The tagline of this blog is “writer at play”, but my attitude towards my literary endeavors is more akin to steely-eyed clenched-teeth fortitude these days. I was eyeball-deep in one set of revisions for a couple months; I have since waded into yet another novel revision. While revisions do have their moments of mountain-high elation, I’ve missed just being playful with the writing and storytelling process.
So, to rectify this, I propose to post some kind of fun (playful!) creative exercise every week or so, if only to get my own juices flowing. This week’s exercise is a new magical system, inspired by Miss M.
Miss M., like other three year old girls, loves to dress up. Her base outfit may look something like this: a pink and brown striped and dotted dress (she LOVES dresses), tights with large polka dots (orange being the dominant color), and over that, bright green pants with a large floral pattern. She proceeds to embellish this outfit with any or all of the following: pink socks, ballet slippers, a fairy princess costume, a hat from Africa, mittens, apron, chef’s hat, tiara, plastic rings, beaded necklace, jingle bell bracelet, assorted pieces of winter gear. She isn’t above snitching her father’s comfy slippers, either.
One day, while watching Miss M dance around completely oblivious to the fashion horror sight she presented, I was struck by an idea for a new magical system. What if, said Right Brain, there existed a society in which magical spells were woven into articles of clothing? And the only way to utilize those spells would be to actually wear them? (Or is it the other way around? You could only use spells that were in contact with your skin, so that’s why you put them into clothes in the first place).
First and furious, other ideas and implications came pouring in:
The spells are closely tied to the physical aspect of the clothing. Type of fabric, dye, pattern, cut, embroidery–all played a big part. In order to modify a spell, you can add embroidery, put on a button, take off an inch of hem.
In order to maximize the number of spells available to you, you would try to wear as many clothes as you could. This society would have to live in a cold climate. Otherwise, it might be too hot and uncomfortable to be a magic-user!
Spelled clothing would be passed down through many generations–the bodice of Great-Grandma’s wedding dress could end up in Romilda’s coming-out gown, or as part of Uncle Abernathy’s vest. Magical items would be concentrated in the hands of families, rather than individuals.
Every magic-user (male or female) would strive to be a very good tailor!
The rich would have an advantage in being able to afford better quality materials.
Ballrooms would become the battlegrounds. Armor would be fans, jewelry, vests, shoes.
Imagine, the Underthings of Invincibilty. Ha!
And, best of all, people would match their clothing, not in terms of color or style, but with an eye to complementing magical power. So, why not wear a chef’s hat on top of a tiara, or mismatched mittens?
Your turn! Have you read or come up with any unusual magic systems (allomancy in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn springs instantly to mind)?
What a fantastic idea! Are you going to write it? Are you?? 🙂
Gaston helped me with an idea on the drive back from little bros wedding – magic and photography, but the magic in the flash. You know those really old-school cameras with the actual flashes that go ‘boom’! I’ve almost got a story for it too.
Erm, maybe someday. I don’t have a story to go along with the magical system just yet. And already too many stories waiting to be written!
The magic-flash idea sounds fun. I’m very curious to read your execution of the idea when you get around to writing it.
I LOVE that! It’s lovely and humorous and delightful!
Now as for me… :hem, haw, stares at the floor:
All I’ve got is Calindria, which isn’t anything new (for me). So, hmm again…
I’ll have to get back to you.
Is there magic in Calindria? How does that work?
Hmm… Let me see if I can describe it simply.
The power source is vibration and seems to vary on culture how it is used. In Vas’her it usually takes the form of music or visible light.
For example, singers can grow a harvest, call down winter snows, change the season to summer or spring, smooth out bedsheets (mundane, yes, but they have to do it so why not aid the process), cook food, heal wounds, weave fabric, etc. all with the use of song. The visible light is generally tangible and can be used to create an impenetrable shield, to break down walls, to heal (again), and to do other things depending on the user and how well they are trained. Technically, it’s the same power and can be used for the same thing with either form it takes, but the training is not always the same. In short, the power is creative and anything can be created by using it. (Haven’t systematically fleshed out every way of its use yet, but that’s because I just flipped into the light side of things and am now neglecting the music. :sighs: )
But as for the rules for its use… Things get more complicated.
The vibration is literally a part of the person producing it, and using the power amiss is certain self-destruction, whereas to use the power to heal is to be healed and to use it to protect is to be protected. Further, it cannot be accessed unless the person is already in that state. Someone who is angry cannot use the power. In order to access the light or to be able to sing in the manner required, the person doing it must completely clear themselves of any negative or conflicting emotion, thought, or vibration. That’s why the ones that use the light are called “The Pure.”
I feel like I’m not making any sense. Brain is just fuzzy today. But hopefully that is a decent explanation. 🙂
Reading the above, I must wonder if my brain was turned to mush. :head in hands: Next time, I’ll just say, go see the post: http://writing.smeganpayne.com/1/category/the%20rule/1.html
Will post up a more specific to the usage of the Rule when I’m actually coherent.
I like the idea of using vibrations to do magic. I used some of that with music in the Elinor stories (alas, my notes for all that are buried–somewhere). Can you elaborate some more on how the part of the system based on music works?
I found the price as “giving up darkness” (for a light-user) intriguing. What are the consequences of that to the mage and the world?