Magic Systems in Fantasy Novels 101
Ollie Ander
Is probably just a couple cats in a trench-coat—the hair shedding and sunlight napping are highly suspect.
If you’re looking to write in the Fantasy genre, there’s one inescapable literary device you will need to address: The Magic System. Fantasy is most commonly associated with the use of magic systems because mystical elements are its bread-and-butter, but magic systems can be found across all genres of storytelling—they are just more discrete in their execution.
Knowing the types of magic systems can make identifying them in other media easier (what’s trending), streamline your outlining process, and strengthen your world-building. As you’ll read in a bit, not every magic system has to be meticulously constructed, but establishing a baseline for your magical world can be instrumental in ensuring your readers’ immersion.
So, what is a magic system and how do you write one?
What is a Magic System?
A Magic System refers to a set of rules, principles, or mechanisms that govern how magic works in a fictional world. As self-explanatory as it may sound, there are a variety of types of Magic Systems, and an infinite number of ways to harness them. At its core, a magic system is the physics with which a fictional world functions.
Magic Systems do not need to be based on our reality or any current understandings of how it works. Many writers simply find it to be a good jumping-off point to take an element of our world, twist it, and imagine the implications that might have.
A well thought out Magic System isn’t just the physics present in your magical universe, it should be the force which shapes everything around it: from societal structure to politics, technological advances, and even the attitudes of the characters. A Magic System is both the stage your actors play on, and the props they are allowed to use; defining what story you can tell.
Elements of a Magic System
Magic Systems vary from one story or world to another, but here are some common elements to expect.
1. Source
The source is the origin from which the magic is drawn. This could be natural elements, like in Avatar The Last Airbender. The source could be divine beings, like The Poppy War, where wielders learn to channel other powerful beings. It could even be leylines like in The Mortal Instruments.
2. Rules and Limitations
The constraints and restrictions on your Magic System are just as important as its powers. Limitations can include the need for specific ingredients, rituals, or knowledge. There could be a finite source of magic available to a character, or the use of magic could be physically, mentally, or otherwise draining to use.
3. Consequences
Many Magic Systems include some sort of cost or consequence. Be it volunteering a firstborn you thought you’d never have, losing physical health or longevity, or bringing danger to loved ones, a price to wield the power can add another layer of intrigue to your Magic System.
4. Artifacts
Artifacts refer to items imbued with some magical property or significance, such as a wand, cauldron, amulet, familiar, or enchanted object.
5. Cultural impact
Like any facet of world-building for a fantasy story, your Magic System will likely–and should–affect your world’s culture, social structure, religion, politics, and power dynamics.
Properly developing these elements can contribute to internal consistency, believability, immersion, and engagement for your fantasy world.
Different Types of Magic Systems
There are two broad categories which all magic systems fall under (or between): Soft Magic and Hard Magic.
A Soft Magic System is when the parameters and limitations of the magic are largely undefined to the audience.
The most popular example of this type of magic system is The Lord of the Rings. We don’t know whether the magic Gandalf uses is limited by his knowledge or his power as a wizard—we don’t really know what he’s capable of until he does it. Soft Magic Systems are great at keeping their possibilities open, but having too many options can be its own sort of pitfall.
In contrast, a Hard Magic System is when the rules of the magic and universe are clearly laid out to the audience and strictly enforced.
A Hard Magic system has to work within the parameters it has set to solve its characters’ problems, so its execution has to be handled with care. There can be no deus ex machina here!
Regardless of where on the spectrum of Magic Systems you decide to base your fantasy novel, take your time, immerse yourself in your magical world, and enjoy the process! Developing your magic system is arguably the most fun part of the writing process, whereas marketing your book after the fact rarely comes close.
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