Magic in fantasy (rambling)
"See, in scifi I can choose just one element, just this one thing (or two things) that I want to be different about this world, that would allow me to talk about specific things X and Y, and that's it. But with [*******] magic, as soon as you say that it exists, as soon as you introduce it as a defining characteristic of one character, you're stuck with it. You have to weave it into every part of every thing in your universe (even if it doesn't make it tot he page, you still have to consider it when building things). Like it can't just be like OH THERE IS THIS UM MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MAGIC IN THIS ROOM but oh ALL THE OTHER ROOMS AR TOTALLY MAGIC-LESS!
I know there are different kinds of stories possible out there but the point is, magic alters the reality you're creating so fundamentally from the reality we live in [...] that I... kind of lose interest in talking about this magical reality pretty instantly."
~sabrina_il
See, that's actually exactly why I enjoy writing fantasy almost more than I enjoy reading it. I love the worldbuilding -- that cause and effect she's talking about. I try to minimize my use of overt magic (I'm pretty particular about how much is too much) but I like inducing minor effect X, and seeing how Y is altered in consequence. I like thinking about what might be different and what stays the same; what aspects of my world I take for granted. That's the fun of fantasy worldbuilding -- not just the exercise and effort of creating something, but the exploration of it. It can be anything from a mirror to an impressionistic painting of our own world, and it's a delight to find out where the boundaries are.
I know there are different kinds of stories possible out there but the point is, magic alters the reality you're creating so fundamentally from the reality we live in [...] that I... kind of lose interest in talking about this magical reality pretty instantly."
~sabrina_il
See, that's actually exactly why I enjoy writing fantasy almost more than I enjoy reading it. I love the worldbuilding -- that cause and effect she's talking about. I try to minimize my use of overt magic (I'm pretty particular about how much is too much) but I like inducing minor effect X, and seeing how Y is altered in consequence. I like thinking about what might be different and what stays the same; what aspects of my world I take for granted. That's the fun of fantasy worldbuilding -- not just the exercise and effort of creating something, but the exploration of it. It can be anything from a mirror to an impressionistic painting of our own world, and it's a delight to find out where the boundaries are.