Have you ever thought about how challenging it is to write without one particular letter?
Every month I catch up with fellow writers at the Launceston Writer’s Group (you can read about us in The Examiner). I look forward to those Wednesday evenings when I get the opportunity to ‘talk shop’ with people who like words as much as I do (this is called being a logophile).
Every so often we like to set ourselves a challenge, the most recent being to write 100 words on any topic without an ‘e’. This writing exercise came about after one of our members, Ian Kennedy Williams, spoke about Georges Perec, an author who wrote La disparition. This novel is a lipogram, written without the letter “e”. We decided the Lonnie writers could do 100 words.
I sat down to write my lipogram one Sunday afternoon and found I had trouble concentrating because my sons were yelling, running, wrestling etc in the same space. As a result, this is what I came up with:
Do you know how difficult it is to focus on writing fifty plus fifty words during an occasion that also has crazy sounds coming from two small humans? I did birth said humans, but I will own up to thinking of spots in which to slink away. Most alluring is a gap that will not fit an additional soul, I admit. Could I ask for just two, four or six half hours in which to craft a chunk of writing? Alas, an author or journalist, who is also a mum, cannot command such things as thoughts will always fling apart.
I thought it a little flippant and silly so promised myself I’d make time to try again. I’m happier with this one:
Dark and cool, this morning is crisp and full of possibility. My black dog pulls at his chain, wanting to run without limit – and my soul joins him. Our duo walks towards Cataract’s gums, mossy rocks and bush tracks as faint solar rays light our way and clouds start to colour gold, pink and apricot. Cool air fills my lungs and I am happy, my furry companion panting and sniffing in gratification. Striding up hills, I hit a summit and look down upon Tamar’s still flow. Now my dog and I walk down towards our waking family, knowing today summons us.
Will you try a lipogram too? I’d love it if you shared yours below in the comments.
