Since my original attempt to dip my toes into writing a novel back when I was 14, I've only really written fanfiction. But through both writing and reading fanfiction, I've found that there's a fundamental difference between fanfiction and most published novels that can help you develop a lot...
Ooo, I'd definitely love to give that first idea a read, if you do write it. I think the dimension hopping aspect sounds really interesting - a quest taking place over several realities. It can make for really complex narratives, and depending on how you weave that in with the mystery part of...
I think for historical fantasy, what's best is to look back at how people in the appropriate times in out history interpreted magic at that time, and inject magic in exactly that way. You can explain it away however you want, after that.
Is your historical setting similar to medieval England...
For years on end I've wanted to write a novel, breathing life into a new universe and telling the story of new and interesting characters, the likes of which have kept me up all night when I first discovered novels myself.
Giving in to the demon known as dread and it's cousin, procrastination...