Oulipo (, short for ; roughly translated: "workshop of potential literature", stylized OuLiPo) is a loose gathering of (mainly) French-speaking writers and mathematicians who seek to create works using constrained writing techniques. It was founded in 1960 by Raymond Queneau and François Le Lionnais. Other notable members have included novelists Georges Perec and Italo Calvino, poets Oskar Pastior and Jean Lescure, and poet/mathematician Jacques Roubaud. The group defines the term littérature potentielle as (rough translation): "the seeking of new structures and patterns which may be used by writers in any way they enjoy". Queneau described Oulipians as "rats who construct the labyrinth from which they plan to escape." Constraints are used as a means of triggering ideas and inspiration, most notably Perec's "story-making machine", which he used in the construction of Life: A User's Manual. As well as established techniques, such as lipograms (Per
Oulipo (, abreviado para ; aproximadamente traducido: "ateliería de literatura potencial", estilizado OuLiPo) es una reunión suave de (principalmente) escritores y matemáticos de habla francesa que buscan crear obras utilizando técnicas de escritura restringida. Fue fundada en 1960 por Raymond Queneau y François Le Lionnais. Otros miembros notables han incluido a los novelistas Georges Perec e Italo Calvino, poetas Oskar Pastior y Jean Lescure, y el poeta/matemático Jacques Roubaud. El grupo define el término literature potentielle como (traducción dura): "la búsqueda de nuevas estructuras y patrones que pueden ser utilizados por los escritores de cualquier manera que disfruten". Queneau describió a los Oulipianos como "ratos que construyen el laberinto del que planean escapar."