Hard and Soft Magic Systems Writers Fail to Get Right

Gina Kammer Author

Apr 30, 2025 |

Build a compelling magic system with the perfect blend of rules and mystery—plus avoid 5 common mistakes fantasy authors often make.

You will turn readers off your book if you don’t fully understand hard and soft magic systems—and get them right in your story. Get this wrong, and readers won't just be confused, they'll stop caring entirely. But I’m here to help you fix that. 

In this article, I’m revealing the critical failures fantasy authors make when creating hard and soft magic systems—mistakes that will lose your readers’ interest. But if you understand exactly what these failures are and why they're sabotaging your story, I can guide you to success in your story’s magic system.

Hard vs. Soft Magic

No matter what kind of magic system you create, it will either be a hard or soft system type.

As I demonstrated in a previous article, all magic systems can be plotted within a quadrant and fall under a combination of two of the four core types. One of those types must be on the horizontal axis—the spectrum from soft to hard magic.

Hard magic systems have clearly defined rules, explicit limitations, and consequences. Think Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, where the magic follows specific rules and readers know exactly how it works. It’s consistent, logical, and predictable enough that readers can anticipate outcomes based on the established mechanics.

Soft magic systems, on the other hand, have fewer defined rules, relying on mystery and wonder rather than rigid guidelines. Think Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, where magic is more mysterious, and not fully explained—its boundaries aren’t explicitly laid out, leaving readers with a sense of awe.

Neither approach is inherently better—but if you don’t know how to best implement these types for your novel, you'll damage readers' trust and destroy the emotional connection that makes them care about your story.

Critical Fails Authors Make & Their Consequences

Let's dive straight into the critical failures fantasy authors make when creating their magic systems—and exactly how these mistakes sabotage readers' connection to your story.

Mistake #1: Too Rigid Hard Magic

The first major mistake is creating a hard magic system that's too rigid and technical. You might have commendably intricate, detailed rules—but when magic gets so complicated it turns completely science (or… science textbook), readers lose that sense of wonder that drew them to fantasy in the first place.

When the mechanics of your magic overshadow the emotional journey of your characters, readers stop connecting. They stop caring about why any of these rules matter.

And really—if you get honest with yourself—do they matter for your story’s arc? Do they help you convey what the story is really about?

Your story loses its emotional heart because the magic isn't serving the story’s deeper purpose—it’s just distracting.

Mistake #2: Inconsistent Hard Magic (or Not Staying Rigid Enough)

Mistake number two: you've created firm, clear rules—but then you break or bend them too much when your plot needs you to.

You may have good reasons, like trying to show a character’s transformative breakthrough. Or maybe all that rigidity meant extra complexity that got too tangled for the needs of your story, so you opted to solve a tricky plot issue quickly with questionable magic. But here's the cost:

Readers sense immediately when magic rules get thrown out the window. They feel tricked, manipulated, and frustrated.

The magic suddenly feels arbitrary—not mysteriously intriguing, but confusing. And once readers lose trust in your rules, they’ll struggle to trust the rest of your story.

Mistake #3: Too Loose Soft Magic

This next mistake is the opposite issue: magic that's so loose and convenient it starts solving more problems than it creates.

Fantasy is so great because it heightens the real-world themes and issues we want to explore, often in ways far more stark or clear than realistic genres. So while soft magic can occasionally work as characters want it to (and how unexpected it is can be quite humorous when it reverses rote reader expectations that way), magic isn't normally an easy-out—it’s not effective for your story arc that way.

Magic should complicate your characters’ lives, adding layers of tension and conflict to push them toward their transformation.

The magic’s rules—or lack of them—are best when they serve that end goal.

Some level of escapism with easy magic is fine, but that’s not going to sustain a whole novel on its own. Readers will lose the stakes, which diminishes their ability to care. There’s not enough to root for, hope for, fear for. There’s no real reason to want to see a character struggle and change. But that’s one of the subconscious desires readers want from a story—to vicariously experience that struggle and growth.

With too-soft soft magic, the story feels unearned, unrealistic—even by fantasy standards. Instead of drawing readers into your magical world, you're pushing them to apathy.

