HOW TO CRAFT A MIND BLOWING MAGIC SYSTEM (that feels realer than life)

From wizardry, to spells, to rings of power, to lost prophecies and deep curses, there's something about magic that has collectively captured our hearts as readers and viewers. Well written magic can catapult us into the stratosphere of immersive mystical realms. But how do we achieve a successful, well-built magic system? How can we ensure that our magic system won't "paint us into a corner" or lower the stakes for our characters by being too convenient? In this magical episode, Abbie and I are diving into how you can build an enchanting magic system that will not only feel realistic and immersive, but will leave your readers craving more.
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[@KAEmmons]

ok guys, fave book with THE BEST MAGIC SYSTEM. go!! ✨🪄

[@frankthefreedom244]

Brandon Sanderson magic system are always fun, Powder mage by Brian Mcclellan with different system was great, Modesitt Spellsong was interesting

[@AbbieEmmons]

THE BLOOD RACE DUH

[@femkedeborah]

Idk if it count but avatars the last airbender has such a strong magic system

[@emokekolumban2287]

In my opinion Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia have the best magic system🙂

[@Queennumen]

Harry Potter

[@aaron6622]

One thing I've been looking at is the question of whether magic can still be magic if it isn't mysterious. If it gets studied enough, it blurs the line between magic and science, and people living in your world will react like it's just a normal part of the world. Like cars and electricity have been normalized today.

[@therealmaizing5328]

"Any magic system, sufficiently advanced, is indistinguishable from technology."

[@vasilenapetrova8225]

In some cases I believe that this makes the magic believable. Or, in order to be more mysterious, only a few people in your world could know that magic can be studied and understood like science. I'm not a pro or anything, but even if you look at it only from the readers point of view, I feel like that would make it more mysterious.

[@poetfrost]

Magic and science aren’t irreconcilable but most science assumes that the person doing it can start a process, stop it at any point and possibly reverse it. Magic usually can be initiated, stopping it usually is problematic and reversing it gives a person possibly Godlike power in the mind of the audience. Sometimes in urban fantasy, the blurring of these elements is a common trope. Taking time in a book to dwell obsessively on magical science enough for people to thoroughly process it kills the story. 12:17

[@atlaswashere6173]

I’ve actually restricted myself from using the word ‘magic’ when writing my book (even though it’s in third person) because none of the characters see it that way :)

[@poetfrost]

@@atlaswashere6173 So long as that is the ethic of your world, more power to you

[@PaulRWorthington]

That first point is a recurring joke in the wonderful Pitch Meeting youtube series. Writer: ...and then the hero does this amazing thing... Producer: Wow, that ability must come in handy later when they're in trouble. Writer: You'd think so, but no, they will never do this again.

[@AbbieEmmons]

"how's that magic going to work?" "INCONSISTENTLY." 😂

[@KAEmmons]

WE LOVE THE PITCH MEETINGS! So hilarious 😂

[@eugenetswong]

More Pitch Meeting fans? Oh wow...wow wow wowwow...wow.

[@eugenetswong]

Don't forget this. Producer: Why doesn't he just say "No, thanks" and then just walk out the front door? Writer: Because we need the movie to happen.

[@quasi8180]

Once upon a time had a more coherent magic system than live action mulan

[@lavenderlc]

I haven't watched the live action Mulan, but I have watched Once Upon a Time more times than I can count, so I can safely say that if OUAT has a better magic system (That constantly contradicts itself) then I don't wanna wanna watch the live action Mulan... I'm gooooooood, yep.

[@koteghe7600]

​@@lavenderlcU did good, don't watch it if u planning to do, watch some breakdown of it it's funny how many things they did bad

[@HlootooThunderhammer]

What I like about magic from classic and fairy tales, is that there is a form of logic but it's often based in obscure folk beliefs, superstitions, and metaphors. Like in Hungarian Folk Tales for example. There's a recurring motif of ragged horses eating burning coals ad turning into powerful steeds. Why? Well, supposedly, shamans would make drums from horse skin and the process involved heating the skin over fire to tighten it. These drums would be used in rituals or "spirit journeys" you could say. So the horse eating coals is a metaphor for the character preparing for a journey. And often times the horses would have multiple legs (like 7 or 5) because of powers associated with those numbers.

