Writing Machine Directory

This page is part of the Special Issue # 28 Writing Machines–Protocols–Feedback. It is provides a record of the various writing machines proposed or made during the production of that Special Issue.

Analog Exquisite Corpse Machine

Writing Machine # 1
Title: Analog Exquisite Corpse Machine (2025) by Steve Rushton
Machine overview:
Five columns of words which can slide up and down to form new sentences. A loose interpretation of the Surrealist Exquisite Corpse.
Media: Paper; Libre Office; glue; alphabet (English)

Machine output (example)

Earlier output (1925-26). The first recorded stanza using this form (by André Breton and his Surrealist friends) is recorded as: “The-exquisite-corpse-will-drink-new-wine.”

Writing Machine # 2

Title: The Writing Machine of...(2025) by Steve Rushton.
Machine overview: A reworking of The House of Dust Redux by Nick Montfort
Link:https://nickm.com/memslam/
based on a 1967 work by Alison Knowles & James Tenney
in Python 2/3

Here is an example of output generated by Alison Knowles’ House of Dust (1967)

"A HOUSE OF WOOD
UNDER WATER
USING NATURAL LIGHT
INHABITED BY FRIENDS

A HOUSE OF LEAVES
IN A METROPOLIS
USING ALL AVAILABLE LIGHTING
INHABITED BY ALL RACES OF MAN REPRESENTED WEARING PREDOMINANTLY RED CLOTHING

A HOUSE OF ROOTS
IN AN OVERPOPULATED AREA
USING ELECTRICITY
INHABITED BY HORSES AND BIRDS…

A HOUSE OF WOOD
IN A METROPOLIS
USING ELECTRICITY
INHABITED BY FRIENDS AND ENEMIES"

...and this is an example of the output from The Writing Machine of (2025)...

Output: HTML page of "self-generating poem"

Output: Code of the above (fragment)

Writing Machine # 3
Title: Barthes Radio (c. 2023) Death of the Author (1967) by Roland Barthes read by Xpub + Xpub tutors (2023)
Machine overview: Twenty-four sound files
Output (a): BarthesRadio
Output (b): Pad – text with list of readers: https://pad.xpub.nl/p/BarthesWormRadio

Writing Machine Group 3: The Interpersonal word chain (exquisite corpse)

The Interpersonal words chain

A chain of words, starting point is a word from someones personal notes from the class

Each person sees only the word of the person before them, and picks a word from the notes they associate with the previous word The words are notated on one side of a notebook

The words are notated on one side of a notebook

The next round goes against reading direction Words can be read in increments of 5 words, but also by order of the book.

Words can be read in increments of 5 words, but also by order of the book.

Sentences can be read per 5, the number of the people in the group

• Dialectics reflect distracted by design output
• Technotext liberating language the fragile restraints generate
• Dialectics techno text reflect liberating language distracted the fragile by design restraints output generate
• Generate output restraints by design the fragile distracted language liberating reflect techno text dialectics
• special issue writes meaningfully bleeds hungrily
• Government production terminate assemblages pre-existing
• special issue government writes production meaningfully terminate bleeds assemblages hungrily pre-existing
• Pre-exising hungrily assemblages bleeds terminate meaningfully production writes government special issue
• Dialectics techno text reflect liberating language distracted the fragile by design restraints output generate special issue pre-eshisting writes assemblages meaningfully terminate bleeds production hungrily government juxtapositions

Writing Machine Group 1: Multinational Poetry Remix

Protocol:

With a group of people...

1. Pick most well-known poet from own country of origin 2. Pick most well-known poem from this poet 3. Pick first line from first verse 4. Pick first line from second verse 5. Translate these lines 6. Sort countries of origin alphabetically (English names) 7. Mirror countries of origin 8. Put the lines together in one new poem

Output:

Moonlight before my bed, like frost upon the floor Do you not see, the Yellow River's waters rushing from Heaven, never to return Who rides so late through night and wind? I have no mother, I have no father If my time should come, I'd like no one to entice me

I am but a wild animal, Cut from it's kind I haven't eaten third day My son, why do you hide your face so anxiously? Do you not see, before the bright mirror in the high hall, grieving over white hair I lift my eyes to the mountain moon, then bow them, dreaming of home.