Can you write an article on how to use magic effectively? Too often I see it used as a way to fill plot holes or else it comes across as just overused or something.
In my experience, I always say draw up a system, and rules for magic, and try running it through a game of Dungeons and Dragons with friends to test the rules, and look at the applications, and realistic uses.
A lot of stories either use it all too much, use it inconsistently (A really convenient spell appearing once and never again) or it just disappears behind the scenes. having other people effectively play-test a magic system and scenario situations can be a better way to do it.
The one I always run in to is Magic Vs Technology; If you have people who can just make fire, then there's little point developing flint and steel, and therefore Firearm development is greatly stunted. a Lot of writers sort of treat magic and science as running in parallel, rather than influencing eachother.
I had a relatively good time in school, but even then I knew that put me in the minority.
Schools are basically on a spectrum from daycare to prison - it surprises me how so many people unthinkingly support them, and can't imagine a world without school. But if you've followed my writings on the subject up to now I'm sure that comes as no surprise!
So exciting to have a new Creative Liberty article to read! Very interesting topic, I always hated school in real life, but often quite enjoy the setting in fiction. As far as the real world education system goes absolutely agree that the money spent on expensive university, could be put to much better use enriching childhood with far more educational things. Thanks for the article John!
Btw, with headphones the audio went to one ear alone. And I had been using them up til I started the audio here so it’s not on my end for once I think!
I’m unsure if that’s something you can work with, but I figure I’m not the only person who tends to use headphones over none when listening.
I’m glad this topic has finally been addressed (I haven’t encountered such before, at least, though I haven’t sought it out either) and I have a couple thoughts I’d like to add.
For one, I am inclined to think the magic that draws so many into these stories must be linked to what they desire or wished they could have had, as you mentioned, but I’m afraid in this particular article alone justice was not served to the implications of that for people, individual and society. Will there be more from you on that if you have more to say?
Also at the note of your personal mention of no longer engaging much with school-setting fiction, how much of that is due to the tendency of the tropes as opposed to the setting being one you’ve perhaps outgrown? For me, personally, in recent years I’ve found myself generally unable to relate and enjoy such centered media much at all and especially nowhere near how I used to! I first assumed it had to do with my age (too close to 30 for the little I’ve done in life!) but have found none of my peers, even those already in that decade of life, to feel the same; in fact, most had never considered the detachment and strangeness I feel when I’ve expressed it to them! There is a part of me that wonders if there is something culturally to be said on this, especially considering these friends still tend to maintain many millennial stereotypes such as toy-collecting and being focused on games with “adulting” being a skill only out of necessity and to get away from controlling, restraining parents.
A third thought before I ramble in the comments here:
For an adult who never read Harry Potter nor watched the movies (except saw some clips in French back in school, read some excerpts from French translations of the books - the teacher in question had a huge crush on Snape) would it be worthwhile to read/watch them now? I know general things as the franchise is inescapable and I’ve had multiple friends obsessed with them to the degree she I’m still close with actively brandishes Hufflepuff gear. I’m unsure the quality of the writing itself, however, and after hearing some recollect on The Hunger Games writing style and my own awareness of the awful writing in the Warriors series… I’m hesitant with Y/A fiction for concern it’ll warp my own voice in writing which already happened with Warriors some ten or so years back.
All the best and looking forward to what’s to come as well, of course :)
The writing in Harry Potter is much better than The Hunger Games; the novels are carried by an excellent sense of humour that keeps you going throughout the places where the story lags. I'd recommend it to all ages, though obviously with reservations for older readers, since the story isn't exactly revolutionary.
I think there are broad implications for school nostalgia in society, but question whether it's my place to pronounce upon them here - it seems like a broader cultural awareness and reflection on that part of life would help us reconsider the proper role of schooling and education. Beyond that, I think the differences in people's distinct and separate childhoods quickly overwhelm any pertinent conclusion you might try to make about it.
Sounds to me HP could make a nice easy/side read to have while working through my more serious books on “heavier” topics. Good to note!
On the latter reply, I admit I’ve got nothing further to say in it at this moment but certainly feel dissatisfied to think there’s not a greater discussion to be had. Maybe one day I’ll rip into it myself… maybe.
Though that's certainly observable, it's a wordy way to say "Shared social experience with a twist is an easier concept to engage with."
