PPP3 - 'Write About Dragons' Learning to Write

I've been looking for ways to improve my writing skills when it comes to creating script and character ideas for stories that I may want to develop in my spare time or to inform projects that could possibly occur. I came across a great series called 'Write About Dragons' (Link) that has a huge lecture playlist of talks presented by Brandon Sanderson - famous for writing the The Wheel of Time series after Robert Jordan.

Watching these lectures have inspired me massively in writing and has given me a lot of insight into how writers approach writing stories differently such as; Character Building vs World Building.

For me, although I've not finished the series yet as there are a lot to  get through, so far I have enjoyed the lessons on 'Magic' the most. It's something I've not found easy in this past as I always want to fantasy genre stories so magic often plays a big part in stories and I've always thought of it as a difficult task to make a 'Magic system' unique.

However, Sanderson explains that you can be extremely unoriginal with magic, you can go with typical stuff like:

- Elements
- Magical Creatures
- Supernatural

But the way you make them interesting is with limitations. He says the thing that sets different fantasy story magic systems apart are their consequences and downfalls, not necessarily what the power actually is.

Examples:

- Harry Potter. Can only use magic through Wands.
- The Wheel of Time. Men lose their sanity when they use Magic.
- Lord of the Rings. The Ring corrupts you the longer you hold on to it.

I had never thought of magic systems in stories like this until Sanderson explained it and it has opened my eyes to how to think of really creative ways magic can be made interesting just by what it can NOT do and the limitations it presents to users of it in a story. I should also point out, that it's not actually just 'Limitations' but 'Costs' too. The difference being; Superman can't see through Lead - this is a limitation. In order to cast a spell in the Saga comic series, you must tell a secret nobody knows first - this is a cost.

Sanderson's writing lectures have been incredibly inspiring and informative and I think even someone such as myself could create some good ideas for magic systems and story arcs through writing even though I am not trained at all in literature or very experienced at writing.