Constrained writing
Constrained writing is a literary technique in which the writer is bound by some condition that forbids certain things or imposes a pattern.The most common constrained forms of writing are strict restrictions in vocabulary, e.g. Basic English, E-Prime, defining vocabulary for dictionaries, and other limited vocabularies for teaching English as a Second Language[?] or to children. This isn't generally what is meant by 'constrained writing' in the literary sense, which is motivated by more aesthetic concerns. For example:
- a letter (commonly e or o) is outlawed, making a lipogram;
- a poem similar to Poe's "Raven" (called Near a Raven) has been composed in which the lengths of words are the values of the digits in pi;
- palindromes, such as the word "radar", read the same both ways.
- acrostics
- reverse-lipograms[?] (each word must contain a particular letter)
- Ander-Saxon
- anagrams.
- aleatory (where the reader supplies a random input)
- Haiku Japanese poem
- Chinese poetry
- Dui lian[?] Chinese couplet (對聯)
The Oulipo group is a gathering of writers who use such techniques.
External Links
- Poe, E.: Near a Raven (http://users.aol.com/s6sj7gt/mikerav.htm)
Craig appeared hopeful; but on Mrs. Mavor's face there was a
cost the lad.
Then up rose a sturdy, hard-featured ma/man.html">man, with a burr in his voice
afterwards learned, but every one called him Geordie. He was a
known to refuse a drink, he was never known to be drunk. He took
shack, or with a friend or two in a sober, respectable way, but
saloon. He made the highest wages, but was far too true a Scot to
Geordie's mind. He spoke solemnly, as befitted a Scotsman
best English, for when Geordie became excited no one in Black Rock
things.' There was a shout of laughter, at which Geordie gazed
explanatory tone, 'that I tak ma mornin', an' maybe a nip at.
On
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