Thanks for this! I didn’t know there was a name and history to this kind of writing exercise. (Also, check your link to the class—I got to an error page.) 🖋️
Thanks, Julie. I'm not sure why that link didn't work for you as it's definitely correct. I've replaced it anyway in case the gremlins got in somehow. Here's the link again though, just in case: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing-the-oulipo-a-taster
So you've come across this kind of writing before then? I think that some of the techniques have probably been around for a while, having been invented/discovered by various people, but the Oulipo sort of formalises it all a bit, and brings it all under one umbrella so to speak.
That link works, Terry, thanks! Though I’ve never heard of the Oulipo writers or resources, I’ve encountered and led writing prompts that use constraints of form before—like an acrostic, or ABBA repeating phrases, etc. I’ve found that having a container of form can provide enough safety in which a writer can really play or experiment. I LOVE the dictionary prompt idea and can’t wait to try it, and others.
This is amazing! I taught Language Arts for several years and these are some great tools for inspiring and engaging young writers. Well, and old writers like me. If I can figure out the time difference, I may join your session on the 18th.
Thanks, Roger. Well, if you're in EST you're 5 hours behind me and if on PST it's 8 hours. My course starts at 10:30 am my time, so I think unless you're a very early bird or a very late bird it's going to be difficult for you. :-(
Sure, you can use this, but please note that I, David Gottfried, wrote it. Although it really isn't brilliant. I was just fooling around with language
I haven't put this in my newsletter. It was just a private creative exercise that I wrote for fun years ago and I simply thought of it when I read your article.
I will have to try these limiting techniques as meandering is a bit of my default. And I need to buy some focus on Amazon. Thanks Terry!
I find that they are good discipline!
Thanks for this! I didn’t know there was a name and history to this kind of writing exercise. (Also, check your link to the class—I got to an error page.) 🖋️
Thanks, Julie. I'm not sure why that link didn't work for you as it's definitely correct. I've replaced it anyway in case the gremlins got in somehow. Here's the link again though, just in case: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/writing-the-oulipo-a-taster
So you've come across this kind of writing before then? I think that some of the techniques have probably been around for a while, having been invented/discovered by various people, but the Oulipo sort of formalises it all a bit, and brings it all under one umbrella so to speak.
That link works, Terry, thanks! Though I’ve never heard of the Oulipo writers or resources, I’ve encountered and led writing prompts that use constraints of form before—like an acrostic, or ABBA repeating phrases, etc. I’ve found that having a container of form can provide enough safety in which a writer can really play or experiment. I LOVE the dictionary prompt idea and can’t wait to try it, and others.
I've only just seen this, Julie, sorry! I hope you had fun with the dictionary idea
This is amazing! I taught Language Arts for several years and these are some great tools for inspiring and engaging young writers. Well, and old writers like me. If I can figure out the time difference, I may join your session on the 18th.
Thanks, Roger. Well, if you're in EST you're 5 hours behind me and if on PST it's 8 hours. My course starts at 10:30 am my time, so I think unless you're a very early bird or a very late bird it's going to be difficult for you. :-(
I once did a variant on the autogram. Every line concentrated on a succeeding letter from the alphabet, I wrote this about various women
ASSOCIATIVE ALLITERACY
Barbra, Betty and Bitchy Bloomies
Catty, Caustic with cache and cash
Their spiked-diamond deadly disdain
Declaims you're not elegant effete urbane
Frivolous feminine forays in fashion
Girlish giggles and grandma guffaws
Haughty heighness heaving with hate
Imperial, irascible, she demands sate
Jesters, male, in jolly jockies
Cater and kowtow and kick very high
Leap and parade for a languishing lady
A Miserable Matron so very Miami
Nubile naughties with knickers not nice
Ode to the orifice open all night
Such perversions princess won't partake
And querulous queen will kill at the stake
Riches and Robes and Revelry Grand
Not sex and scenes of sparkle of love
Talk that teems with titilation
Avoiding urethral stimulation
Visored vagina, vortex of vision
Watching warily with worried brow
Xenophobia and xerostomia
Yellowed yell of bacteremia
Zealotry zaps zygotic zest
Announcing, Arousing avoidance of All
The ballsy bellow and belting with balls
brilliant! Would you mind if I included it as an example in a course I'm running on Oulipo (full credit given of course)?:
https://terryfreedman.substack.com/p/review-of-the-penguin-book-of-oulipo?s=w
Do post it on your own newsletter as well :-)
Sure, you can use this, but please note that I, David Gottfried, wrote it. Although it really isn't brilliant. I was just fooling around with language
I haven't put this in my newsletter. It was just a private creative exercise that I wrote for fun years ago and I simply thought of it when I read your article.
Thanks, David. If I use it, which will partly depend on whether my course goes ahead, I will give full credit