The Cost of Magic

You can buy magic - where?

To have a magic system that is believable it needs rules and a cost or consequence.

When Frodo uses the ring Sauron can see him.
In Dune the magic is linked to religion and politics- the cost of using it has huge ramifications.
Magic is often addictive.
A superhero's magic has limits.

Create an Awesome Magic System -

Understand - the reader needs to understand the rules of the magic and how it works before it is used to solve a conflict. The writer need to understand the magic to see where conflicts may be created. But have an element of mystery to the magic too. Let the character find out more as the story progresses.In Harry Potter new magic rules are learnt as the characters progress through the school.

Limitations- sometimes the limitations are more interesting than the magic. In the case of a superpower the limitation is what makes the character more likeable, more human.

Be Clever - give your characters magic but have them use it in a surprising way. Maybe the hero discovers  no man can kill the monster. He needs to find a woman to do it for him.

Be Realistic - if magic is telekinesis don't move goods by carriage or train - unless there is a reason for this. If magic creates light then candle makers and wax makers go out of business.

Be Emotional - the character may have to learn the cost - and live with the cost. Creates tension, conflict, dilemma. The character need to be changed by the magic. 

Be Descriptive - What does it feel like to hold, wield, create, release magic? Use all the senses to help the reader with their desire to be magical too.

Be Unique - take a common magic cost and twist it. Using magic makes you age becomes using magic makes the people you love age. It can be a tool, a language, a gift, an art, good, evil, inherited, found. Is it an internal or external magic? 




Now go and create Magic - 
As a writer you are creating something from nothing. 
You have an internal magic which flows through your fingers. 
You know the cost.