[@Isaac-me1hd]

I find things in Harry Potter all the time where the time turner would be so useful and could have saved so many characters! Im just like WHY!!!

[@Gwestytears]

You can't use them anymore Neville knocked them all over

[@tacticsogreman]

Because Rowling focused on consistency per book, and not the whole series, that's why.

[@JhadeSagrav]

Yeah, i see a lot of people saying HP had a good magic system, but maybe i don't know what's meant by "system" here. HP seemed more like the fairy tale magic of just "say words, things happen" which... just... doesn't feel like a system, i guess? Mistborn and Abhorsen are, I guess, on the other end of having a much more concrete system with real rules. (And has no one else noticed that "Avada Kedavra" or whatever it is, is like... just "abracadabra"? Just me? ok.) The spells just seemed very child-like of just being "words that sound like what i want." Make it levitate like it has wings: "Wingardium Leviosa." And it worked really well because the book is for kids, so that's great. Just made me head-tilt when people said it was a good system.

[@nicholaslewis862]

Even though I'm writing science fiction, your remarks have been incredibly useful. Thank you!

[@kiterafrey]

Where Blackwidow died the death wasn't about the fall. It was about being a sacrifice and having your soul taken forever. I think if they'd talked about the magic of infinity stone they could've written that inconsistency away.

[@CatoftheStorm]

6:46 "Moth on a raindrop" is such a beautiful saying!

[@starwing2814]

This was perfect timing! I've been struggling with my magic system for months. I have the basics of how it could work but I've been noticing more inconsistencies and how magic tied into the world building. I've been complicating it so much and it feels like people would have to remember the details of how this magic works. It feels like the inconsistencies are getting bigger. I think I have to rework the magic system. Thank you so much for this!!!!!

[@joannelg06]

Honestly I base my own magic system on what i know about esoterism in real life. When you know and explore deep enough, you don't need to create from scratch, just push a bit further what already exists and have fun with it. Also, since it is based on already existing natural laws, it helps with coherency. Also, thank you both for your videos, they inspire me a lot!

[@wowkir]

If I were to copy your example but am a newbie to the topic, where do I start researching esoterism?

[@jchinckley]

@@wowkir ...on the internet, lol.

[@CreamyFire]

​@@wowkirThe Alchemist is a great KZbin channel

[@travismiddleton8218]

Yes this video has been so helpful! I'm currently in the middle of writing my first fantasy novel and trying to figure out the magic system has been so HARD! This video was very helpful and definitely gave me some ideas for how it should be. Thanks👍Great video. Love your channel

[@cmooneycollett]

Really loving your videos Kate and Abbie - they are sparking my motivation and sense that I can write stories that matter. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@milomazli]

Omgggg!!!! A topic JUST FOR MEEEEE!! THANK YOU soooo much!!! 😍😍😍

[@KAEmmons]

Yayy!! We are so thrilled this episode could serve you! 🙏🌻

[@epilok]

The MCU is magical in another way. Concussions don't exist in this universe. People can get punched in the face, fly off due to the impact, hit a wall (cracking it), and then just get up and go back to fighting.

[@KAEmmons]

😂😂😂 right?!

[@akale2620]

It wasn't the fall, even thor or hulk would die if they jumped in her place

[@liliespetals19]

​@akale2620 this. The death location was essentially a 1hko zone that would have taken out anyone. Clint and Natasha weren't sent because they were the only humans, they were sent because they had the most clearly defined, lasting, loving relationship. To the point where they were fighting over who would make the sacrifice to save the other.

