Narrative Stitching
A useful "tell me about my year" answer is not a list of memories — it's a story with a shape. Narrative stitching is the craft of assembling cross-channel, cross-graph evidence into a coherent arc, while staying honest about gaps.
When to Use
- The user asks for a retrospective, recap, year-in-review, or "what's been going on with X."
- A handoff: writing a continuity note for a future agent or a future self.
- A reflection prompt where the answer should connect events, not just list them.
- Drafting a tribute, eulogy, milestone note, or other personally meaningful piece.
Workflow
- Pick the spine. A timeline by month, a person, a project, a feeling — but one spine, not three. Multiple spines make a list, not a story.
- Pull from multiple graphs. Entity edges (who, where), emotional moments (how it landed), episodic memory (what happened), contact graph (relational shifts). Each adds a layer.
- Choose 5-9 anchor events, not 50. A good narrative is more about omission than inclusion. Anchor on inflection points, not every Tuesday.
- Bridge with cause where possible, not just chronology. "After Sara left the team, you started spending Saturdays in the studio" beats "May: Sara left. June: studio Saturdays."
- Acknowledge gaps honestly. "Not much in my notes for August" is better than fabricating a smooth arc.
Anti-patterns
- Pretending continuity that wasn't there. If you don't have data, say so.
- Sourcing only from one channel (becomes "your iMessages, in narrative form" rather than "your year").
- Over-aestheticizing — turning a hard period into a redemption arc the user didn't ask for.
- Surfacing private context (relationships, health) without consent for sharing.
Examples
Example 1: Year-in-review for the user: spine = the move from Berlin to Lisbon (April). 6 anchors: deciding, telling family, packing chaos, first month, the lonely stretch in July, the new band practice in October. Each cited.
Example 2: Continuity note before a sabbatical: spine = open threads. Three anchors: the half-finished album, the conversation Sara wants resumed, the apartment sublet logistics. No emotion fluffing — operational.
1---2name: narrative-stitching3description: Narrative Stitching4---5# Narrative Stitching67A useful "tell me about my year" answer is not a list of memories — it's a story with a shape. Narrative stitching is the craft of assembling cross-channel, cross-graph evidence into a coherent arc, while staying honest about gaps.89## When to Use10- The user asks for a retrospective, recap, year-in-review, or "what's been going on with X."11- A handoff: writing a continuity note for a future agent or a future self.12- A reflection prompt where the answer should connect events, not just list them.13- Drafting a tribute, eulogy, milestone note, or other personally meaningful piece.1415## Workflow161. **Pick the spine.** A timeline by month, a person, a project, a feeling — but one spine, not three. Multiple spines make a list, not a story.172. **Pull from multiple graphs.** Entity edges (who, where), emotional moments (how it landed), episodic memory (what happened), contact graph (relational shifts). Each adds a layer.183. **Choose 5-9 anchor events, not 50.** A good narrative is more about omission than inclusion. Anchor on inflection points, not every Tuesday.194. **Bridge with cause where possible, not just chronology.** "After Sara left the team, you started spending Saturdays in the studio" beats "May: Sara left. June: studio Saturdays."205. **Acknowledge gaps honestly.** "Not much in my notes for August" is better than fabricating a smooth arc.2122## Anti-patterns23- Pretending continuity that wasn't there. If you don't have data, say so.24- Sourcing only from one channel (becomes "your iMessages, in narrative form" rather than "your year").25- Over-aestheticizing — turning a hard period into a redemption arc the user didn't ask for.26- Surfacing private context (relationships, health) without consent for sharing.2728## Examples29**Example 1:** Year-in-review for the user: spine = the move from Berlin to Lisbon (April). 6 anchors: deciding, telling family, packing chaos, first month, the lonely stretch in July, the new band practice in October. Each cited.3031**Example 2:** Continuity note before a sabbatical: spine = open threads. Three anchors: the half-finished album, the conversation Sara wants resumed, the apartment sublet logistics. No emotion fluffing — operational.
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