  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: John~Ashen  
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Fantasy! It comes in all flavors and subgenres. In the realm of the imagination, boundaries become meaningless. I'll be pointing out different styles and offering advice on key elements of fantasy writing. Enjoy  --John~Ashen |
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On Magic
 Just what is magic? Here are the common definitions:
 The art of controlling or predicting events or forces by invoking the supernatural.
The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects.
 Here's a broad definition I like: magic is any phenomenon not scientifically understood. Magnetism, sleight-of-hand, and gunpowder are examples of things thought to be magic before we understood how they work.
Writers love magic. Magic is great—after all, it lets us do anything we like. In particular, it lets us give our characters power with hardly any limits. Magic needs limits, though. Without a sane system of presenting magic in fiction, you run the risk of alienating readers who think you only involve magic when it's convenient to your story. Basically, magic has to be a natural force subject to rules (even if few know these rules) and boundaries (so you can't magically dodge every bad situation that comes up).
Common Magic Concepts
Magic is a natural force that cannot be detected (like gravity)
If you treat magic like gravity or magnetism, you will be able to handle it with a serious manner. It can exist in your medieval world, and people can see its effects without understanding it.
Spirits can intervene to disrupt natural events
Souls are often considered magical, because we don't understand exactly how they connect to our bodies (if souls exist at all, though most people feel it to be certain). If magic is real, then souls from other realms could certainly affect the normal course of natural events.
Mystical energy connects all things and can be manipulated
Much like the Force in Star Wars, this underlying natural phenomenon can be accessed and used to perform wondrous feats. Magic is everywhere, though few can sense it.
Symbols can represent phenomena and take on their qualities
Somehow, the spiritual must translate to the physical. Just as souls are assigned bodies, so might magical powers be represented by mysterious runes or sigils. Summoners use circles or pentagrams to defend themselves against invoked spirits. Crosses can sometimes repel demonic forces.
Some "magic words" have the power to command spirits
If symbols can represent mystical effects, then so can a language be used to help you manipulate magical energies. These words of power are either dangerous or useless from the lips of the untalented.
Connecting to magic energy requires concentration or meditation
Priests must pray to access their powers. Magicians must meditate to recharge their strength. Wizards must concentrate on the spells they cast. And little green Jedi masters stranded on Dagobah—focus, they must, yes. Only the properly attentive mind can access and command magical energies in an intentional manner.
Human subconsciousness can connect to magic in times of great emotion, or need
Under extreme circumstances, those with magical talent can use their powers when not properly concentrating. The results should be uncontrolled and unexpected. Think of it as instinctive reaction, like the primal part of a human brain that doesn't care about fancy details and only wants to survive.
Ability to use magic is innate, rare, and dangerous
If everyone can do spells, the world is too unpredictable. Magical characters are not as special. Absolutely anything can happen, so nothing particularly matters. Don't do that to your readers—let them count on a sane plot with only a few wildcards.
Wands and other ritual tools
Certain physical objects can retain magical energy and help as a focus or catalyst for spells. Wands and staffs (staves) are most popular, but don't overlook crosses, prayer beads, and ankhs.
Popular Examples
In the Harry Potter series, magic is a natural force with scientific rules. Talent roughly follows genetic patterns, including expected exceptions. Spells are activated mostly through a combination of Latin incantations and wand gestures. Children learn different aspects of magic in school. Worldwide magical use is regulated by a government Ministry.
In Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings), magic is the result of one or more parallel shadow realms that exist alongside the primary world. Power most often resides in objects. Occasionally people and things cross the boundaries between the close-realities. Active spell magic is very rare.
In the Inheritance world (as begun in Eragon by Chris Paolini), magic is a natural force reachable by those few with the proper innate talent. Historically, using such talent was imprecise and dangerous until an Ancient Language was organized to control spells. Attempting a spell too advanced for the user is likely to result in death and disaster.
In Summary
For the sake of creating a sane world, think about establishing the limits of your own magic. Over my next couple newsletters, I'll be helping us explore the different magic systems available for Fantasy stories. Let's approach this in a structured way, so we can tackle any question of magic that arises.
Speaking of questions, now is your time to ask. Got a question of magic you want answered? Send it to me, and I'll address it in an upcoming newsletter. |
Be sure to check out Colin's article on magic from Feb'06:
http://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/855
Some enchanting reads, with excerpts:
Notes strung in lilting patterns emerged from human lips and all in the night world trembled from the power that emanated forth.
Jamie took a good look at the newcomer. He was an old man in shabby black robes, with a long, curly beard. He was leaning on a staff.
Now the last of the dead tree was in hearth-sized pieces all around me, and I stretched, my back creaking. That’s when the sun went out.
She looked up in terror as her friends and family started to close in on her. "Mage, Mage, Mage, Mage" they chanted...
"That's quite a long name for such a small boy," he said... "But you will grow into it. Now, may I see your teeth?"
My fourteenth-level mage keeps losing gold - I wonder what enchantment hexed his brain
Some enchanting diversions, with teasers:
What puts the wind in your sails?
What I am looking for is a story with a strong plot above all. And in honor of Halloween,... a spooky edge might get you brownie points.
It's like making a magical story based on the Harry Potter characters and movies, but adding my son as a new character to the story. I know he'll be very happy... |
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~WhoMe???~ wonders: When creating a fantasy, do you create the characters or the world first?
Response: Let's answer this by rephrasing the question. Do you want to tell a story about a certain group dynamic, or do you want to tell a story about a certain event? If you have particular interactions in mind, then obviously the characters matter more. You could have your story in any world, any genre. You might not even know how it ends yet.
However, if you have an event in mind, then the world matters more than characters. You know what's gonna happen already. You just need the politics, geography, magic, and weather to all agree so that your story gets to that particular climactic point. Later you can find characters who fit the plot.
Strange Wulf  comments: Cool! =D I never knew what those flags of surrender meant! I always knew the white flag meant you give up, but I didn't know the specifics. And while I've heard of quarter, I didn't know exactly what it meant, save that it was a form of mercy. Pretty much a bad deal for the soldiers!
Now the black flag is something I've never heard of. Might be something for me to introduce in a story of mine...
 Next month's Fantasy editor: Feywriter
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Fantasy: September 27, 2006 Issue [#1286]
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