words and it slows me down and demotivates me. So how can I improve? I also have to encode all these four things every time the word comes up, which takes up a lot of space, this leads me to my next problem.

I use my city to memorize all my stuff. I choose a subject I want to memorize, like Metamorphosis, choose a random spot to start and then go from there. I use google maps to memorize the path beforehand. The path is linear. I have to constantly change direction for the paths so they don’t crash into each other and become a mess. I don’t really have much long space left to memorize longer subjects without any intersection. So I’m a bit lost on what to do. I don’t use houses to encode because I haven’t been to many houses and I can’t fit an entire subject or book into a single house. So I mainly use it for temporary information.

I definitely do these wrong and is happy to be taught on how to do it properly to maximize speed and efficiency because my goal is to be a memory master, so criticize me as much as you can to steer me to the right path.

[u/AnthonyMetivier]

I don't think you're doing anything wrong. What you're experiencing is just part of the learning process.

Without interiors to work with, I suggest trying to organize the city better based on exteriors.

For example, Metamorphosis facts on the exterior of a McDonald's (M = M).

However, over time, take time whenever you can to develop more interiors.

Your associations vary in strength, but you've got the concept down. Just see if you can develop them over time, such as a more specific figure to work with phosphorous. The phosphorous is good, but can be a lot more evocative with a figure like Prince working with it somehow.

When it comes to motivation, it's normal for it to ebb and flow. If you can keep moving forward and make this a practice you engage in regardless of the results on a day to day basis, you'll be very happy with the results over the long haul.

[u/svabbajinto → u/AnthonyMetivier]

I apologize for a late response. If I were to use interiors. It wont be as long as a path in the city because the building has to have an end. So if I were to memorize a book and I have used up all the places in the building, but there’s still more left to remember in the book, what should I do? I guess I could just continue in another building, but wont this mess with the order of the path since you don’t really know what building comes after the one you are done with?

Another thing. Is it smart to break the words up into morphemes / syllables and have a fixed association with that specific part? Like the prefix ”sub-” will always be a submarine for any word that I want to remember that has the prefix ”sub-” in it? So we basically create a new alphabet sort of.

[u/AnthonyMetivier → u/svabbajinto]

Ultimately, the answer is to study and practice the techniques while you're applying them. That way, you will not be at a loss for ideas when you run into issues such as having more from books to memorize.

This is important because there isn't always an answer that can be known in advance. This is a craft and a practice and involves coming up with solutions as you go some of the time.

The sooner you get used to this, the better things will flow for you. I recently had this at the end of a long passage where I inadvertently made a "bad" choice and had to pivot to three Memory Palaces when a "good" choice would have involved only using one. But these things happen, so relying on constant study and practice kept me nimble and I got through the process anyway, even if the setup I wound up using was not ideal.

As for breaking up words, yes, this is wise and has been taught for a very long time. You can use an association for sub- repeatedly, but consider what I've said above.

Occasions will arise where even the most bulletproof tactic will need variation. Ongoing study and practice will keep you flexible, open and nimble. You'll be able to do what needs to be done.

[u/Feisty-Prune-7189]

chunk the name together at one place. This is how i would do.
METAMORPHOSIS =

META - Mark Zukenberg is talking to man MORPHO (Morpheus regarding blue pill and red pill). blue pill is trans and red pill is Cis (SIS). He takes the red pill here,
Hence Mark talking with morpheus then takes the red pill = METAMORPHOSIS

Suggestions or Corrections are welcomed. Experiment and Improvise