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THE MAGIC ART
How to Transport Your Reader in Style and Fast
Two powerful literary devices for your consideration
Whatever you are writing, you have a choice: take your reader on a comfortable ride or get to the point.
The following is a short account of an historical event, see if you can figure out what is unusual about it:
The War in Pontus (47 B.C.)
While the Romans were occupied with their civil war, Pharnaces extended his holdings along the northern coast of Asia Minor, pushing into Cappadocia, but the Romans responded by mounting an expedition that left from Alexandria and marched overland through Asia Minor, pausing at Zela in north-central Turkey and whilst making camp there the forces of Pharnaces suddenly descended on the Roman legions, which, though taken by surprise, quickly formed into devastatingly effective battle groups that overwhelmed the attackers, an instance of highly trained and thoroughly disciplined troops acting against an ill-prepared mob.
Compare that to Julius Caesar’s account: “Veni, vidi, vici.”
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
That was the message he sent to Rome. It’s succinct. It’s direct. It’s to the point. It tells of a swift and decisive…
