Language is a Virus: The Cut-Up Machine

William Burroughs coined the phrase “language is a virus.” The way he obsessed over its manipulations, you’d understand why he came to that conclusion. Via Lifehacker this morning, I discovered a website by the same name (languageisavirus.com), which is filled with helpful tools to help you cut writer’s block.

One of my all time favorite methods which Burroughs pioneered is the cut-up method, where you write blocks of text, take out the scissors, and piece them together. This site has a tool, called the “Cut-Up Machine” which allows you the modern day equivalent, the cut and paste version. Dumping the text from my first paragraph in there, this is what I get:

discovered Burroughs he manipulations, this which that way a is he manipulations, I you this manipulations, conclusion. he manipulations, coined which I with website coined languageisavirus.com, obsessed with the manipulations, discovered writer’s that you help he William discovered you you’d which “language its came called way “language

Fun!

There are many other tools at the site as well. Go check it out if you’re looking for a little something to spur your writing creativity.