But that's why it's a trope, it writes itself. You're in school to learn so character growth, the ability to introduce new factors and everything else can be done easier. Character dynamics, friendships and development can be done far more organically. There's no explaining friendship dynamics, and relationship chemistry. It makes the basic worldbuilding easier, and approaching something from a learner position makes everything more adaptable as the story progresses.
You effectively find the same concept in Ursula Le Guin and C.S. Lewis. The Wizard of Earthsea uses the education of Ged and the dynamic of higher education to introduce much of the theory of magic, but also have the cocky, self-assuredness of a younger character to cause the conflict of the novel, and the same is effectively repeated in the Tombs of Atuan. Even if the story leaves these moments, the core points and theory are used for world and character building in a relatable manner, and does so faster than comparable books trying to do the same without that same feature.
A last point would be that a student is a blank slate in terms of personality, skills or abilities. It's the same trope found in Role Playing Games like the Fallout Franchise, you can envision the character however you want to because their only backstory is that they had some sort of education, and any described physical features. Jasper Fforde uses that to set up Charlie in Early Risers and effectively repeats it again in Shades of Grey, having a comparatively blank character with a handful of basic features, and at best some casual anecdotes of "Out of Character" moments that become running gags, which gives you just enough character to be themselves, but enough of a blank slate to engage you as a self-insert; Charlie isn't even gendered in Early Risers, but has just left the orphanage, has a misshapen face and bit another kid's ear off. Charlie's learning of the new environment and the explained worldbuilding seems more natural.
In terms of the AI; It can be a bit soulless, if used too much, but it's good enough.
Cheers for the feedback on AI art. There's a game you can play where you stare at AI art and count the seconds until you find something thoroughly unnatural... There's always something!
I appreciate reading your thoughts on the magic school trope, but I think I've covered a good deal more ground than just your first sentence there ;)
I'd have said that's Confirmation bias. You know what it is, so you look for it. Like Cuneo's Mouse or any other artist's idiosyncrasies. In some ways, those are what personify an art style, but the ones done by AI don't have the personal flourish of it, rather it is a Mistake, done consistently. Personally, I'd try to avoid using on-the-nose inputs and rather take a step back and do more generic scenes that form templates for adaptation later, so as to avoid the AI trying to do the specifics which lead to the problems. Don't expect an alcoholic platypus with a sabre, sometimes Photoshop is easier, then take your rough original input and put that through the AI with low fuzz just to clean it up or put it in to a certain style.
My opening line doesn't do it justice, but was rather a joke for myself. Obviously, the work could not be summarised to a single sentence.
I... personally would not have said Magic School was a trope, Singularly. But rather, a conglomeration of different tropes and basic writing theory. A trope implies the device in it's totality is overused, which may be true for constituent parts but not consistently for the totality, if Isekai/School anime and manga is taken out of account. You do effectively touch this, but don't break it down to the lesser tropes, but rather remain on a surface analysis focussed primarily around the Hogwarts-style Magical School, approached from different angles.
As mentioned, The Wizard of Earthsea plays with Magical Schools and education as key features in the entire series. The Golden Compass, Chronicles of Narnia and various others do to, with some but not all of the constituent tropes.
I'm sure it's a lesson in fellating eggs, but I'd have cut it down and rather than having a sprawling philosophy that generally touches on the constituent pieces, a series of shorter analysis of the tropes found in Magic, Isekai, and the use of education and schools in literature, may have been more rewarding without illustrating that you don't really engage with this style of work, and instead been able to move the discourse to ground you're more familiar with. Normally, I'd have expected this type of work to be Part 1 of perhaps 4 or 5 other articles, a Cabinet concerning tropes and the complexities of certain genres.
But... I'm more than likely overthinking it. You do you, it was still a good read. I've just spent several months editing stories for University graduates, and would argue that they, in trying to avoid more generalised tropes, miss the lesser tropes or misidentify what does and does not work because of inconsistent groupings.
I think you have to have some degree of receptiveness to fantasy in order to be an original thinker. And like you say, it helps to be able to construct fantasies in order to view reality clearly, and not freight it with the fantastic delusions of the subconscious.
Thanks for the feedback on AI art. I'll probably end up publishing a mix of human and machine-generated art, however it's far more efficient to use AI art. (Although, there is quite an 'art' to making an algorithm make art... Took about 1.5 hours to come up with the images for this post, though it's rather fun work).
Can you write an article on how to use magic effectively? Too often I see it used as a way to fill plot holes or else it comes across as just overused or something.
This is a great suggestion, thanks. I'll add it to the list.
