06/16/2022
Your imagination is your limit. If you want a character to fly then let them fly. However ask yourself, why are they flying, does it fit their ability or scene? Character building is important.
I was asked by an author how to make her witch more realistic. She wanted to know what spell shadow work was.
Starting with the first part of her question. Much of it depends on the realism expected. Is the witch modern or from another world? Are you describing the craft and the characters beliefs. Witchcraft has some common core beliefs but depending on the practitioner, their beliefs can differ greatly. Witches and witchcraft are not the same thing.
Research is important when writing. If you need help with the mechanics of something or what a word means it helps there are so many resources to find answers from. If your writing about a character who never flew a plane but needs to land it for emergency situations, you would research plane crashes and successful plane landings in emergencies. If it's how to hold a wand, there is no limit. There are so many variations you can truly create your own way. There are some who prefer certain methods and reasons for holding a wand. Either being affected by energy it's grounding/putting out or how it connects with the user.
Visualization helps a lot. I like to imagine the character in front of me, how do they appear, smell, behave. Write out on paper a conversation with them, even if it's only discussing drinking coffee or that they need a shower. How did they react, how did you approach it? Allow yourself to be creative and honest.
Lastly, shadow work is a way to work on yourself, it's self improvement and emotional self healing.
Don't hold yourself back as a writer, ask questions, be creative, practice and don't be so hard on yourself. Not everyone will like what you wrote, that's fine, it's your story not theirs. Follow your passion.