News / Magic & mysticism

Historically, many writers who have written about fictional magicians, and the readers of such works, have believed that such magic is possible. Fictional magic may be inspired by non-fictional beliefs and practices, but...

Fictional magic may be inspired by non-fictional beliefs and practices, but may also be an invention of the writer. Furthermore, even when the writer uses non-fictional beliefs and practices, the effect, strength, and rules of the magic will normally be what the writer requires for the plot. Fictional magic may or may not include a detailed system, but when the author does not bother to systematise the magic or create rules, it is more likely that magic will be used simply at the author's convenience, rather than as a believable plot element.

In most fantasy works, writers tend to depict magic as an innate talent, equivalent to perfect pitch,and there is wide variation on how spontaneously a person or other being with such a talent can use it.Talents that occur spontaneously usually need training in order to control their abilities. Those who use such spontaneously generated powers are usually not called magicians or similar terms, those being reserved usually for those who have to learn to wield magic.