Postby performer » August 23rd, 2015, 6:57 am
Writing technical explanations of a magic trick can be quite difficult and is a completely different kettle of fish from writing other kinds of things. I think Harry Lorayne is probably the best at this for readability and most importantly clarity.
However, I just read this from Jack Shalom's blog:
"Here is one sentence one might find in a magic book: ‘Pick up the deck with your right hand, and place it into left-hand dealing grip.’ Minch suggests this sentence is more effective if written, ‘With your right hand, pick up the deck, and place it into left-hand dealing grip.’ Not only does the second version avoid an ugly dangling phrase, it delivers the reader information in the most useful order.” [italics mine]"
I dunno about this. Maybe it is just the way my own brain works but I FAR prefer the first sentence. It is slightly easier to comprehend and less dull to read. It helps you to do things in the proper order.
I find a lot of magic literature, especially biographies to be lacking in soul and humanity. Just a dull recital of fact after fact. No humour, no personality - just the facts. Facts can be interesting in themselves but I think you need more than that.
That is why I found the William Lindsey Gresham biography of Houdini far more readable than any of the other versions.
Mind you, you don't want to go to the other extreme and have no depth at all. A happy medium is the best way, I think.