[@enyalieTheWriter]

Really good episode:D Especially loved the character driven points. Always great to have your insight to Ideas or Systems

[@VishwaJay]

All of what you guys are saying in this video is 100% the case with everything else I've ever learned about writing. I was sitting in an audience one time (it was a SFF convention about 20 years ago) when Robert Jordan was speaking on stage. Someone asked him if he invented the whole system first, or if he wrote Rand al'Thor with magic. He answered that Rand came first, the magic came second, and Rand's magic came after. Then he went on to say (and I regret I didn't write it down, so this is paraphrased at best, emphasis added): "Like everything else in writing, the process of writing is about structure. When we fail to observe structure, we fail to compel people to suspend their disbelief. Magic is one such system. *You can't write what doesn't exist in your world."* That's stuck with me ever since.

[@blueravenfire]

good timing on this video because i am currently working on a story that does have magic in it. this video was certainty helpful on what to do and what not to do when creating a character that uses magic. thank you. :)

[@spacewhales2118]

💙Yes, this is exactly what I’m working on right now! Had major breakthroughs on fight/action scenes and dialogue. Totally leveling up my writing game! Working on fight scenes ultimately lead me to work on my magic system which is an important element to the story. Can’t have great fight scenes without the magic.

[@KAEmmons]

We are cheering you on!!🌻

[@spacewhales2118]

You made my day! Thank you Kate and Abbie for all you do!

[@kingrichardiii6280]

one thing i stress, and may go under consistency, make sure your system fits the general cultural world view. for example in my fantasy culture mages have a taboo using spells involving fire because in their culture fire represents the soul. if the spell is too vague, or not properly done you may accidentally 'snuff out the fire' with in another person and twist them into a monster.

[@PeachyLofi]

I find it hilarious I was just looking at “Do not cite the deep magic to me” memes right before I clicked on this video

[@KAEmmons]

😂😂 that is fabulous

[@vasilenapetrova8225]

Right on time! Thaaaanksss

[@user-su8yc6xs6n]

This helped a ton with my book. Thank you so much! ✨❤😍🙏✨

[@bessieburnet9816]

Oooo, I just wanna create all rhe magic systems!! All unique and wonderful ideas!

[@aweetodd]

Until recently the problem i had with my magic was the opposite of what most people have. It didn't do enough for the more fantastical things i wanted for later in my story. Essentially my world is full magic stones that work like storage devices and every one in the world had minor psychic powers. If they had a stone of fire they could use their psychic powers to pull a fireball out of it. Ect. I like it but it seemed kinda limited

[@sundalosketch4769]

How did you come to fix this conundrum?

[@aweetodd]

@@sundalosketch4769 short version I added more to it that made sense within the rules of my world

[@aweetodd]

@@sundalosketch4769 long version my magic source always originated from the soul and through my research I discovered that many cultures believe the soul is made up of multiple parts. So I had the psychic powers be drawn on one part of the soul giving me more options. I also made it where my stones could store more than just physical things like time and skills. I'm pretty happy with it and if I can explain it properly it all makes sense within my world building rule

[@zenebornman7917]

Thank you so much!!! Me and my best friend have been co-writing a fantasy book together. And I'm writing a few of my own. You guys are so helpful!!! 😊❤❤❤

[@KAEmmons]

best of luck with crafting your amazing fantasy book! Thank you for being here 🙏

[@constancegoldwing5867]

Kate- just thought of a good topic for you and Abbie to discuss in the K&A show. 'How to introduce a NEW enemy'. This would be relevant for series writers. An example could be The Walking Dead, where each season or two, there is a new enemy that the main characters are facing. I am writing a series, and know at some point there will be a fall of an old enemy and the rise of a new one. Struggling with how to introduce this, and whether or not new enemies need to have foreshadowing, or whether its more ominous to just throw them in to blindside characters? Love your show- keep up the great work!

