Write a paragraph without using the letter 'e'. How simple is that? ;) The paragraph has to make sense of course :) Here is a copy of my very first attempt that I wrote when I first got the book: A young girl is lying in long grass, looking up at sky, watching clouds whisk by. Picking out forms and protraits, laughing with such high spirits. Bugs flitting around young girl, playing jump frog and tag. Chirrups and bird calls sounding all around causing girl to run about, trying to catch bugs sipping this way and that until lunch, or tiring out. Chapter 1, Exercises - 1.13 Word games The Writing Book A workbook for Fiction Writers by Kate Grenvile ISBN: 0-04-442124-9

Wow, what a ravishing paragraph for you to start with. It's hard to match. And it's also a good notion of a way to overthrow a block to imagination. I think all should try it out. :)

That's what I am hoping... That everyone will try these word games :). The reason why I like them is because they make you think outside of your normal thinking pattern. Use of dictionaries and thesauruses are allowed ;).

I run through words of difficulty...words that slay my mind. I find that pain, through lack of vocabulary, can kill an author. What shall I do? Do I run from my task? Or do I try to win? And if I try, and fail, what will I claim? -------------------------------------------------------- OK, a bit of a strain...but 6 minutes. It was tough.

That is great Chuck :). It certainly sums up the difficulty of writing.

Tks, Bella. Certainly for regular works and THIS bit of fun...LOL.

Hark, young spiritual warrior! Waylaid again by yon vicious rumors? Vain dragons playing with your mind? Try to hold back and stay strong, Don't act as your critics want you. That scorn, it will vanish quickly. Without forcing it away from you Look at your trials as God's gift..... Spirit may blossom cold and dark, But this trial can also bring light. So stand fast to your convictions, Stand up for what you know is right. Your intuition is showing you truth. It's your honor in this long fight That brings vast worth to your spirit, Not yon pitiful dragons in flight. It is your purity making you strong, Standing vigil upon this dark night, That is lifting you up into victory. Hold fast! It's spirit shining bright!

Yes it is fun Chuck :) WOW seanmichael!!! That is amazing. All of mine are only 5 lines long LOL. Well done.

LOL, dialynn...you sly thing, you! How smart of you to do that!

Attached Link: http://www.thesaurus.com/

Sorry. My above tip was badly worded. I'll try again... Try this... write anything in the normal manner, then remove the word 'the' and then search all your other words with an 'e' in them and use the thesaurus to find similar words but without an 'e'. That sounds better lol

I could work at swaps all day long and not show word play so lyrically. Good job!

This is a 2nd piece I wrote in the same year as my 1st one: Out in world on my own, I must hold tightly to caution. My truthful spirit, I must mark, is not brought to light. Tact is a must. Constant association with mortals is hazardous but vital. Parlous is in my unmasquing. Crucial is for sustaining vitality, for companionship and, for calling back to mind, my past mortality.

ok...how many words to build a paragraph? ouch, that was hard...how did you all do that ?

LOL Knot4u. Well there are no 'e's in that. That's a start ;) How many words to build a paragraph? I don't know if there is a set number. I just use 4 to 5 lines as a guide myself :) How do I do it? I just write normally and remove words like 'the' and 'be' because they can't be replaced and then search my writings for words with 'e' in them and use the thesaurus to replace them :) That is the easy way of doing it lol.

Hmmm... is it just luck or do all post in this chain lack ... what a group this is. saving all the missing alphabits for Oct 31st so can shout out a big... EEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeek

LOL That's funny

LOL cool

You just lost me there lol

I think nu-be is saying that there was an author who wrote a novel that was a gigantic palindrome (not an anagram). I don't know if it is true or not but supposedly the author's name was Sydney Yendys, whose name seems altogether too convenient. But this isn't the same as the French author who wrote a novel without an "e" (Georges Perec called "Disparition" ... note the irony of his name... he couldn't publish his novel totally without an "e" without leaving his own name off the title page), so perhaps there were two obsessed novelists. And, no, I don't know any of this stuff. It is leavings from the Internet and could all be bogus. :)

I understood that part :). It was the palindrome part that I didn't understand lol

Here is another one I wrote. I was busy back then ;) Future is thus far to occur and past is past Stir up from thy dark; draw in vitality and no chains Do not look forward, nor tarry amongst past days Attain a hold on this instant and sustain it to maximum joy

Ah, pardon. Since I know the other thread to which reference was being made, I jumped to an unwarrented conclusion. Apologies. Actually, I just wanted an excuse to search the internet for that novel. ;)

But that has an e (future) in it...or is that a different game? I'm glad I'm not playing at this...I would not find it easy at all.

ACK!!!!!! Thank you for pointing that out to me. I didn't catch that one at all. All these years sob ROFL Bella wanders off to fix such an obvious error, mumbling to herself

Don't you hate it when that happens? I don't care how much I proof something, someone will always come along and say, "but what about.....?" and then I feel that it is a mistake big as a boulder that escaped me. You're great at this game, though....I guess I love my e's too much to give them up. :)

LOL yes I do hate it when that happens. Thank you :). I just really love the way the words play together with such a restriction :) Here is my correction :) Following days thus far to occur and past is past Stir up from thy dark; draw in vitality and no chains Do not look forward, nor tarry amongst past days Attain a hold on this instant and sustain it to maximum joy

Eyes examine everyone else's example. Enthralled, enamored even entranced. Eventually envious after endless endeavors extinguish hope. Seems every entry attempt fell extremely insufficient. Help.

LOL, Knot4u...all the e's left unused fell happily into your poem. Love it!

LOL that's fantastic Knot4u.

LOL...

Sounds neat :)

Here is my last piece. I started writing it a few months back and only finished it 3 days ago. This piece is for my site when I get the chance to update it :) In a land so far away, at bottom of a world so cold Built just following dawn of chronographic history A sanctuary, a rampart, against a burning sun Glacial lair full of curiosity and unknown antiquity Roam, frisk around, look upon bounty of now and old