The Double Writing Method Explained

Double writing is a method that tends to get avoided at all costs.

But magic principles like double writing are often misunderstood.

Double writing falls neatly into the category of "non-commercial methods" that are actually quite good. If a big magic company published a magic trick that relied on double writing for its method, magic forums and the YouTube comments would dislike it. The fact that it is non-commercial means that significantly less public work gets invested in methods like double writing compared to flap cards and trick decks. These are the sorts of methods you're more likely to learn from a professional magic consultant.

Double writing is not a natural feeling action. It requires real skill – but not technical skill. Being good at double writing is not like being good at sleight-of-hand (something you can practice alone at home). Double writing, much like many great principles, relies on performing skill (something you cannot practice alone).

It's worth reiterating this because it's sort of the core way One Ahead sets itself aside from other magic brands:

A magic trick being "commercial" is not a good thing.

Every time you see someone in a magic product trailer brag about how "commercial" a product is, switch it off and buy something else.

Poker chip magic is more "commercial" than coin magic because it's easier for magic brands to produce one poker chip style than deal with hundreds of currencies. Is poker chip magic better than coin magic? Absolutely not.

The best magic is not commercial.

Great magicians combine unique presentations with reliable, non-commercial methods, such as dual forces, multiple outs, and double writing.

So let's start with an example of a unique presentation that relies on double writing as its method:

At the start of your performance, you display a small envelope and announce that you made a prediction thirty years ago. You give it to someone safe and return to them at the end of the show.

At the end of the show, the envelope is brought up onto stage and you cleanly open it, pulling out a floppy disc. That's right, the prediction you made thirty years ago was on a floppy disc.

Not to worry, though, because you were always good at labelling your floppy discs. You ask the spectator to read out what it says on the label, and the prediction is correct – predict anything you wish.

Let's outline another unique presentation that also relies on double writing as its method:

You need someone to join you on stage for this next trick to play a game with you. If the spectator wins, they can keep a $25 bill. If they lose, they'll get a participation trophy – no kidding, it's a small gold metal engraved trophy you show off, the sort you might get at school for participating in something.

At the end of the trick, the spectator wins the $25 bill. Before they leave the stage, you draw their attention back to the engraved trophy. You ask them to read what it says on the metal plate on its base, and it predicted the outcome perfectly.

Both of these examples can be performed solo with this method.

The Double Writing Method

So what even is double writing? What are the mistakes most people make? And what are the three elements of excellent double writing that need to get considered?

Rest assured, we'll answer all of those. Spoiler: the key elements are justification, input, and output - and there are specific techniques the best magicians rely on for all three.

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