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dragonjournal) wrote2009-05-03 07:39 pm
dragonjournal) wrote2009-05-03 07:39 pm
Magic
This is an old post, but I really want it accessible for me. So, here it is:
Magic. What's the first thing that that word brings to mind? In recent years, it's probably Harry Potter and, maybe, Gandalf. Possibly, given recent events you might even think of Mr. Robert Jordan.
However, magic has been in stories since people began telling them. Whether it was divine (god-given), or a special "gift" that the person had, magic has often been the explanation for the unexplainable.
The trouble with magic in writing is that it can become a crutch (or dues ex machina) for the writer to lean on, and not have an actual story. If you put magic in your writing, you have to be very careful not to "demonise" it -- meaning making it the reason that all bad things happen -- or make it, again, the crutch upon which everything depends.
So what do you do? How do you stop yourself from doing things like that. Well, actually, I have been thinking about this (namely because I do use magic a lot, and need to know for myself) and have come up with a few fast and loose rules that might help someone else when using magic:
Da Rulez:
1. Magic is science. It is. Alright, so it is called magic, but if you think of it as a formula then it makes sense. Using Harry Potter as an example, allow me to explain.
WM + S = M
What this means is pretty simple: Wand Movement (WM) plus Spell (S) equals Magic (M). Now, of course, there are exceptions to the rule, such as the "random acts of magic" that have to be done to get people into Hogwarts, and, of course, there are some who don't need a wand, but the basic formula works. You can, of course, substitute your own equation. Now to use a far more personal example from Mira and Hyst's story:
Magic is divided into two groups: the elemental mages, and sorcerers.
The elemental mages are born with a Gift, or Affinity, for a single element (earth, air, fire, water). They also have a great loathing for their polar opposites. However, their Gift is in-born, and cannot be taught to one who doesn't have it. Though I am thinking of, possibly, adding a proviso that they have to be taught the basics by someone not of their element. In their case, the following equation holds true:
G + C(T) = M
Again, there are exceptions (Kiri! Don't set the damned forest on fire again! See? Exception.). However, for the most part: Gift (G) plus Concentration (C) [times Training (T)] equals Magic (M).
Now, for the sorcerers, that is different. Anyone can be taught to be a sorcerer. All they need to be is reasonably intelligent, and extremely cruel, because sorcery involves the utter twisting of Nature's Laws, and without that cruelty to act as a buffer, can drive a sorcerer insane (though there is some thought that they're insane first). In their case the following equation holds true:
T(K) + Cr = M
Or to spell it out: Training (T)[times Knowledge (K)] plus Cruelty (Cr) equals Magic (M). Sorcery requires some extreme knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, etc, so it's a harder discipline.
2. Magic solves nothing, but isn't totally at fault either. Alright, so you've choked down the magic is science thing. Now, what you have to remember about it, is that no matter how integrated into a society magic is, it itself is not wholly at fault for Anything. There is, as always, the "human element". Of course, should your magic wielders not be human, you can replace that with your species of choice.
What this means is while "magic" cannot solve the world's problems, it isn't the cause of all of them either. (Hennae! Shut up! We know your thoughts on magic thank you!) The practitioners of magic have to have some of the blame. Meaning that there are going to be good/bad/indifferent people that use magic. Some are going to suck, and be grabby with it, others are only going to practice the magic if they absolutely have to. There's also going to be everything in between.
So, if you have magic, decide on the sentiments that those without it have. Are the users trusted? Mistrusted? Are they the elite? Or are they hunted and enslaved? Something in between? It's up to you.
3. Magic has a cost. It's up to you to decide what that cost is. Magic cannot come for free, no matter what it is. Even divine magic has to have a cost. Most notably, the cost is going to be service to said divine being. However, there will be other costs. Time learning to start, as well as time to practice.
No one, ever, is born knowing everything they need to know about magic. This means training and practice times, as well as finding a teacher, possibly learning another language, or learning to read, or any number of other skills.
It's also got to cost the wielder. Something, anything. One movie I saw once (The Covenant) had the magic costing the wielder life. Literally, their own life force went into the spell/power. In others, it's that you can't make food out of thin air. In still others, doing the magic costs the same amount of effort as doing it physically.