In my experience, I always say draw up a system, and rules for magic, and try running it through a game of Dungeons and Dragons with friends to test the rules, and look at the applications, and realistic uses.
A lot of stories either use it all too much, use it inconsistently (A really convenient spell appearing once and never again) or it just disappears behind the scenes. having other people effectively play-test a magic system and scenario situations can be a better way to do it.
The one I always run in to is Magic Vs Technology; If you have people who can just make fire, then there's little point developing flint and steel, and therefore Firearm development is greatly stunted. a Lot of writers sort of treat magic and science as running in parallel, rather than influencing eachother.
I put together a Ravenclaw uniform earlier this year. :D
Anyway, school for me wasn't mundane; it was torture. Anything to escape that...
I had a relatively good time in school, but even then I knew that put me in the minority.
Schools are basically on a spectrum from daycare to prison - it surprises me how so many people unthinkingly support them, and can't imagine a world without school. But if you've followed my writings on the subject up to now I'm sure that comes as no surprise!
So exciting to have a new Creative Liberty article to read! Very interesting topic, I always hated school in real life, but often quite enjoy the setting in fiction. As far as the real world education system goes absolutely agree that the money spent on expensive university, could be put to much better use enriching childhood with far more educational things. Thanks for the article John!
Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading!
Btw, with headphones the audio went to one ear alone. And I had been using them up til I started the audio here so it’s not on my end for once I think!
I’m unsure if that’s something you can work with, but I figure I’m not the only person who tends to use headphones over none when listening.
Good spot; I'll fix that now thanks.
I spotted it with my ears, contrary to regular spotting with sight-filled eyes
I’m glad this topic has finally been addressed (I haven’t encountered such before, at least, though I haven’t sought it out either) and I have a couple thoughts I’d like to add.
For one, I am inclined to think the magic that draws so many into these stories must be linked to what they desire or wished they could have had, as you mentioned, but I’m afraid in this particular article alone justice was not served to the implications of that for people, individual and society. Will there be more from you on that if you have more to say?
Also at the note of your personal mention of no longer engaging much with school-setting fiction, how much of that is due to the tendency of the tropes as opposed to the setting being one you’ve perhaps outgrown? For me, personally, in recent years I’ve found myself generally unable to relate and enjoy such centered media much at all and especially nowhere near how I used to! I first assumed it had to do with my age (too close to 30 for the little I’ve done in life!) but have found none of my peers, even those already in that decade of life, to feel the same; in fact, most had never considered the detachment and strangeness I feel when I’ve expressed it to them! There is a part of me that wonders if there is something culturally to be said on this, especially considering these friends still tend to maintain many millennial stereotypes such as toy-collecting and being focused on games with “adulting” being a skill only out of necessity and to get away from controlling, restraining parents.
A third thought before I ramble in the comments here:
For an adult who never read Harry Potter nor watched the movies (except saw some clips in French back in school, read some excerpts from French translations of the books - the teacher in question had a huge crush on Snape) would it be worthwhile to read/watch them now? I know general things as the franchise is inescapable and I’ve had multiple friends obsessed with them to the degree she I’m still close with actively brandishes Hufflepuff gear. I’m unsure the quality of the writing itself, however, and after hearing some recollect on The Hunger Games writing style and my own awareness of the awful writing in the Warriors series… I’m hesitant with Y/A fiction for concern it’ll warp my own voice in writing which already happened with Warriors some ten or so years back.
All the best and looking forward to what’s to come as well, of course :)
The writing in Harry Potter is much better than The Hunger Games; the novels are carried by an excellent sense of humour that keeps you going throughout the places where the story lags. I'd recommend it to all ages, though obviously with reservations for older readers, since the story isn't exactly revolutionary.
I think there are broad implications for school nostalgia in society, but question whether it's my place to pronounce upon them here - it seems like a broader cultural awareness and reflection on that part of life would help us reconsider the proper role of schooling and education. Beyond that, I think the differences in people's distinct and separate childhoods quickly overwhelm any pertinent conclusion you might try to make about it.
Sounds to me HP could make a nice easy/side read to have while working through my more serious books on “heavier” topics. Good to note!
On the latter reply, I admit I’ve got nothing further to say in it at this moment but certainly feel dissatisfied to think there’s not a greater discussion to be had. Maybe one day I’ll rip into it myself… maybe.
Can't wait for your YouTube channel!
Missed you John- where on earth have you been?
