Every fantasy book I’ve ever read has some element of magic to it. Whether it’s the existence of dragons, the power of witches, or the sentience of trees, magic—an impossible reality—is the cornerstone of the genre.
Given this, I would be remiss if I didn’t touch on the creation of a magic system. When starting their novels, too many aspiring authors tend to under-develop their ideas. This creates plot holes to patch up (or completely rewrite) later. I’ve fallen victim to under-writing magic myself, so I’ve compiled a list of facets to consider in hopes that you might benefit from my mistakes. By asking yourself a few important questions, you can (almost magically!) stop plot holes in their tracks before they even exist.
Who or what has the magic?
This one, I think, is fairly straightforward. Who or what has access to the power or imaginary, science-defying thing? If it’s an animal like a unicorn, it might just be the unicorn—unless the unicorn is controlled by someone else. If so, how do they wrest control away—was the animal trained? If there is a spell involved, can only a witch cast it, or can anyone use it? When you write about this magic, who or what should the reader picture?
Where does the magic come from?
Is it innate? Can people learn how to harness this magic? Does it come from their life force, or the life force of others? Does it draw on some other energy, or does it make its own? Can it be used up, or is it infinite?
Are there different kinds?
Again, straightforward. If there are spells, can one person cast multiple types, or are they restricted to certain kinds of spells, like healing spells? Sticking with the unicorn theme, do unicorns and dragons exist in the same world, or is there only one “real” mythical creature?
Are some people better at harnessing the magic than others? For example, in my current work-in-progress, each person on the island on which the story takes place has some level of magical ability. However, they each have an “element” and an “affinity class,” which are what they can manipulate and what their capacity is for manipulating it, respectively. A class eight person whose element is water can shape and manipulate water at will; a class two person whose element is blood might simply be a talented healer. Knowing the different kinds of magic and different characters’ access to them is a big part of keeping the details of your story consistent.
Does the magic come with a price?
What limits the magic? Why can’t the characters immediately solve everything with it? Maybe it’s physically draining. Maybe good magic isn’t as strong as evil magic. (Be sure to give a reason why!) Maybe the characters just need to be more skilled, or maybe the magic hasn’t been invented yet.
Whatever you decide, make sure there is a limiting factor to your magic system. If magic exists, the reader needs to know why it isn’t a cure-all, or your entire plot will fall to pieces.
I might get some backlash for saying that. After all, you’ve invented this magic—why can’t you use it to solve problems? The answer: plot holes.
Magic can certainly solve problems, I’m not denying that. But if your magic has no price, no checks and balances, what conflict are your characters facing? What is stopping them from immediately fixing everything? What is the actual plot of the book, and why are we reading it to begin with? If your magic is a cure-all and has no limits, the plot tends to break down.
Also, characters with limitless magical abilities tend to veer into Mary Sue territory if left unchecked. Challenge your characters—give them problems to face, and not enough power to face them, and then show us how they beat the odds. It’s much more interesting to watch.
Is there a stigma attached to the magic?
Are some of your characters superstitious? Do magic-users, or specific types of magic-users, elicit fear or wonder or joy or anger in others? How does your fictional society feel about the use of magic? How does it feel about people who don’t use magic? Answering this question does more than develop your magic system—it fleshes out your invented society as well.
What are some of your favorite fantasy books/series? How did their authors develop the magic system well and prove that to you, the reader? In your own writing, what methods do you use to make the magic become a reality? Feel free to share in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you. And, as always, happy writing!
