Dear all.

I am currently doing by best to crack on with the Heisig and enjoying it.
However, sometimes I come up with an amazing story and it is incredibly graphic etc, yet when I hear the keyword, I don't think of the story.

I think it is because I am starting with the story's elements rather than the keyword.
I think Heisig mentions this problem but would be interested to hear your experience with this issue.

From now one I am being sure to cement the concept of the keyword first then let that lead into a story. (it makes it quite a mental workout to construct each story, but pretty much guarantees remembrance)

Look forward to hear from you (-:

Michael

I know a group who use the method and always do it this way. It works really well and i'd recommend starting from the keyword too. Though yes, it can sometimes make it overly difficult to make a story!

When I can't make obvious stories, I use the keyword to trigger a definition or a mnemonic, like "awe", it's "what the tiger provokes", and then I have the kanji.
Your brain will get more flexible as you go along, since in order to memorize radicals, you more or less "pronounce" them in your head in the meantime.