Bury the "I"

When it comes to sharing his writing method, Chuck Palahniuk has been very vocal and very encouraging to his fans.  He has even gone so far as creating his own 36 part series on writing.  This series will once again be available to the public for free as he releases on part per month on his website, ChuckPalahniuk.net.

One of Chuck's exercises is fairly unique, and it's called "burying the I".




Creative Writing Prompt:  Write a short piece from the first person perspective, however, resist the urge to write "I" for as long as you can.  For an example (warning: not for the faint of heart, people have passed out during book readings where Chuck read this story), read Chuck Palahniuk's short story "Guts" where he effectively "burys the I" for two thirds of the story.

There are different tactics to go about doing this, so I suggest you experiment with the process.  Try writing about setting, about other characters, about backdrop, ect.  What this does when pulled off properly is create an odd sort of tension you don't often get, and sometimes it can be quiet jarring when the "I" is introduced.

Recommended Reading:
Fight Club & Survivor