Though that's certainly observable, it's a wordy way to say "Shared social experience with a twist is an easier concept to engage with."
But that's why it's a trope, it writes itself. You're in school to learn so character growth, the ability to introduce new factors and everything else can be done easier. Character dynamics, friendships and development can be done far more organically. There's no explaining friendship dynamics, and relationship chemistry. It makes the basic worldbuilding easier, and approaching something from a learner position makes everything more adaptable as the story progresses.
You effectively find the same concept in Ursula Le Guin and C.S. Lewis. The Wizard of Earthsea uses the education of Ged and the dynamic of higher education to introduce much of the theory of magic, but also have the cocky, self-assuredness of a younger character to cause the conflict of the novel, and the same is effectively repeated in the Tombs of Atuan. Even if the story leaves these moments, the core points and theory are used for world and character building in a relatable manner, and does so faster than comparable books trying to do the same without that same feature.
A last point would be that a student is a blank slate in terms of personality, skills or abilities. It's the same trope found in Role Playing Games like the Fallout Franchise, you can envision the character however you want to because their only backstory is that they had some sort of education, and any described physical features. Jasper Fforde uses that to set up Charlie in Early Risers and effectively repeats it again in Shades of Grey, having a comparatively blank character with a handful of basic features, and at best some casual anecdotes of "Out of Character" moments that become running gags, which gives you just enough character to be themselves, but enough of a blank slate to engage you as a self-insert; Charlie isn't even gendered in Early Risers, but has just left the orphanage, has a misshapen face and bit another kid's ear off. Charlie's learning of the new environment and the explained worldbuilding seems more natural.
In terms of the AI; It can be a bit soulless, if used too much, but it's good enough.
Cheers for the feedback on AI art. There's a game you can play where you stare at AI art and count the seconds until you find something thoroughly unnatural... There's always something!
I appreciate reading your thoughts on the magic school trope, but I think I've covered a good deal more ground than just your first sentence there ;)
I'd have said that's Confirmation bias. You know what it is, so you look for it. Like Cuneo's Mouse or any other artist's idiosyncrasies. In some ways, those are what personify an art style, but the ones done by AI don't have the personal flourish of it, rather it is a Mistake, done consistently. Personally, I'd try to avoid using on-the-nose inputs and rather take a step back and do more generic scenes that form templates for adaptation later, so as to avoid the AI trying to do the specifics which lead to the problems. Don't expect an alcoholic platypus with a sabre, sometimes Photoshop is easier, then take your rough original input and put that through the AI with low fuzz just to clean it up or put it in to a certain style.
My opening line doesn't do it justice, but was rather a joke for myself. Obviously, the work could not be summarised to a single sentence.
I... personally would not have said Magic School was a trope, Singularly. But rather, a conglomeration of different tropes and basic writing theory. A trope implies the device in it's totality is overused, which may be true for constituent parts but not consistently for the totality, if Isekai/School anime and manga is taken out of account. You do effectively touch this, but don't break it down to the lesser tropes, but rather remain on a surface analysis focussed primarily around the Hogwarts-style Magical School, approached from different angles.
As mentioned, The Wizard of Earthsea plays with Magical Schools and education as key features in the entire series. The Golden Compass, Chronicles of Narnia and various others do to, with some but not all of the constituent tropes.
I'm sure it's a lesson in fellating eggs, but I'd have cut it down and rather than having a sprawling philosophy that generally touches on the constituent pieces, a series of shorter analysis of the tropes found in Magic, Isekai, and the use of education and schools in literature, may have been more rewarding without illustrating that you don't really engage with this style of work, and instead been able to move the discourse to ground you're more familiar with. Normally, I'd have expected this type of work to be Part 1 of perhaps 4 or 5 other articles, a Cabinet concerning tropes and the complexities of certain genres.
But... I'm more than likely overthinking it. You do you, it was still a good read. I've just spent several months editing stories for University graduates, and would argue that they, in trying to avoid more generalised tropes, miss the lesser tropes or misidentify what does and does not work because of inconsistent groupings.
I think you have to have some degree of receptiveness to fantasy in order to be an original thinker. And like you say, it helps to be able to construct fantasies in order to view reality clearly, and not freight it with the fantastic delusions of the subconscious.
Thanks for the feedback on AI art. I'll probably end up publishing a mix of human and machine-generated art, however it's far more efficient to use AI art. (Although, there is quite an 'art' to making an algorithm make art... Took about 1.5 hours to come up with the images for this post, though it's rather fun work).