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

Taylor V. Smith

Taylor V. Smith

⚛ Graduate
Mette Ivie Harrison recently published a helpful checklist for fantasy novelists titled, "12 Questions to Ask Yourself About the System of Magic in Your Fantasy Novel." Here are the questions:

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?

Read the full article here.
 
Thanks for the list. There are questions asked here that I havent really consedered when I thought about magic, and the world that I am creating.
 
That was very useful, thank you! I'm a practicing witch but I don't believe I would have, on my own, been able to explain for fantasy purposes the uses of magick in a novel I might be working on. Some of the questions actually make great subjects for meditation on spell work in reality and personal practice.
 
I wonder how many fantasy novels would pass and be able to answer all of these questions in a coherent manner, without crossing lines or breaking their own rules. I bet the number would be surprising. The list asks some really good questions that authors should certainly take into account before penning a magic novel.
 
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