Now, this is not to put you off from using magic. Absolutely not! Use magic! Magic can be a fun, and funny, plot device. Just be aware, when you do, that there are those of us, who see magic as a tool, and a weapon -- or a science -- rather than as "magic."
Magic. What's the first thing that that word brings to mind? In recent years, it's probably Harry Potter and, maybe, Gandalf. Possibly, given recent events you might even think of Mr. Robert Jordan.
However, magic has been in stories since people began telling them. Whether it was divine (god-given), or a special "gift" that the person had, magic has often been the explanation for the unexplainable.
The trouble with magic in writing is that it can become a crutch (or dues ex machina) for the writer to lean on, and not have an actual story. If you put magic in your writing, you have to be very careful not to "demonise" it -- meaning making it the reason that all bad things happen -- or make it, again, the crutch upon which everything depends.
So what do you do? How do you stop yourself from doing things like that. Well, actually, I have been thinking about this (namely because I do use magic a lot, and need to know for myself) and have come up with a few fast and loose rules that might help someone else when using magic:
Da Rulez:
1. Magic is science. It is. Alright, so it is called magic, but if you think of it as a formula then it makes sense. Using Harry Potter as an example, allow me to explain.
What this means is pretty simple: Wand Movement (WM) plus Spell (S) equals Magic (M). Now, of course, there are exceptions to the rule, such as the "random acts of magic" that have to be done to get people into Hogwarts, and, of course, there are some who don't need a wand, but the basic formula works. You can, of course, substitute your own equation. Now to use a far more personal example from Mira and Hyst's story:
Magic is divided into two groups: the elemental mages, and sorcerers.
The elemental mages are born with a Gift, or Affinity, for a single element (earth, air, fire, water). They also have a great loathing for their polar opposites. However, their Gift is in-born, and cannot be taught to one who doesn't have it. Though I am thinking of, possibly, adding a proviso that they have to be taught the basics by someone not of their element. In their case, the following equation holds true:
Again, there are exceptions (Kiri! Don't set the damned forest on fire again! See? Exception.). However, for the most part: Gift (G) plus Concentration (C) [times Training (T)] equals Magic (M).
Now, for the sorcerers, that is different. Anyone can be taught to be a sorcerer. All they need to be is reasonably intelligent, and extremely cruel, because sorcery involves the utter twisting of Nature's Laws, and without that cruelty to act as a buffer, can drive a sorcerer insane (though there is some thought that they're insane first). In their case the following equation holds true:
Or to spell it out: Training (T)[times Knowledge (K)] plus Cruelty (Cr) equals Magic (M). Sorcery requires some extreme knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, etc, so it's a harder discipline.
2. Magic solves nothing, but isn't totally at fault either. Alright, so you've choked down the magic is science thing. Now, what you have to remember about it, is that no matter how integrated into a society magic is, it itself is not wholly at fault for Anything. There is, as always, the "human element". Of course, should your magic wielders not be human, you can replace that with your species of choice.
What this means is while "magic" cannot solve the world's problems, it isn't the cause of all of them either. (Hennae! Shut up! We know your thoughts on magic thank you!) The practitioners of magic have to have some of the blame. Meaning that there are going to be good/bad/indifferent people that use magic. Some are going to suck, and be grabby with it, others are only going to practice the magic if they absolutely have to. There's also going to be everything in between.
So, if you have magic, decide on the sentiments that those without it have. Are the users trusted? Mistrusted? Are they the elite? Or are they hunted and enslaved? Something in between? It's up to you.
3. Magic has a cost. It's up to you to decide what that cost is. Magic cannot come for free, no matter what it is. Even divine magic has to have a cost. Most notably, the cost is going to be service to said divine being. However, there will be other costs. Time learning to start, as well as time to practice.
No one, ever, is born knowing everything they need to know about magic. This means training and practice times, as well as finding a teacher, possibly learning another language, or learning to read, or any number of other skills.
It's also got to cost the wielder. Something, anything. One movie I saw once (The Covenant) had the magic costing the wielder life. Literally, their own life force went into the spell/power. In others, it's that you can't make food out of thin air. In still others, doing the magic costs the same amount of effort as doing it physically.
Now, this is not to put you off from using magic. Absolutely not! Use magic! Magic can be a fun, and funny, plot device. Just be aware, when you do, that there are those of us, who see magic as a tool, and a weapon -- or a science -- rather than as "magic."