Lipogram Writing
Write entire pieces without using a specific letter (usually E)
A lipogram is a text that deliberately omits a particular letter, usually E, the most common letter in English. Writing a lipogram requires extreme attention to word choice and syntax, making it a challenging and illuminating exercise. Famous examples include Georges Perec's novel 'La Disparition,' which was 300 pages without the letter E. Lipograms develop linguistic creativity and force writers to find alternative expressions.
How to start
- 1Choose which letter to avoid (E is traditional, but try others for variety)
- 2Plan your piece: haiku, paragraph, or short story
- 3Write freely, then edit to remove any instances of your forbidden letter
- 4Use a find-and-replace function to catch any stragglers
What you'll need
- Text editor with find-and-replaceEssentialFree
- ThesaurusEssentialFree
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Write a lipogram in a different language
- Challenge a friend to spot all your letter substitutions
- Combine lipogram with another constraint like haiku or tanka
The constraint creates laser focus. You're problem-solving in real time, which can feel like a game and keep your mind engaged.
Georges Perec's 'A Void' is a 250-page novel in English with no letter E. Translating it required inventing new words and restructuring sentences in ways that seem impossible.
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