I Broke Rules Writing the Paranormal Protection Society

As you read the Paranormal Protection Society series, you will run across more than a few magically capable characters. From the first book alone, there’s Glenda, Nelly, Merlena and others.

I neglected to really define magic when I created the Paranormal Protection Society. When it’s relevant (such as how Vance’s amulet works), I do try to lay down some laws, but they’re pretty loosey-goosey.

In doing so, I actually broke a rule of writing I’ve seen posted in a lot of places, which is to have a magic system that is well-defined with rules, costs, consequences, etc. With that said, I have a pretty good idea of how the various types of magic work, but at the same time, I don’t want to spend a lot of time explaining those rules.

Plus, Vance wouldn’t know anyway. (See my thoughts on Vance as a first-person narrator in my article of why Vance is lying in the Paranormal Protection Society.)

The Magical Compromise

The compromise for me is that magic is not a dues ex machina for the characters who wield it. I do get kind of hand-wavy about how it works, especially in Paranormal Protection Society Book 5. In that boo, some things happen out in the open that should expose the existence of twelve-foot-tall pig fae to the mundanes, but again, that’s not what the story is about.

In my writing, magic is just kind of there. Sarah can shoot fire balls. Nelly can fire force bolts. When they do, it should not be a surprise to the reader and their ability to do so is really no more powerful that Vance’s claws, Grishspeaker’s sword or Kolchan’s vampiric strength.

For PPS Magic, Consistency is Key

In the end, what I strive for is consistency in my magic. The magic should do reasonable things based on past uses. However, Glenda is a lot more powerful than she lets on, but unknown to Vance, the fae have a general agreement not to cast anything too powerful lest the attract attention from ancient enemies that will be explored in the novel I’m working on currently entitled “Historical Book 1” (working title.)

If you’re a writer and you are thinking about magic, I am going to advise you to define your magic system. Know how it works. I have a general sense of it that Vance doesn’t communicate and that’s enough for me. However, I think maybe readers want a conceptual framework as they read about what magic can and can’t do and that’s probably what I should have done. But I didn’t. I was too busy defining fake PPS cuss words.

But like every writer’s rule, you can break them if know why. For me, I didn’t think it would aid the story. If you don’t think so, leave a comment?