How to Develop Characters With Magical Skills When
Writing Fantasy
Fictional writers
have a multitude of diverse sub-genres from which to
choose within the Fantasy genre. Examples include
high fantasy (Magic Kingdom of Landover by
Terry Brooks, and Tolkien’s, The Hobbit),
contemporary fantasy (King
Rat by
China Miéville) fairytale fantasy (The
Adventures of Pinocchio by
Carlo Collodi), super-hero fantasy (Lois
and Clark: A Superman Novel by
C. J. Cherryh), and sword and sorcery (Conan
the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard) to name a
few. A common element found in all fantasy
sub-genres is magic in some form.
Fantasy characters
exhibit vast magical differences from one sub-genre
to another. In the short story fantasy collection
Tales of the Warrior Priest by Teel James Glenn,
the main character learns the magic of healing with
song. He’s not a wizard or warlock but a priest.
Magical powers are as limitless as the fantasy
writer’s imagination.
For the sake of
this article, consider some of the more common
magical characters.
Wizard:
Fantasy writers can
portray witches as good or bad. In the Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, the white
witch casts a spell on Narnia that trusts the land
into an endless winter without Christmas, while
Glenda the Good Witch from the North in the
Wonderful Wizard of Oz uses her magic to help
and protect Dorothy and her traveling companions.
For clarification,
a male witch, sorcerer or wizard is also known as a
Warlock.
Beyond the obvious
wizards, witches and warlocks, unique life forms
such as fauns, unicorns, trolls, elves, dwarves,
faeries, mages, telepaths, shapeshifters, heroes
with superhuman powers and time travelers can be
considered a list of ingredients from which to draw
as you create your own fantasy realm.
For example, in the
fantasy novel Windwalker by Donna Sundblad,
the most special of the Windwalker fantasy
characters not only walks on the wind, but has
telepathic and shape-shifting abilities. The goal is
to make the magic understandable to readers and
unique to your storyline.
Combining Character and Magical Traits
Common characters
found in fantasy novels include: Knights, jesters,
kings, queens, prince and princesses, paladins,
warriors, priests, shamans, bards, knaves, thieves,
alchemists, wraiths, nomads, nobles, merchants,
guards, mistresses, dancers, travelers, minstrels,
mediums, spies, barmaids, inn-keepers, wenches,
swashbucklers/sailors, blacksmiths, silversmiths
(and other such trades), slaves, doctor/healer,
archer, and woodsman. This is by no means a
comprehensive list, but a list for aspiring authors
to choose from.
Any fictional
fantasy character included in the list above has
magical potential. A barmaid casting enchantments
with beverages she serves or an alchemist crafting
enchanted medallions bestowing special powers to
those that wear them fall within the realm of
possibility when writing fantasy.
(link) How to Start Building a Mystical Magic System
by guest author Joan McNulty-Pulver
(link)The Cost of Magic in Your System by guest
author Joan McNulty-Pulver
(link)Magic Rules!
Part 1: Types of Magic--The Source Be With You by
guest author P. June Diehl
(link)Magic Rules! Part 2: Limitations of Magic – At
What Cost? by guest author P. June Diehl
(link)Magic Rules!
Part 3: The Art of Creating A Magical System by
guest author P. June Diehl
