G is for Grimoire

Magical Records

No matter what type of magic exists in your world, or how it is utilized, knowledge of it will be accumulated and compiled. Magical knowledge is often treated a bit differently than academic knowledge in general, since in the wrong hands it might be very dangerous.

There are exceptions, though. In some worlds or cultures, magic may only be studied informally, or outside an established institution. Perhaps it is passed from a mother to her daughter, or from a master to an apprentice. They may rely on records and journals kept by those before them, and not textbooks.

Whether magical knowledge is passed down through hands-on learning, encoded spell books, or rigorous academic study, the knowledge must be maintained somehow.

Worldbuilding Exercises:

What is the most valuable piece of magical knowledge in your fictional world? What form does it take? This might be something passed down through oral tradition, or some obscure spell in a someone’s private journal.

Why might magical knowledge not be recorded?

View 2019 A-Z Participant list here.

Rebekah Loper, Author of A-Zs of Worldbuilding

Rebekah Loper began creating epic worlds and stories as a child and never stopped. She is the author of The A-Zs of Worldbuilding series, and has a fantasy novella published in Beatitudes and Woes: A Speculative Fiction Anthology.

She lives in Tulsa, OK with her husband, dog, two formerly feral cats, a small flock of feathered dragons (…ok, ok, they’re chickens), and an extensive tea collection. When she is not writing, she can be found battling the elements in an effort to create a productive, permaculture urban homestead.

rebekahloper.com