Data

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Exif data, by Terry Freedman. This is the metadata of a photograph.

Exif data, by Terry Freedman. This is the metadata of a photograph.

The most recent article I wrote for a client is characterised by 24 pieces of data:

  • Started: 05 June 2020 15:09

  • Completed: 06 June 2020 11:39

  • Total time: 1.17 hours

  • Total earned, if client approves: I never discuss money.

  • Number of words in title: 5

  • Number of words in topic: 2

  • Number of words in document: 1212

  • Number of characters: 6887

  • Number of paragraphs: 24

  • Number of sentences: 54

  • Number of subheadings: 8

  • Number of links: 1

  • Reading level: 11th-12th grade (approximately 16 to 18 year-olds)

  • Main style: Normal

  • Font: Arial

  • Font size: 11

  • Top heading style: Title

  • Title font: Arial

  • Title font size: 26

  • Subheading style: Heading 2

  • Heading 2 font: Arial

  • Heading 2 font size: 16

  • Number of illustrations: 1

  • Number of versions: 2

More Oulipo-related articles:

Featured
Imposing limits on yourself in order to enhance your creativity
Imposing limits on yourself in order to enhance your creativity

The standard advice for writers who are feeling uninspired or blocked is to allow your mind to wander where it will or to just start writing aimlessly to see what happens. Therefore to suggest the opposite approach, that of imposing some constraints on your thinking, seems completely counterintuitive.

Constraints are good for you!
Constraints are good for you!

When it comes to communication, being restricted is definitely better, ie more conducive to effectiveness, than having no limits at all.

stop look listen, by Terry Freedman.jpg
No safety net

Did you know that Raymond Queneau produced a single sonnet that could be read 100 trillion ways?

stop look listen, by Terry Freedman.jpg
What if the rules were the point? An advert for a creative writing course

Lipograms, N+7, the snowball, and other techniques

Alternative versions of Hamlet
Alternative versions of Hamlet

In recent years I’ve become interested in a branch of writing called Oulipo, and have discovered that it’s not only people associated with the theatre or film who have put their individual stamp on Hamlet. Writers too have got in on the act.

no click Writing with constraints (1).png
Creative writing using constraints

That’s the name of a one-day course I will be teaching at the City Lit on 13 June 2026. It’s already half full.

Rainham Marshes, by Terry Freedman
HIJKLMNO: A Poem

A poem written within the parameters of a constraint of sorts.

Review: Exercises in Style Updated
Review: Exercises in Style Updated

Anyone interested in the craft of writing should read this book. It’s not a primer, or dictionary, or anything of that nature. But it does exactly what it says on the tin.

An upcoming creative writing course
An upcoming creative writing course

Can creative writing be automated (without using A|).

Imaginary libraries
Imaginary libraries

How many ways can you organise a library?

Copyright Terry Freedman. All rights reserved.