“It’s in words that the magic is—Abracadabra, Open Sesame, and the rest—but the magic words in one story aren’t magical in the next. The real magic is to understand which words work, and when, and for what; the trick is to learn the trick.” — John Barth, “Dunyazadiad”
Making the magic
February 14th, 2012 · 11 Comments
Tags: Lit & Crit
11 responses so far ↓
1 CJ // Feb 14, 2012 at 8:22 am
When they do click into place it’s nirvana to the max.
2 Tetman Callis // Feb 14, 2012 at 9:08 am
Bringing meaning to life.
3 Averil Dean // Feb 14, 2012 at 9:39 am
“. . . the trick is to learn the trick.”
Oh yes. I love this. Is there a hat I can buy, from which a rabbit magically appears with no effort on my part? Is there a box full of tricks? A special mirror?
4 Tetman Callis // Feb 14, 2012 at 11:14 am
Only if the magic appears effortless is it magic. But you will know that the effort is ceaseless; that the box of tricks is a toolbox, no more and no less; and that the special mirror will sometimes reflect that which you will find almost unbearable to behold.
5 Averil Dean // Feb 14, 2012 at 11:51 am
Someone hold my pen. I have a mirror to break.
6 Tetman Callis // Feb 14, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Watch out! Seven years bad luck. And how you gonna do your best writing without that mirror?
7 CJ // Feb 14, 2012 at 1:52 pm
True about the mirror . Very true.
8 Averil Dean // Feb 14, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I don’t wanna look, I tell you. Can’t I just look around instead?
9 Tetman Callis // Feb 14, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Depends on what you want. If you want to be a strong writer–no matter what you’re writing–you have to look in the mirror. And you have to do it while you’re not looking, so you’ll see who’s really there.
10 Averil Dean // Feb 14, 2012 at 5:59 pm
You’re on fire today. Can I borrow this as a quote for my blog?
11 Tetman Callis // Feb 14, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I would be honored.
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