Writing Excuses

18.42: Creating Magic Outside of a System


Listen Later

How do you write about magic? How do you build a world with magic and spells and potions? We dive into the rules and laws behind magical worlds. We often think of magic as being with a system, but what if it's not? What opportunities and challenges do intrusive magic/emergent fantasy and fabulism create for writers and stories?

Our writers and publishers talk about cultural differences across magical systems, and how you can build a fantasy world that is believable. We also talk about surrealism, dream logic, and how sometimes the belief in magic is enough. 

Homework

Write a scene that brings an element of magic into a mundane place you know well (grocery store, bank, etc.), Try to make it impactful without explaining how it all works.

Thing of the Week: 

The World Wasn’t Ready For You by Justin C. Key


Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

Join Our Writing Community! 

Patreon

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Twitter

Sign up for our newsletter: 

https://writingexcuses.com




Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES
* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Writing ExcusesBy Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,278 ratings


More shows like Writing Excuses

View all
Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,592 Listeners

StarTalk Radio by Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk Radio

14,327 Listeners

The Book Review by The New York Times

The Book Review

3,962 Listeners

Ask Penguin by Penguin Books UK

Ask Penguin

154 Listeners

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

1,004 Listeners

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

1,350 Listeners

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

619 Listeners

The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

The Quanta Podcast

529 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

226 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,207 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

314 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,464 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

771 Listeners

Intentionally Blank by Brandon Sanderson & Dan Wells

Intentionally Blank

516 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

411 Listeners