Sunday, May 18, 2008

Something to Strive For

I found this definition in Dictionary.com

com·pel·ling
1. tending to compel; overpowering
2. having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect


The word, compelling, is often applied to manuscripts. The discussion goes on to discuss strong characters, intelligent plots and unique voice. Yet the terms are still imprecise enough to include that moment of magic when a writer causes an "irresistible effect" on the reader to obtain his or her "acute admiration." There can be nothing wishy washy about acute admiration. It is an arrow to the heart, that causes the reader to fall in love with written words.

No comments: