Today’s topic comes from QSFer R.l. Merrill: “Part of the reason I’ve only written one paranormal is because I don’t think I’d have anything original to say on the topic of shapeshifters, vamps, etc. I do like to include elements of magic in my contemporary romances, but it’s more a part of the characters than part of the story line… I’d love to read more/discuss more on practical uses of magic i.e. Wicca, Voodoo, etc.”
Oooh, I like this one. I could see this fitting into a number of categories, including High Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, or Magical Realism. In fact, I use a bit of day-to-day magic in some of my own Magical Realism stories.
In most Fantasy, magic is a special thing, used for special purposes. We don’t often see it used for scrubbing pots and cleaning floors.
So my questions for you today – how can we use magic in our stories in a non-traditional way? What conventions can we overturn, and can they be done in a way that shines a light on LGBT issues? How can we use various magics in a practical way in our stories?