Creative Writing
If your interest in the Oulipo goes beyond simply trying out their techniques, and you wish to learn about the context in which it was conceived and the developments in went through, you will find this book very useful.
Read MoreWorking within a limit of 100 words is both terrifying and liberating.
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Blue Cube, by Terry Freedman
In a recent article I set a puzzle: identifying the hidden homophonics in a short story. Here are the answers.
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Neon tube map, by Terry Freedman. I’m thinking: does this count as a visual homophone (a homovide?) of a tube map?
Homophones are words that sound the same but don’t mean the same, such as fare (food) and fare (cost of travel), or their and there. In Oulipo, you take a phrase and think of one which sounds like it. I believe that it is permissible to stretch the definition of “sounds like”, so I have taken advantage of that fact.
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Shock, Horror! by Terry Freedman.jpg
My Christmas, Oulipo-inspired message decoded.
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Terry Freedman in a cafe, where he often writes — by E Freedman
A dozen of the best articles on the Writers’ Know-How website in 2019.
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A different way of thinking! Photo of a notice outside Chives cafe in London, by Terry Freedman
How to use an Oulipo technique involving proverbs to get through writer’s block.
Read MoreIf you are a teacher of English or creative writing, you will find this book to be a rich source of material to discuss and analyse with your students. And if you are a writer, this book will I’m sure prove to be a good investment in extending your craft.
Read MoreYou may not believe this, but film-making and film studies on the one hand, and writing on the other, have a great deal in common.
Read MoreThe word Oulipo is an acronym of a French group, Ouvroir de littérature potentielle. This is usually translated as Workshop of Potential Literature, although given its association with the sharing and critique of work on creative writing courses, the word ‘workshop’ might be ditched in favour of ‘work room’.
Read MoreOne of the techniques employed by the Oulipo is known as N+7. This is where you take each noun, and replace it with a word that is seven words on in the dictionary. Of course, results vary according to what dictionary you use. The following article is an N+7 version of my review of the Penguin Book of Oulipo. Enjoy!
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ALCS and SoA Educational Writers Awards 2019 by Terry Freedman (2).JPG
The shortlisted books for the annual ALCS Educational Writers’ Awards were as beautiful and informative as ever this year.
Read MoreI’ve spent the last term on a course called Great European Short Stories. Here are my views on the course, the tutor, and the other courses of his that I’ve attended.
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Lloyds Building, London, by Terry Freedman
Not every day for the writer has to involve actual writing.
Read MoreShort-form writing is neither quick nor easy, but the effort is, in my opinion, worth it. This book explores the form with useful information, challenging exercises, and interesting examples.
Read MoreMy first foray into the world of Oulipo.
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Click on the cover to be take to the book’s Amazon page (please note, this is an Amazon affiliate link).
You may be very good at condensing a complex argument and proposals down to no more than six bullet points (as one of my line managers always demanded). This book makes it clear that there are more creative opportunities too.
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A zombie in London, by Terry Freedman. The “zombibe” pictured is James, from the Hel’s Angels agency.
You never know who you’re going to meet in London. Yesterday, I saw a zombie walking around the Microsoft Decoded conference.
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Empty bench and table, by Terry Freedman
How about forgetting all that “She said…”, “He said…” stuff? There is real power in a piece of prose or poetry where you can “hear” only one side of the conversation.
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