Nature-based magic systems appear all over the fantasy genre, but creating something truly unique and specific to the story I’m telling is part of the fun in being a writer. I’m going to walkthrough my approach to creating a nature-based magic system, in the hopes that you understand the world I’ve built a little better, and maybe find takeaways for your own creative work.

Andrew Wilkenson has made a lot of bad decisions. Now he must face the consequences, dealing with the fallout from his not-quite legal timber harvest and unrest within his crew. Eli, as his reluctant guide, holds Andrew in utter contempt—an ungrateful man who harmed his forest and his kin. As they each grapple with the responsibility of leadership, they find common ground.

In the coming months I’ll be working on a first draft for book 3 in the Heart of the Forest series, and wanted to share a bit of behind the scenes for my writing process. This will be my fifth full-length novel draft, and my approach to writing has evolved a lot through all that writing–to the point where I finally feel I have a process to share in the first place.