Creative writing using random word selection
Esoteric Sensationalism is dedicated to the exploration of random processes and experimentation in creative writing. Randomness has long been identified as a source of inspiration - not only for authors of fiction, poetry, and visual art, but also for businesspeople, scientists or creative thinkers of any type. Techniques such as "cut-up", "collage", "cut 'n' mix" and "mashup" are all based on a process of recombining previously unrelated words, sounds or images. In business, this process is often referred to as "lateral thinking" - a way to derail the train of thought from it's linear, predictable route into more uncharted, creative territories. The theory section of this site explores the rationale behind the uses of randomness and other forms of experimentation for the purpose of creative inspiration.

The Cut 'n' Mix Word Machine

The Cut 'n' Mix application helps creative writers generate new ideas through the use of different methods of text randomization and manipulation. Back in the early 1990s, the early precursor version of the application (then called "Word Demon") simply tried to automate the "cut-up" technique: a process whereby individual words are cut out of the original context and reordered (either randomly or intentionally). In 1997, the first version of Cut'n'Mix to include multi-source text mixing was released. The intention was to create the same kind of look-and-feel you might find in a 4-track audio cassette recorder but with the capability to mix text instead of sound. Subsequent versions added word shredding and gluing, morphing, swapping, random word fill, web page fill and a "custom wordbook" function to allow users to store their own word databases. The latest Cut'n'Mix (Version 5.3) adds a new section called "ROBOPOEM" which uses poetry-generating algorithms to rearrange user text into robotic poetry.

Cut'n'Mix is free to try for 7 days, after which a license key can be purchased HERE.

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Find out how Cut 'n' Mix:


Try a full-function, 7-day trial version of Cut 'n' Mix:

Download Cut 'n' Mix 5.3
(Windows XP or Vista required)
Tools, Techniques, Texts and Resources
For online "magnetic poetry" try the virtual paper and scissors style Cut-up Laboratory. To automatically generate rhyming poetry or song lyrics with a predefined rhythmic structure, start the ROBOPOEM poetry robot. To write prose and poetry that astounds, confuses and impresses the groundlings, try Shakespeare's Brain . Readymadecom offers unique domain names derived from random processes. To read cut-up texts submitted by Cut 'n' Mix users and other visitors to this site, check out the texts page. For links to related tools and information on other websites, open the links page. Address all comments and enquiries about Esoteric Sensationalism to info@cutnmix.com.