Learn Lines Faster

The First Letter Method

Robert Downey Jr. used this technique to memorize Sherlock Holmes—write only the first letter of each word, practice with those letters, and let your memory fill in the rest. It's called the first letter method, and it's helped me learn lines about 4x faster. Try it yourself with the interactive tool below.

Each box shows the first letter. Click letters to reveal words, or use the line button () to reveal entire lines. Try recalling before clicking ;)
I
b
i
...
I
b
i
!
O
m
...
w
...
i
y
w
,
l
a
g
...
M
h
g
r
a
r
,
I
c
s
...
S
n
t
c
o
i
m
!
M
!
G
G
i
h
–
t
c
o
i
m
!
T
m
I
d
–
I
o
o
m
m
–
t
m
i
a
a
i
...

I've never been good at memory tricks. The whole "memory palace" thing? If I'm thinking about that while performing, I'm not actually in the scene.

But this is different. I found it watching Robert Downey Jr. talk about learning lines for Sherlock Holmes. He'd write the first letter of each word on a poster board, stand back so he could barely see it, and just run the lines.

So I tried it. And honestly, it's helped me learn lines way faster.

Why It Works

The letters give you just enough to trigger your memory—without giving away the answer. When you get stuck, you look at the letters, not the full script. So you're still working your memory.

It's like training wheels. By the time you know the lines, the letters are gone. No tricks to think about during the actual performance.

How to Do It

1. Get familiar

Read your script a few times. Look up words you don't fully get.

2. Write the letters

Grab paper. Write the first letter of every word plus punctuation. Like this from The Cherry Orchard:

I bought it... I bought it! One moment...

Becomes:

I b i... I b i! O m...

Looks weird, but that's the point.

3. Practice with the letters

Put your script away. Try reciting using only the letters.

4. Test without the letters

Now try from memory. If you get stuck, go back to the letters—not the full script. That's the key part.

5. Break into sections

For longer stuff, learn one section at a time. But always review from the beginning.

That's it. The letters are just a tool—by showtime, they're gone.

Try the interactive demo with your own lines. I hope it helps :)

cheers

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