My Writing Guide

12 Questions to Ask Yourself About the System of Magic in Your Fantasy Novel

By Mette Ivie Harrison 

 1. How is it learned and executed?

2. How is it accessed?

3. Does it have a will of its own?

4. Is it restricted in space and time?

5. What does available magic do?

6. How does it relate to the character, plot and theme of the book?

7. What is the cost of magic?

8. What can it not do?

9. How long does it last?

10. Who can use it?

11. How do others react to it?

12. Why haven't people with this power taken over the world?

These questions are good guidelines for a writer in order to understand the magic in the world he/she's creating. If you can just change the rules whenever you like, you have no boundaries. The characters can do anything because you never said they couldn't. That's kind of...