1 minute reading time
(255 words)
You are probably asking yourself, "What is a lipogram, anyway?" A lipogram is a piece of writing, for example a paragraph or a poem, in which one letter cannot be used. Usually, it's the letter "e" since "e" is the most commonly used letter! (Look at all the interesting new things you are learning by reading today's blog entry!)
Anyway, it's a goodthing I love lipograms because I am reading nearly 100 of them this week! That's because I am judging the Blue Metropolis Literary Foundation's 2008-2009 Lipogram Contest. The winner is going to get a $350 cash prize. Pretty good, if you ask me!
So now I'm going to write one more paragraph, in lipogram-form. Here goes (wish me luck!):
"Lipograms today, lipograms tomorrow, lipograms all day long! Lipograms to laugh at, lipograms I cry for. Zany, touching lipograms. On my back porch, lipograms for lunch. Writing lipograms is fun, but it's hard, too. Way to go for lipograms and lipogrammar and lippy lipogram-authors!"
That was, by the way, way harder than it looks. When Blue Met announces the winner of this year's Lipogram Contest, I'll post the info on my blog. In the mean time, start practising your lipograms. Perhaps you'll be able to enter next year's contest.
Oops, I was so excited about lipograms that I nearly forgot to tell you -- What World Is Left has been nominated for the American Library Association's YALSA 2009 Best Book Award!! Only a handful of Canadian authors made the list. Let's just say I'm in very good company!
Comments
Hi Monique, I was just wondering where I could get your books? (other than the library)
*Jayda*
Hi Jayda, Thanks for keeping up with the blog -- and for your comments. Since you live on the West Island, the best place to find my books is probably Livres Babar in Pointe Claire Village. If your Chapters-Indigo does not have any of my books in stock, they should be able to order them for you. Hope this helps! Are you going to try and write a lipogram? I'm going to read more of the contest entries now! Sleep tight!
Hi Miss Polak, Just wanted to say that I once read a book called A Void that was written entirely without the letter e! Clearly a lipogram! I never thought it was possible to write a decent piece of literature without using such an important vowel! Just wanted to share the story See you soon.
That's very interesting about the lipogram book -- and now we know why it was called "A Void". I found it very difficult to write even a few lines without the letter "e." Hope you've had a good long weekend. I'm gearing up to start my new book TOMORROW!! Wish me luck!!