What is magic?

[Endymion]

How on earth can you explain magic (I know, I know, you don't need to)?
Is it a power hidden within us (chakra and that kind of stuff)?
How on earth can you destroy a house just by shouting Simsalabim?
Do you ever care to explain to your readers how it all works? Why only elves can use it or why everyone can use it except for elves (hope you get the point).
And if you explain magic as your hidden power that is just waiting to be released, how can you explain that your hidden power is taking the form of ice, wind or teleportation?
Do you ever care to explain or think about these things? No? Yes? Is it a bad thing to care?

[Sheilawisz]

I do not explain in my stories everything about my Magic, since most information about it is really a mystery and I find it better that way instead of creating some science-like magic system where everything is governed by rules and limitations...

In my stories, Magic is a truly supernatural power (not part of nature or part of the universe, at all!!) that is freaking super powerful and clearly superior to everything else =)

[Robert Donnell]

Having a workable set of rules for magic for your universe is important to make the reader suspend their disbeleif.

[Androxine Vortex]

In my novel magic is only possible by reciting holy invocations. Magic comes directly from the gods themselves. But the MC in my novel discovers a way to harness magic without divine assistance.

[Feo Takahari]

I always work within a pseudo-scientific framework, for three reasons:

1): It helps keep you from writing scenes where a character suddenly demonstrates a power that would have been real handy three chapters ago.

2): If your character does figure out a new way to utilize their powers, you can explain it as a logical extension of one of the existing rules. Do this right, and readers will be impressed at your creativity. (Jim Butcher is brilliant at this.)

3): I love science fiction, and I'd be writing it if I knew more science. (Yeah, this one's more personal.)

[Robert Donnell]

Basically you either create rules that give the characters some powers (but not too much) or the Magic users become Godlike in their powers and the story is not interesting.

For example a dragon is spotted in the forest:
A. Mage casts a spell repelling all monsters end of story.
B. Now how about the hero has to go on a long dangerous quest to get a magic amulet that will allow the Blacksmith to make a special spear-tip to kill the dragon? Then he has to use it!

Do you see the difference?

[The Dark One]

I prefer to keep it vague and describe the feeling or the effect rather than the details of how it happens. Another benefit of this system is that you don't have to call it magic. It might be vaguely magical or it may be undiscovered science - it doesn't matter. Only the effect matters.

Also, I don't use it much. Limiting the use makes it seem more real, and for my taste - the realer the better.

[Benjamin Clayborne]

I always work within a pseudo-scientific framework, for three reasons:

1): It helps keep you from writing scenes where a character suddenly demonstrates a power that would have been real handy three chapters ago.

2): If your character does figure out a new way to utilize their powers, you can explain it as a logical extension of one of the existing rules. Do this right, and readers will be impressed at your creativity. (Jim Butcher is brilliant at this.)

3): I love science fiction, and I'd be writing it if I knew more science. (Yeah, this one's more personal.)

It's like we're of one mind, maaaaan!

Seriously, I'm the same way. I worked out a detailed (pseudo-)scientific explanation for the magic powers that develop in my NIP, but the civilization they develop in doesn't have one percent of the science or technology needed to be able to explain it. And I'm never planning to have them get to that point, either; it just isn't necessary for the characters (or the readers) to know how it works. As far as the characters are concerned, they have some magic powers, and that's that. But they are consistently depicted; and in fact the limitations of the power drive a lot of the story elements.

[Lord Darkstorm]

It depends on the system you need/want for your story. The biggest problem I find with magic in many books is that it is made up as they go along. This bothers me. I don't have to have magic explained, but it should have underlying rules the author follows so there is consistency in it.

In one of my worlds (which I will get back to one of these years) magic just is, and most people can use it to varying degrees. This makes pretty much most places built and influenced by magic.

It's really up to you how much of it you want to describe or explain, as long as you know the rules and follow them, then it will keep the story believable.

[ElliotWyndwryght]

Having rules to the magic/power seems like the best bet. Has anyone else wanted to hit the author over the head when their characters easily escape a difficult situation one chapter and then gets ensnared in the next by something simple?

I always come up with rules for the magic/power so I don't contradict myself later, thus frustrating my reader.

And if you explain magic as your hidden power that is just waiting to be released, how can you explain that your hidden power is taking the form of ice, wind or teleportation?

I'm assuming you mean the power being specific to the character, like talents. You could explain it just like that. For example; creativity. Many people are born with it but they use it for different things depending on what they like or what they are like. Some people use creativity to throw parties, others to make weapons, do crafts, plant gardens, or write books. Your characters would manifest their magic in a specific way because that fits their character the best. Is that what you meant?

Personally I like it when the author takes the time to explain the system behind the magic. Weather people get their power from a crystal embedded next to their heart, from the life force in the earth, or from some shady scientific explanation.