Thanks Jody. I enjoyed writing it, so maybe that shone through😀 . Just to be clear though, I don't actually use any of those expressions, except in a joke 😂
I know. But people around you do. Next to zero of the expressions you chose were ones I hear here in Omaha. Perhaps I’ll tinker with a version of yours translated into Omahaese.
Terry, you have published this post with excellent timing! 🙌
This afternoon I booked my place on the OuLiPo course you're teaching on Zoom on 10th & 11th of June! Hurrah for online learning! I hadn't been able to commit to the dates until now - and imagine how happy I was to discover that by booking today or tomorrow I would be eligible for a 10% discount, too?!
Sorry for hijacking your post by saying this, but anyone reading this who'd like to learn more about and practise OuLiPo, Terry's course 'Writing the Oulipo: a taster' is to be held on Zoom on Saturday & Sunday June 10th & 11th from 10.30am to 1pm UK time.
Thanks, Rebecca. That's great. I hadn't realised there was a 10% discount. Brilliant. It's not even that expensive to begin with! Thanks for mentioning it here
I'm really looking forward to it! And yes - I gather it's 10% off for bookings made this bank holiday weekend for courses over £49 taken in June or July. Something like that, anyway. It brought the price for the two 2.5hr sessions down from £69 to £62.10. It was good value anyway, but every little helps! 😉
May 28, 2023·edited May 28, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman
Wow, three for the price of one, Terry - you're spoiling us!
1. The word cloud was really interesting, but as you've suggested, it's 'not exactly illuminating'. Where I've dabbled with word clouds in the past I've found I can get more out of them with a larger text sample.
2. Speech patterns: this was lovely! Really nice and conversational - as I was reading it I felt like I was listening to you recount the story in person.
3. Summary version: I've always struggled with being concise, so it was really helpful to see how well you'd distilled longer-form text into just these four points. Brilliant stuff!
Thanks for a great post - I'm really enjoying your experiments in style. 😊
Thanks Terry, for demonstrating these three versions. Cool! I wish I had a summary version of the book I am trying to read right now! It was recommended by two friends and I KNOW they will expect my opinion. It is such a "Lifetime Channel" book, every paragraph a cliche, every page a worn out trope, tired predictable Hallmark dialog. I already know how it will end. Such a waste of time, but I don't want to tell them I think they are reading crap... ha ha ha.
It's fiction is it? Then say either "What a great first novel, but why must blood always be 'congealed'?" or "It 's ok but shows none of the promise of his/her first novel"
You could use a Stephen Potter-like technique. Say the book is an important contribution to [x], but wish the author had devoted more space to the pioneering work of someone that nobody has ever heard of, including you until you had seen their name when the author mentioned them in a footnote.
Speech patterns version is my favorite so far. More than any before, it illustrates your nationality and social status. Really well written!
Thanks Jody. I enjoyed writing it, so maybe that shone through😀 . Just to be clear though, I don't actually use any of those expressions, except in a joke 😂
I know. But people around you do. Next to zero of the expressions you chose were ones I hear here in Omaha. Perhaps I’ll tinker with a version of yours translated into Omahaese.
True! I would LOVE to see the Omahaese version! Please do!
Terry, you have published this post with excellent timing! 🙌
This afternoon I booked my place on the OuLiPo course you're teaching on Zoom on 10th & 11th of June! Hurrah for online learning! I hadn't been able to commit to the dates until now - and imagine how happy I was to discover that by booking today or tomorrow I would be eligible for a 10% discount, too?!
Sorry for hijacking your post by saying this, but anyone reading this who'd like to learn more about and practise OuLiPo, Terry's course 'Writing the Oulipo: a taster' is to be held on Zoom on Saturday & Sunday June 10th & 11th from 10.30am to 1pm UK time.
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing-the-oulipo-a-taster/hw588-2223
I'll pipe down now. Just wanted to share. 😉
Thanks, Rebecca. That's great. I hadn't realised there was a 10% discount. Brilliant. It's not even that expensive to begin with! Thanks for mentioning it here
I'm really looking forward to it! And yes - I gather it's 10% off for bookings made this bank holiday weekend for courses over £49 taken in June or July. Something like that, anyway. It brought the price for the two 2.5hr sessions down from £69 to £62.10. It was good value anyway, but every little helps! 😉
definitely!
Wow, three for the price of one, Terry - you're spoiling us!
1. The word cloud was really interesting, but as you've suggested, it's 'not exactly illuminating'. Where I've dabbled with word clouds in the past I've found I can get more out of them with a larger text sample.
2. Speech patterns: this was lovely! Really nice and conversational - as I was reading it I felt like I was listening to you recount the story in person.
3. Summary version: I've always struggled with being concise, so it was really helpful to see how well you'd distilled longer-form text into just these four points. Brilliant stuff!
Thanks for a great post - I'm really enjoying your experiments in style. 😊
Thanks, Rebecca. So you think I really speak like #2? 🤣 😱
C'mon Terry, don't disappoint me NOW..... 🙄
🤪
Thanks Terry, for demonstrating these three versions. Cool! I wish I had a summary version of the book I am trying to read right now! It was recommended by two friends and I KNOW they will expect my opinion. It is such a "Lifetime Channel" book, every paragraph a cliche, every page a worn out trope, tired predictable Hallmark dialog. I already know how it will end. Such a waste of time, but I don't want to tell them I think they are reading crap... ha ha ha.
I love/hate the sound of it already, Sharron! 🤣
The phrase '...the book I am TRYING to read right now' says it all!
very perceptive!
Why, thank you, Lord Tel!
<sigh> it's Dr Tel or Lord Terry. Show some respect
I do beg your pardon.
yeah well innit
Yeah. Reading accompanied by a lot of eye-rolling , groaning, and snorting going on over here....
It's fiction is it? Then say either "What a great first novel, but why must blood always be 'congealed'?" or "It 's ok but shows none of the promise of his/her first novel"
I am thinking I will just hand both of them better books and say, "Try this one." Maybe they will get the hint.
🤣 DO THIS!!!!!!!!!! 🤣
so cruel
that could work, if a trifle blunt!
🤣 LOL x a million!
🤣
You could use a Stephen Potter-like technique. Say the book is an important contribution to [x], but wish the author had devoted more space to the pioneering work of someone that nobody has ever heard of, including you until you had seen their name when the author mentioned them in a footnote.
You have saved me four hours of torture-by-romance... thank you.
🤣
🤪
You're giving away all your tricks now, Terry...! 🤣
🤣 I've never had the courage to use them though!
I'm just going back to read some of your reviews, Terry... 😉
<Looks for the Unpublish button>
🙀
Thanks, Mitchell. Word clouds were thought of, in effect, by Calvino decades before personal computers and word clouds were invented: astonishing, eh?
Exactly so. It's in On a winter's night a traveler