So..what will you find in here, you might ask..Let me explain!
✦ Art tutorials - made by yours truly (WIP)~
✦ Fanarts and just my general Art
✦ Blog - Stuff related to blogging in general, be it either art related or other personal stuff!
✦ Comic Posts- Miraclewish-related posts!
You can also check out my other links as well! Just take a look at the navigation sidebar!
(Psst! If you are on your phone, just tap on the links above to navigate through the posts!)
I'm excited to announce that I provided the voice for Faelyn in the Miracle Wish comic by @sterkiherz! You can hear her now on her character description page, which I'll link below! Thank you so much to Sterki for having me!
Most fantasy can be placed along a spectrum where there are 3 main points: soft magic at one end, hard magic at the other, and a middle ground between the two.
Soft Magic
Magic that is not well-defined for the reader.
Generally, we don’t understand where the magic comes from, who can use it, or what its limitations are.
Readers can see this type of magic being used.
But they can never anticipate when magic will be used in the plot because they can’t begin to guess how it works.
You can’t break a rule if the rules don’t exist!
Most stories that feature this system will have the magic users be secondary characters, allowing them to avoid explaining exactly how the magic works.
It’s also argued that without knowing everything about the magic, it tends to hold more wonder and excitement for readers.
Hard Magic
Has very rigid boundaries.
Readers know where the magic comes from, how it’s used, who uses it, and what its boundaries and limitations are.
We know the limitations of the characters and can understand why they can’t simply magic themselves out of any particular challenge.
Stories with hard magic systems do not need to avoid the main character being a magic-wielder, as they have the capacity to explain to the reader what is going on.
A lot of writers this system because it gives them very explicit guidelines to follow in their plot and creates some more satisfying pay-offs for readers.
The Middle Ground
The meeting point between the soft and hard systems.
We might understand a bit about the way the magic works, but not all our questions are answered.
While most of the content adheres to rules, these rules aren’t fully explored.
This system relies on the reader’s suspension of disbelief.
The main character can be a magic-wielder or not, and it’s up to the writer to determine when magic will be used in terms of plot.
How to Choose a System
You can and should use these guiding principles to build your magic system. Remember that you don’t have to choose one or the other. Your system can draw from aspects of both. Just stay aware of the weaknesses of the path you choose, and ensure you utilize its strengths.
Use a hard magic system if:
You are going to use magic to solve problems
Your audience is accustomed to the tropes of hard magic
You are okay with jumping through hoops to expand your system
Your magic doesn’t convey a theme
Use a soft magic system if:
You want to convey a theme through magic
You want to create a sense of wonder
You want the ability to expand easily
You want to be accessible to a broader audience
Your magic won’t regularly be used to solve problems
Branches of Magic
Like most writing processes, there isn’t really a correct place to begin designing a magic system. A common, and efficient, place to start, however, is by choosing what type of magic system(s) you wish to employ, such as:
Nature-based magic: water, earth, fire, air, and everything in between
Divination magic: see beyond sight and peer through time and space
Conjuring magic: move objects through space over any distance
Psychic magic: master the world of the mind
Life and death magic: tap into the very forces of life, death, and un-death with this surprisingly versatile collection
Animal- or creature-exclusive magic: some creatures just do it better
Magitech systems: the blurring lines of sorcery and science give magic a next-gen, high-tech flair
Eclectic magic: it doesn’t have to be “real” magic to have a real effect
Uncommon magic systems: the unsung heroes of fantasy magic
AALC Method
How to create your own magic system using the AALC (Appearance, Abilities, Limits & Cost) Method
Appearance
What the magic looks like
Makes the world feel more exotic
Can cause problems for characters but cannot solve them
Usually tied to a character arc
Abilities
What the magic does
Points calculated based on magical effect, range, number of people affected, and duration
Characters have a finite amount of fuel (mana) to use abilities
More powerful abilities require more fuel
The fuel does not have to be overt for the audience to understand
If points not overt, cannot solve conflicts unless a cost system is added
Limits
Unlimited uses of magical abilities
Abilities stratified in codified levels defined by their limits
The more the levels' abilities and limits are known by the audience, the more they can be used to solve conflicts
Focused on clever uses of abilities against stronger foes
Cost system can be added to enhance dramatic moments
Cost
Costs must be greater than or equal to abilities to make them dramatically satisfying
Costs can include time, exhaustion, materials, sanity, morality, etc.
Adds dilemma to magic by forcing characters to make choices
The greater the character's sacrifice, the more audience satisfaction at conflict resolution
Each system builds on the previous ones, so that Cost Systems use all four, while Point Systems only care about Abilities and Appearance.
Multiple systems can exist within the same story, and systems can harden over the course of the story.
The Force, for instance, has been a Soft, Point, Level, and Cost System depending on who wrote it at the time.
