Making A Magic System Seem Realistic:

Making a magic system seem realistic:

I came across some typed up notes from a previous session of life universe and everything panel. Here are the notes on writing about making a magic system seem realistic.

Power must have a price.
Magic must involve a risk.
Magic should be subject to Murphy’s Law. (Kathleen Woodberry)
the more unpredictable magic is the easier it is to cheat the reader.
A story can be weakened by worrying too much about justifying the magic.
Magic must be integral to the world. Plan ahead for prohibitions should be imposed on the magic system and characters who use it.
Perhaps the limits of magic use should be based on in the character. Either limitations unique to him in his world and magic system, or limitations which you as a writer impose to provide conflict and opposition in the story.
A miracle is what God does. Magic is what a human does even if he gets his power from God.
Magic, like technology, exist to manipulate the environment, and thus must have limits.
Limitations on magic can be physical (within the magic itself) or social. Or both. Social limits can add conflict for the character when confronted with the need to use it.
Limits can also be self-imposed by the character, choosing how to use the magic, for good or ill.
A character with ultimate magical power is often less interesting than one would limits. Morality of a character can limit his power, even of his power is self is unlimited.
If the story is about the magic, the limits should be inherent in the magic itself. If it is about the characters and their use of the magic, the limitations might be best imposed from within.
All power has a price. If the magic user doesn’t pay it, then someone else must.
Nero Wolfe’s (Rex Stout) price in his ‘Detective magic’ is his own immobility.
Different characters within the same story can have different ideas about who is paying the price for magic.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
When you can write down the laws of magic, it become science. Magic is non-reproducible.
When a character is so accustomed to magic as part of his/her daily life, will he/she call it magic?