Sleight of Hand

 

"A wallet shows a person's personality and life style. Just like a cell phone, it is at the center forming the nucleus of the owner's secrets, everything he carries on him." - from The Thief by Fuminari Nakamura

How would you approach a story about the mind of a magician or con artist?

David Copperfield, an American magician, used sleight of hand to fool a mugger into thinking he had nothing in his pockets. He had a cell phone, passport and wallet. He used timing and movement.

Nakamura writes, "When I'm making my way invisibly through a crowd, it's a special feeling. You know how time has different textures?  The tension when you're gambling or pulling off some investment sham is the same . . . time becomes saturated. It's ecstasy. Intense moments like those demand to a recreated, taking on a personality of their own."

Prestidigitate with words and explore imagery, timing, and movement.