The Oulipo is a writing movement that uses constraints to produce ‘potential literature’.
Read MoreFeedback From A Course Called Writing The Oulipo

Oulipo
The Oulipo is a writing movement that uses constraints to produce ‘potential literature’.
Read MoreImage by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
This course is running tomorrow (18 June 2022), and I’ve added a few more exercises for people to try out.
Read MoreOn 17 June 2021 I wrote a round-up of my reviews of books about the Oulipo. Here’s a link to that article.
Read MoreSquared notebook, by Terry Freedman
If, like me, you enjoy writing for the sake of it, and maybe even enjoy a secret life as a short story or novel writer, this might interest you.
Read MorePhoto by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
A new course for creative writing.
Read MoreWhat can we learn from an apparently simple list, apart from the contents of the list?
Read MoreThis article is part of series I am writing called Experiments in Style. It is my version of Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style.
Read MoreChristmas at Selfridges, by Terry Freedman
Unfortunately, my end-of-year message got a bit mangled, but I’m posting it here anyway. See if you can figure out what it is supposed to say.
Read MoreThe results are different depending on which dictionary you use; there is nothing to stop you cheating…
Read MoreAlthough the result is nonsensical, I think it has a musical quality of its own.
Read MoreIn this version, I’ve decided to pass the story over to you.
Read MoreThe book works in so many ways that it’s hard to know where to start.
Read MoreAnyone 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.
Read MoreIn the middle of the night, I will wake up (if you can call being semi-conscious being awake), walk purposefully towards the door to go to the bathroom — and almost knock myself out.
Read MoreBOOKS, by Terry Freedman.png
Here is a selection of books about or featuring Oulipo that I’ve reviewed on this website. It’s not an extensive list, but I’m adding to it all the time.
Read MoreMan in a hat, sepia version, by Terry Freedman
The principles of Oulipo can be applied to photography as well.
Read MoreThe Oulipo: part of my writing ‘toolkit’. Picture by Terry Freedman
Unlike other approaches to writing, Oulipo is based on constraints rather than such devices as free association.
Read MoreThe clothes I wear when carrying out an experiment. Picture: Scientist, by Terry Freedman
An account of my experimentation with an Oulipo technique called “acronymic poetry”.
Read MoreTwo soft drinks, by Terry Freedman
I don’t write poetry. My days of doing so have been over for several eons. However, the first homework we were set, and which I completed and submitted, was to write a poem inspired by a photograph. Here goes.
Read MoreThink outside the box, by Terry Freedman
When it comes to communication, being restricted is definitely better, ie more conducive to effectiveness, than having no limits at all.
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