A compelling magic system is a cornerstone of any great fantasy novel. But magic can come in many forms, and from many sources. If you try to incorporate too many varieties in your story without clear parameters, you risk confusing or even alienating your readers.

What’s a writer to do? Don’t worry – we’ll give you some key tips and ideas for balancing your magical world in a way that’s both engaging and accessible.

What exactly is a ‘magic system’?

First, let’s define what exactly we mean by ‘magic system’. A magic system is an outline of the rules, conventions, and limitations of any otherworldly power in your story.

When incorporating magic into your story world, you should have a basic understanding of what magic can and can’t do, where it comes from, who has access to it, how it’s viewed by their broader society, and what it costs to use it. Not only will this make your story’s magic feel more authentic, it will help you avoid silly plot holes or ‘deus ex machina’ moments that cheapen your beautiful writing.

We’ll take a closer look at each of these worldbuilding elements down below.

How many magic systems can my novel have?

Is there a limit to how many magic systems a writer can pack into one novel? Not really – you can include as many as you can deftly balance and keep track of. But consider what each system brings to the story, and how they will support or detract from the reader’s experience. If there are too many, the reader could get confused and overwhelmed.

A good rule of thumb is two or three is useful for creating contrast, while more than five can become a bit crowded. Each one should impact the plot or characters in some way.

Step 1: Decide what ‘magic’ is in this world

First, spend some time thinking about what exactly is happening when magic is practiced in this world. Is it a type of energy that can be manipulated and mutated to achieve a desired goal? Is it a way of imposing one character’s will on another character? Or a way of subtly rewriting the blueprint of the universe so that it becomes slightly different than it was before?

Remember, there are many things in our own world that were thought of as magic as recently as a century ago. There are still things that people can’t quite explain today (although they’re trying their best, bless their souls).

You won’t necessarily include this much worldbuilding detail in the actual finished text. But you’ll find it helpful for you as the writer to have an understanding of what’s happening on a physical level between these characters and the change they’re enacting on the world. Your magic system will feel more cohesive and believable to your readers, even if they’re not consciously aware of the choices you’ve made at this level. 

Step 2: Make a list of ways people can access this magic

Now comes the fun part: exploring how the characters of your story world can connect with the force you’ve established in Step 1. There are lots of ways you can do this. Here are a few ideas to get started:

• Divine magic, or magic through communion with the gods.
• Infernal magic, or magic through communion with the guys down below.
• Necromantic magic, or magic through communion with the dead.
• Celestial magic, or magic drawn from the movement of the stars and planets.
• Elemental magic, or magic drawn from the natural world.
• Ancestral magic, or magic through communion with those who have gone before.
• Auditory magic, or magic derived from specific sounds, words, and phrases of power.
• Kinesthetic magic, or magic raised through specific movements (hint: they did this on the TV series The Magicians).
• Internal magic, or magic that inherently comes from within (ie. superpowers).
• External magic, or magic that needs some sort of amulet or sacred object to work.
• Infectious magic, or magic that can be introduced through a drug, transference, blessing from the gods, etc.
• Location magic, or magic that can be enacted by travelling to a specific sacred site.

When developing different groups that use magic in different ways, look for methods that create contrast and conflict. Some of these approaches might overlap, such as ancestral magic and location-based magic, or elemental and necromantic magic. Think about where these characters’ magic comes from and what steps they have to take to access it.

Step 3: Explore cultural associations for each method

With your separate magical systems in place, look at how each of these systems are perceived in your story world. Are there class structures associated with different ways of accessing power? Are some considered more ‘pure’ or authentic than others? What are the different morals and ethics associated with each magical path?

Also consider if each of these systems needs to be studied in depth, or if it’s instinctive to the person using it. Does magic take an accomplished body of academic knowledge, or is it as instinctive as using a muscle? How do these elements affect how this system is perceived by those outside it?

Then, think about whether this magic is done solo, in a small group of practitioners, or in a wider society. Magic can be incredibly isolating and bring people together in different circumstances.

Remember: you’re looking for ways to create contrast between one system and another. By creating different social attitudes, you give your world nuance and depth. This is also a great way to upend your readers’ expectations – set up one way of looking at the world, and then turn it on its head.