[@MrgoldenRose]

This was a great video :)

[@macavelli8905]

Excellent presentation

[@Progressive-Boomer]

Hello my friends, Thank you for helping me envision a system of magic , which for me is extremely difficult. I do see myself delving into the folklore I encountered in my" Green years" and harvesting from it. Appreciative🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@TheRoomforImprovement]

Thanks for the advice. The magic in my own series is more of a hard magic and sometimes I get bogged down in its nuances and ideas. But I’ve been trying to streamline it to where it doesn’t take away from what’s really important: the characters. With that said, I’m always looking for feedback. Would you be interested in learning more?

[@notthetrueNic]

I'm still figuring out my magic systems. It's a fun rabbit hole to fall into.

[@flaviohenriques5175]

Ok but doesn’t widow choose and fight to be the one to die? If anything it would imply even more depth in her death, the fact she was the consensual agent of her own death bc she values her friends and humanity so much more. I agree that it’s still p ludicrous of her, as a human, to survive falling all of that height but realistically, they are conforming to a genre standard, similarly to how shonen protagonists can get blasted through walls and survive. I think using and establishing those genre conventions to later on break them is ok as long as it is an active choice that can contribute to further narrative, character and plot development/ resolution for either the person falling or whatever force that pushes them

[@madtitan9432]

Black widow can survive a fall because hitting things on the way down starts the falling process over again breaking the initial fall. Film theory explains the science behind it in their John Wick episode.

[@Senovitj]

My planned magic system starts out as chaotic later to find some order. A lot of it will remain unknown as experiencing with magical powers can lead to the caster exploding, imploding, contorted limps and more gruesome consequences. A bit like Luna's mother in Harry Potter died from experimenting with spells. Some guidelines will be established by societies by trial and error.

[@eugenetswong]

K&A, thank you so much for your videos. I like the way that you chat about topics, because it really helps me to absorb the examples. I hope that I make sense. TOPIC REQUEST: would you be willing to begin and end each discussion video with an example of show-don't-tell? This way every video will give us 2 examples to learn from. To save you time, maybe ask writers to submit free examples in the comment section.

[@antoniotolentino8108]

I have a magic system similar I made certain magic easier well others are more difficult. I also made some magic more scarce. My brother helped me with gods in my story too. I made insanely powerful characters I tried to give reasons why they can’t just do absolutely anything. And put some things in place to stop them but because of the layers I pull back and cause chaos through certain changes. I have item magic as well as animal/creature magic and elemental and wizard magic. I also have telekinesis and telepathy as well as dream manipulation.

[@2006HondaCivicD]

I dont have full fledged "magic system" per say. I'm just following a theme similar to HxH's / Jojo's Bizarre Adventure's rules (trigger, effect, limitation). I write my powers first with these guidelines in mind and set their pontential later when I can think of loopholes and improve upon it more

[@thepsychwizardude3821]

there's this pretty underground series, it's not that well known and only really talked about in small circles. it's a little series by the name of harry potter I think you guys would really enjoy it, idk it's kind of niche

[@joehebert789]

Great presentation. One of the things that came up here is that if you have a character whose role in the story purely revolves on the fact that they possess magical abilities, that one-dimensional character is making your story more predictable which decreases the impact of the story. One could perhaps lessen this impact by making it a morally ambiguous character, but as a reader I would still prefer that character to be more fleshed out.

[@paulturcuman3954]

Hey guys (And girls of course)!! I am just a nobody here, and I discovered this amazing channel. I am currently struggling with a lot, regarding writing. The most important problem of course, is reading. I haven't read a lot of books in my youth (I'm almost 21, so technically not that old. But I feel old🤣) and now I'm trying to make up for it. I know I have to read a lot. But I want to write. And now my writing feels very unnatural. I have these amazing ideas for a lot of books, even a book series that is a deep fantasy with magic, and thick with more (like Lord of The Rings, or The Wheel of Time). But I'm struggling with the ideas, the characters, the world itself, the story. Basically everything. What Tipps can you give me? (Other than reading A LOT, because that I know😂😭)

[@noditschi]

4:58 Since you compared the laws of a magic system with the laws of physics, I will correct you on this. The problem with a lack of limitations and boundaries is not anything possible but rather inconsequential possibilities. "Limitations" are a mark of interaction. In physics, we can often learn about the precise interactions by the boundaries and limitations that we observe, and those interactions provide us with laws... or rather the best possible description of those laws.

