Questions 3: Magic!

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Charles Yallowitz

Gray from Fairy Tail

I realized that I haven’t talked about magic for a long time.  I write fantasy books, so I should bring it up from time to time.  With Darwin’s adventures not being published any time soon, I don’t want to use him as an example.  Instead, I’m curious to see what people think about magic.  Enjoy.

  1. What do you want from magic in a story?
  2. If you could cast one spell, what would you cast?
  3. How has your thoughts on magic changed as you get older?
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About Charles Yallowitz

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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14 Responses to Questions 3: Magic!

  1. L. Marie's avatar L. Marie says:
    April 4, 2025 at 10:53 am
    1. I don’t mind a lot or a little magic as long as it makes sense for the world. However, I like a cost associated with magic. In many stories, people have unlimited access to power at no discernible cost, which make the stakes seem low. Also, I want to see the wonder attached to the magic. Nowadays some fantasy stories seem too deconstruction minded (in my opinion of course) as if the goal is to debunk the magic.
    2. I need to think about that. 😊
    3. I still love the same fantasy stories I loved as a kid so I can’t say my thoughts have changed. I probably value more the skill authors have in telling a good fantasy story.

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    • Charles Yallowitz's avatar Charles Yallowitz says:
      April 4, 2025 at 12:16 pm

      I’ve found that the unlimited at no cost only works when everyone has it. At least give some fatigue after use though. I haven’t run into much of the deconstruction thing. Is that like the magic is proven to be fake?

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      • L. Marie's avatar L. Marie says:
        April 4, 2025 at 12:46 pm

        Yes. I’ve seen stories of fake wizards but also retellings that are thinly veiled ripped-from-today’s headlines storylines that take the wonder out of the fantasy element. Almost like a cynical version of a fantasy story. I’m not saying that can’t work or that these stories don’t have fans. But I still like a good fantasy story with captivating magic.

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      • Charles Yallowitz's avatar Charles Yallowitz says:
        April 4, 2025 at 2:05 pm

        There is a trend of making magic more realistic. That seems to defeat the purpose. Fake wizards became more popular after that Oz movie revolving around the ‘Wizard’ came out.

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  2. L. Marie's avatar L. Marie says:
    April 4, 2025 at 12:50 pm

    Nothing against fake wizards either if the story is good–like Terry Pratchett good.

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  3. John W. Howell's avatar John W. Howell says:
    April 4, 2025 at 3:33 pm

    I would like magic to take me somewhere I’ve never been. It could be an emotion, place, ot time.

    I would cast a spell of invisibility. Unless it was snowing it would give me a big advantage

    I used to think magic in stories was somewhat of a cop-out to solve issues. Now I believe it is an enhancement.

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  4. coldhandboyack's avatar coldhandboyack says:
    April 5, 2025 at 8:22 am

    I want the magical element to give me that escapism I am looking for. Not to overwhelm a story, but to make it different from my dreary world. These days I’d cast a money or luck spell. As I get older I’ve learned to appreciate those who can deliver the whole experience and keep me from asking why they didn’t just magic away the problems.

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  5. DebyFredericks's avatar DebyFredericks says:
    April 5, 2025 at 10:52 am
    1. What do you want from magic in a story? It needs to be integral to the plot, not just some kind of special feature for one or two characters.
    2. If you could cast one spell, what would you cast? Make people fall asleep. All those people who are constantly so angry and shouting, they need a nap.
    3. How has your thoughts on magic changed as you get older? As some others have commented, there needs to be a balance of costs, whether that means expensive materials or feeling shaky afterward.

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  6. V.M.Sang's avatar V.M.Sang says:
    April 5, 2025 at 3:54 pm

    In fantasy, there’s no real point to magic if the characters can do anything with it. Come to think of it, there’s no story in that case. A problem? No worries. Just magic it away. There has to be some limitations.

    What spell would I like? A calming spell that would work on angry people and distressed people.

    I’m not quite sure what you mean by your last question. Your other commenters have interpreted it differently from me.

    Anyway, when I was little, I believed magic was real. Fairies existed, and other magical creatures. Of course, as I grew, I discovered that the magic I believed in didn’t exist. But, as my tagline on my website says, ‘There is magic in the world if only you look for it.’

    Some magical things: a lovely spring morning with the birds singing and the flowers blooming; the rare sight of the Milky Way in all its glory; the birth of a child (or any new creature); the way everything fits together in nature; the way a kind word lifts the spirits.

    So much magic around and we don’t notice it.

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