Writing Tips: Magic Systems Rules

Writing fiction is a lot of fun. Well, its a lot of things. One thing that can be particularly challenging about fiction writing is writing about magic, or some equivalent power or ability. Its not the dreaming up of special abilities or effects that is particularly difficult, but making those unique powers relevant to the story, and a meaningful part of the conflict within the characters.

There are various schools of thought about how you should approach writing about magic, special powers, or super-human abilities. One school of thought is that you can write whatever you want, however you want. If you want to have a character that can squeeze his eyes tightly and blow up a planet with a mere thought, then so be it. The character has the ability – consequence free. Another school of thought is that the magic, powers, or special abilities that your characters have should come at a cost. There should be a plot driven consequence for the use of magic or special powers.

Its widely known that conflict drives a story forward. Conflict makes us want to keep reading. We want to see what the characters will decide to do, given their specific situation and the consequences they might face as a result of the decisions they choose to make. If the author can merely rely on the infamous deus ex machina to save the characters every time, the reader will lose interest. People read to see characters work themselves out of situations. Readers need to relate. Not many can relate to your character that can squeeze his eyes tightly, and conveniently blow up the planet where the bad guys come from. Your readers want decisions that come at a consequence, and not abilities that conveniently save the day.

For example, in the Lord of the Rings, Frodo has a magic ring which gives him the ability to turn invisible, however, the invisibility comes at a cost. If he wears the ring, the evil forces that are looking for him suddenly know where he is. Also, every time he uses the ring he becomes more of a slave to it. It has power over him. The consequence is magical. If he wants to hide from some immediate danger he is in by using the ring, he will expose his presence to the very evil that incessantly hunts him. He has a choice to make, and its a difficult one. Readers want to read this kind of a struggle, and to understand what drives the characters’ decisions.

Next, let’s consider Harry Potter. There are a set of rules in place that tell him the cannot use magic outside of his wizard’s school. There are many situations Harry finds himself in where he would love to use magic to defend himself, or to get revenge on someone who is doing him harm. However, if he were to use magic, he would risk expulsion from school. Again, magic comes at a cost to the magic user.

As you are pondering how magic will work in your story, consider what is important to your character, and associate the cost of using the power with this important thing. In the examples above, Frodo can’t risk being consumed by the ring. He has to destroy it, or it will destroy him like it did Golumn. Harry Potter feels his true home is at Hogwarts, and to be expelled due to some careless act would be too much to bare as it would consign him to a life with the Dursleys. By having these powers come at such a high risk to what the characters value, you will be adding true conflict – internal conflict – that readers relish.

What does this mean for your writing? Simply put, there is an established pattern for magic systems in successful writing. If you want to make your writinig magical, you will follow them. So, what are the writing rules for magic systems?

First, you have to establish a set of rules. These rules should clearly convey what the magic is, and the consequence for using it. These rules should be related to your plot, and to your story. Do not arbitrarily create magic and consequences. The most powerful writing ties the magic and its consequences to the story.

Next, have someone (or something) deliver the rules of the magic system to your character. This can take many forms in writing. One example is the archetypal old wiseman such as in Eragon, or Star Wars. This person’s role is to deliver and teach the rules of the other world to the main character. This is the mentor that helps the main character prepare to face the antagonist in the story. Often times this includes teaching the main character the magic of the other world, and how to use it without feeling the brunt of the consequences. There are other devices that can be used, and you should explore them all.

Following the introduction of the rules to your characters, you will then want to create scenarios in which to put your characters that test these very rules. If Harry Potter was given the rule to not use magic outside of school, but he had no real reason to want to use it outside of school,that rule would be worthless because it wouldn’t drive any conflict. However, when his life outside of school is made to be unfair, and he is treated cruelly, we can all relate to how he feels. We know he has the power to change his circumstances with magic, but he has to consider the cost. So, in your writing, you need to create situations in which the cost of using magic is something that risks what the character holds dear. This will create conflict, and your readers will want to keep reading.

Finally, avoid the pitfalls of deus ex machina. Don’t give a character free rain with magic. Its weak, and it comes across as cheating to the reader. The reader wants to read about struggle, and conflict. Make the magic dangerous. Make it risky.

I’m curious to see what you have to say about magic. What rules have you come up with for magic systems? Post a comment here so we can discuss. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

When magic is used, life is drained from the magic user.
When magic is used, someone in the world dies.
When magic is used, the evil force in the story is strengthened.

Happy writing!
Justin