[@tomgallier7245]

I’m a little obsessed with what is going on with the monitor behind them, which each of them glanced back at multiple times. What does that pink “bar graph” indicate? Does it have something to do with their recording? Is it a magic systems that gets them more likes?

[@frankamundsen5621]

These guys r like grind culture for creatives

[@skitzoeinhoven]

I love this! Always struggled with writing boundaries. Especially when it comes to magic. Question: Other than Marvel, are there any other examples of storytelling where sci-fi and fantasy can overlap each other in the same universe? Where are the boundaries where fantasy meets science?

[@liamjohnston2000]

Star Wars?

[@RidleyJones]

Sci-fantasy is an absolutely wonderful subgenre of its own (though its own boundaries are quite porous, and people do argue about them). Notable examples would be Dune or Book of the New Sun.

[@seankrug4995]

Great points Kate & Abby I totally feel this way where I liked the character wolverine, one of my favorite marvel characters and felt they gave him a pretty good ending in Logan even though I was unhappy to see the character die I thought it was a chance for marvel to basically start over like they had with the rest of the Xmen, perhaps develop other characters or do another universe with a different actor as Wolverine. But now they’re coming out again with a new wolverine movie where he’s live and he’s fighting against or fighting with Deadpool character. It really makes me less interested in watching the movie. Just makes me think that the character could be killed off and resurrected again, and again, and again and again……

[@CraigJones191]

Nothing to do with the topic, but may I suggest you raise the camera higher and/or lower the microphones? At least, lower the windscreens to be just at the top of the microphones. Especially Abbie's. Kate's (lovely) smile is mostly visible, just occasionally hidden by the mic screen when she leans forward, which is fine. But Abbie's (lovely) smile is mostly hidden when she's talking and it's a bit distracting.

[@KAEmmons]

thank you so much for your feedback, friend!

[@heathercampbell6059]

Eh, Sanderson's laws of building a magic system always made so much sense to me. You don't have to have rules of a magic system if it doesn't solve all your problems (especially your end problem) and soft magic systems can be great. Tolkien/Lord of the Rings in example. But I do love a good, hard-core magic system too, and the more I understand it, the more you can use it to solve problems that crop up. :)

[@gwendolynsnyder463]

what do yall think of the following magic system? the story is set in a futuristic world, and magic powers like controlling magnetism with your mind, or shooting fire out of your hands is obtained through a parasite, that you need certain genes to survive the infection of. This parasite is used by the government to determine people who can fight that alien invasion that is going on in the story, because these aliens infect their enemies with diseases, that end deadly if the people fighting them don't have the gene that makes them immune to those aliens in particular. So for the government, it means that if you passed the power up parasite test, then welcome to the special forces. That parasite gives people who survive it's infection powers, however, it also gives them a dragdown. Both the powers, and the dragdown are random from person to person.

[@neogennorma3217]

Hmm, I do create magic power systems Call Duminia Source. It's the thing I create in the world story build that I'm make call 'Calamity Wave'. I assume it's a legit power magic but I don't know, I need an opinion from you guys.

[@vanessaivlisar1778]

First ♥️

[@godstenrules]

I'm currently trying to write a book and in my book the world is divided by religion and magic,

[@Mark-in8ju]

Serious religion is likely to arise in conjunction with magic since it is confirmation of supernatural forces.

[@betterlifebroadcasting7547]

Gotta avoid what I call “ The Magneto Moment “. Where he realizes he can just kill anyone by pulling all the iron out of anyone’s blood, or destroy countries by twisting the magnetosphere and allowing the sun to irradiate everything in a certain spot.

