: Re: Is it important to research the topic of your novel/story before writing it? Let's say you're writing a story about magic. Does it have to be based on real facts and real magic or can you

@BetL639

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It is probably impossible to fact-check magic because, at least for most of us, magic is not real. You could study existing fictional or mythological systems of magic, but the "facts" you find about those creations will have no more real-world substance than anything you might create yourself.

So unlike many subjects in creative writing, magic does not require a great deal of research and fact-checking. But in the place of those tedious tasks, it offers an even more difficult challenge.

Magic must make sense in the world you are creating.

Whatever rules it operates under, have to be consistent and binding throughout the entire story as well as across all sequels and offshoots. If it is nearly impossible to cast a particular spell during the low-threat early chapters of your tale, it cannot "magically" become easier when later your hero needs to successfully cast it or die. There needs to be a reason why your hero can now do what he previously couldn't. Without such reasons, your magic system is just an excuse for lazy writing.

In addition to making sense, your magic will need to fit your world. You have to be careful not to accidentally make your magic users overwhelmingly powerful. If an average mage can throw a fireball with devastating range and effect, then why do non-magic-users even train for combat. A battalion of skilled swordsmen couldn't stand in a fair fight against a single fire mage. They would never get within sword range.

So, in summary, does the magic in your creative works have to obey the rules established in other fictional and mythological works? No.
...but it still has to obey its own rules and the rules of good writing.

Keep Writing!

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