SOFT SYSTEMS (Appearance Only)
Window Dressing - magic for secondary characters; can instigate conflict but cannot solve it; e.g., Gandalf
Soft Villain - No explanation or upper limits needed; makes villains more powerful to make heroes greater underdogs; e.g., The Emperor
Chosen One - Unknown power keeps hero safe throughout story; can be considered plot armor unless earned through character arc
Sort Hero Incomplete - Curse or positive ability the character cannot control; hero still learning limits of ability at story's end; powers and arc continued in next adventure
Soft Hero Complete - Hero embraces ability to complete arc and solve main conflict; magic must become harder in subsequent adventures
POINT SYSTEMS (Appearance + Abilities)
Points Opaque - Non-explicit reservoir of energy fuels powers; cannot solve main problems without cost option because characters finding hidden energy reserve feels like deus ex machina
Points Hard - Both abiliites and points system must be explicit like in video games; becomes about resource management; easy to understand but takes sense of wonder out of magic
LEVEL SYSTEMS (Appearance + Abilities + Limits)
Soft Level Static - Unchanging power without upper limits; cannot solve conflicts because feels repetitive; power must be used cleverly; e.g., Wolverine's healing factor
Soft Level Advancing - Increased powers or new powers with unknown limits; cannot solve conflicts unless tied to a character arc like Soft Hero Complete, at which point "unlocks" new abilities
Hard Level Static - Unchanging abilities with clear-cut limits; can solve conflicts so long as setup is properly seeded, usually resulting in sacrifice; e.g., Genie
Hard Level Advancing - Well-established abilities with limits; can solve conflicts based upon clever uses of abilities, usually against stronger foes; e.g., Airbender
COST SYSTEMS (Appearance + Abilities + Limits + Cost)
Static Cost - Well-established cost remains consistent for each use of ability; can solve conflicts since based on personal sacrifice
Cost Fluctuating - Costs change based upon dramatic need; costs must be greater than or equal to ability; possible costs include lost time, money, sanity, health, memory, life, morality, etc.
Treat your antagonist as a real person. Their sole reason for existing should not be to act as a foil to your protagonist.
It is the framework of your story that sets the antagonist in opposition. What happens when the antagonist becomes the protagonist?
Have you imbued your antagonist with some of your own good & bad characteristics?
Use a real-life antagonist for inspiration, and give them some love too.
My antagonist wants:
Why they want it:
They will sacrifice these to get what they want:
Others judge them too harshly because:
But they act like this because:
I can sympathise with my antagonist because:
They could change if:
They can't change because:
They are good at:
They are bad at:
Who else loves/loved your antagonist?
Why do/did they love your antagonist?
Antagonist - works against the goals.
Villain - a “bad guy” in the story, often working for evil purposes to destroy a heroic protagonist ⚜ Writing Notes: Villains
While there can be villainous protagonists, villains are antagonists when they’re not the main character of the story, but instead the main source of conflict for the main characters.
VILLAIN
Defining characteristics:
General mood/disposition/outlook:
Motivation/s:
Do they consider themselves a villain?
Do they feel mistreated?
Who or what do they blame?
What is their aim?
How do they plan to achieve it?
How does this cause conflict with the protagonist?
Why does the protagonist dislike them?
Why do they dislike the protagonist?
What advantages do they have?
Are they isolated?
Do they have henchmen?
Do they change? Do they succeed?
How do they...
Treat their subordinates?
Unnerve others?
Try to manipulate others?
Try to hurt others?
Try to antagonise others?
Pursue their victims or wait for them?
Create a contrast with the protagonist?
Change the course of the story?
Create drama and suspense?
What made them a villain? Was it...
An event?
A person?
A belief or world view?
Their environment?
Something else?
FIGHTING
Who gets involved in the fight?
Why do they start fighting? Who starts?
What is at stake for each party?
What is the aim of the fight for each party?
Do all parties fight fair?
Why couldn't the problem be solved without fighting?
Are there any onlookers or arbiters?
Is the fight pre-planned or spontaneous?
Does anyone try to flee? Why or why not?
How does the fight end? Is there a clear winner?
What do they do after the fight? How do they feel?
Does the fight end the conflict between them?
Physical Elements
Do they have weapons?
How does the method or choice of weapon influence the fight?
Is the fight part of a ritual or rite of passage?
Where do they fight?
Does the fighting ground play a role in the outcome?
Is anyone injured or killed?
Are they evenly matched in skill? In strength and stamina? In resources?
Do any other factors come into play?
How does the fight play out?
Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: Worksheets & Templates ⚜ Writing Exercises: Antagonist
Fight Scene ⚜ Hate ⚜ Word List: Fighting ⚜ Morally Grey Characters
Sketchbooks should be a place where you can get messy. No perfectionism allowed! That’s easier said than done, but I think sketching technique plays a huge role. That's why I made a tutorial about my process!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This tutorial is completely free, and you can get it right now by signing up here 💖
have made some pose blanks with thin/fat variations! ive noticed that those handy artist renditions of poses typically dont have a lot of bodytype variation and i thought these might be helpful :)
i have a set of 10 of these available to my patrons and kofi members, id really appreciate any support!
RUNNING IN SKIRTS! To get the FREE MONTHLY How to THINK When You Draw digital MAGAZINE (including NEW tutorials, a YEAR before they appear online!) just send “Magazine, please!” to [email protected]
OK, this is actually from some time ago, but I've followed some recipe for homemade ceramic and managed to make this cauldron! It's not perfect, but it just makes me so happy, lol!
I thought it'd be fun to do a comparison for one of my characters! I saw a post on bluesky and wanted to share in here as well!
The very first designs for this character were made on paper and are from 2017. The 1st digitally coloured version was from 2018. And lastly, the last image is the current redesign, from 2024!