[@irene2958]

💙♥️

[@2006HondaCivicD]

Ah! Yeah, something I have to watch out for was overwhelming the reader. My 'magic' logic goes by "When (trigger) within (parameters/limitation), my power will (effect), unless (power quirk/limitation). Within these set of rules it can (loopholes). The more complicated the more the reader have to labourously read through all of that junk. thats honestly my gripe with Jojo's Dragon Dream arc with the author overexplaining fung shei and stuff. The anime thankfully somewhat fixed that but I really like that arc less. Yeah, dont give info overload to your readers

[@renatoramos8834]

4:10 Superman and Kryptonite is a terrible example because it's not believable he doesn't die shortly after villains know about it.

[@MacronLacrom]

Why does this look like TV?

[@ritawilliams2880]

Like Ghost. It works then it doesn’t

[@eugenetswong]

Kate & Abbie, I think that you both forgot a good first question for our beta readers: how does the magic/science work? The idea is that readers might be more confident than they ought to be. If they think that they can explain it, but can't, then that is something that you need to know.

[@theresaginaaust6815]

I'm a big time MCU watcher but I'm still trying to figure out when Natasha jumped out of a space station and landed like nothing happened. But even if this were something in the MCU, Natasha was established as basically the best superspy on Earth; and people have fallen great distances before and lived with minor injuries. Most of it depends on if you can relax once you reach terminal velocity (which is why cats have been documented surviving falls involving 2 digits of floors: they relax upon reaching terminal velocity. It could be argued that Natasha could have survived the fall on Vormir, until you take the scene right before her fall in context: she was fighting Clint for the right to die.

[@bobbiebrownn]

Don’t mean to be that guy I love both of you but did t black widow un alive herself 😅

[@akale2620]

Nen. Also, atleast she won't be able to hock pride and prejudice in magic

[@springsteen4ever]

Ummm the whole black widow thing… she died because she chose to. So no, it’s not inconsistent. She could have saved herself if she really wanted to but she knows that death was the answer in order to get the infinity stone… did y’all not watch the movie? She literally threw herself off the cliff on purpose. And black widows are master assassinators, they are trained on how to fall from space and survive. In her solo movie, she actually attempted and succeeded to save herself. To gain the infinity stone she had to sacrifice herself.

[@gregorwalton]

It would be great if you could think about what you're going to say, then make a 10 minute video, instead of a 32 minute chatty podcast. I appreciate that it would be more work and I am grateful for what you do currently, I just wanted to make the suggestion

[@ArcherVegaMusic]

MHA did it right. Everyone had different powers, each having their own drawbacks and limits to push. Bonus Comment: All magic comes with a price😊

[@SleightWryder]

You know a girl is trustworthy when she critiques the good female superheroines. Was not expecting that, but great analogy.

[@max2082]

MCU is just chucked full of bad writers. LOL

[@LovElieLovElie]

i pray that jesus may touches u , in a way that you'll Never doubt of him again

[@mrswan667]

He doesnt want to or he would already have.

[@LovElieLovElie]

@@mrswan667 devil lies, ofc he does ...he just wait for u to be in the place to let him in

[@LovElieLovElie]

@@mrswan667 devil lies, ofc he does ...he just wait for u to be in the place to let him in

[@janemuses3031]

Disney totally butchered a beloved mythical female general character. Adding the stupid talking dragon in the animation was bad enough but at least it was a cartoon. Not going to go into all the bad costuming and settings - with all that money you'd think the set designers and production crew would have done some original research rather than do the "research" based on their own animation which distorted a lot of Chinese culture - lame. I refuse to watch this movie.

[@medievaldruidess]

You are both so wonderful. Love you! 💕 Your videos mean alot to me!

[@merinjacob8511]

Hello Future Me has a great video about hard magic systems (what I think you're describing here) kzbin.info/www/bejne/n36tgpVrl6yolck and goes into a lot of detail on how to pull it off. Another useful resource would be to check out (the legend) Brandon Sanderson's 3 laws of magic. The laws he articulates are a great tool to study any magic system and they're super useful to designing your own.

[@kit888]

I would add TheMagicEngineer to that list.