Mistake #4: Neglecting Limits in Soft Magic

Another critical mistake is having a soft magic system with no discernible limits. This is similar to the previous mistake, but it’s a nuance I see more often.

Magic might not actually solve everything in your story, but… readers don’t know why it couldn’t. Even mysterious magic must have some boundaries and consistency—otherwise, readers have no way to anticipate, guess, or care about what's possible.

Without some clear or implied limits, the magic reads as random and unpredictable—not intriguing, but frustrating.

Readers can't invest emotionally in something they can’t even grasp, so they disengage, losing interest and emotional attachment to your characters and their challenges.

Mistake #5: Not Putting the Spectrum to Use (Most Critical)

Perhaps most critically—authors who don’t understand that magic systems live on a spectrum from soft to hard go to either extreme end. In doing so, they fail to recognize what’s good about both sides.

Ironically, I see this mistake most often with authors who are all-in on their chosen system type.

Mostly it’s with hard magic authors who get too caught up in creating the system to be absolutely plot-hole-proof. They want their stories to have such clear limits and intricate workings to make sure everything is explained soundly that they lose sight of what makes that technicality useful in their stories. And, simply, what makes magic magical.

But, the same thing happens in the opposite way with soft magic authors. It’s just not as obvious. Perhaps this is because so often for them, soft magic becomes the default because it was the rough draft (or zero draft) stand-in before they really focused on the system for the magic (which is a totally valid way to go about writing while making sure the story arc is the real focus, by the way!).

They care so much about the story, which is great, but then they neglect to really consider what level of rules and limits and intricacies would best serve that story. Or, by that point, they’ve created too many inconsistencies with how they need the magic to be used in their plots that they didn't know how to write themselves out of when they tried to solidify the magic system in revision.

It's at this point they (usually completely self-aware) justify their manuscript’s magic system problems by insisting it’s just a super soft and mysterious one. However, this means they’re not making it work hard for their stories’ purposes.

At both extremes, your readers miss out on that "best of both worlds" feeling—where rules and mystery coexist, giving readers just enough clarity to invest emotionally, yet enough unpredictability to feel the sense of magical wonder—of something bigger and greater.

Without this careful balance, your magic—and your story—loses depth, intrigue, and the chance to deliver that page-turning suspense readers love.

Solutions & How to Get Your Magic System Right

The good news is that all these critical mistakes have one clear, actionable solution. The key to fixing magic-system mistakes—whether your magic is hard or soft—is always including clear, story-driven limits and meaningful consequences.

Limits and Consequences: Your Magic System Essentials

Limits are what make magic believable and compelling, and consequences are what make it meaningful. Let me show you what this looks like in practice.

For Hard Magic

If you're using a hard magic system, definitely have your rules clearly defined—but also leave room for some mystery or unknown elements that readers can discover alongside your characters.

The trick is to seed in these possibilities early enough so that when the surprising element does emerge, it feels exciting and earned, not random.

For Soft Magic

If your story leans toward soft magic, even subtle or hinted-at rules can anchor your magic system. You don't need to spell it out fully for your readers—but you, the author, should know at least a little more behind the scenes about how your magic works, so you can keep it showing up in a consistent enough way on the page.

Even if your characters don't fully understand the magic, readers will still sense there's structure behind the mystery, allowing them to stay emotionally engaged.

Blending Magic Systems Effectively

Now, your magic system is naturally going to fall closer to one side or the other on the spectrum—hard or soft—based on what your story needs most. Identify that first. But don't be afraid to blend in elements from the opposite end. That's often where the real magic happens for your readers.

When you blend them effectively, you're giving readers the satisfaction of clear logic alongside the emotional thrill of surprise and wonder.

You get to combine structure and clarity with the immersive mystery readers crave. It’s the ultimate balance—logical enough to keep readers grounded, yet magical enough to delight and surprise.

But I get it—I’ve worked with many talented authors, and I know firsthand how tricky finding this balance can be. It's easy to get stuck, second-guess yourself, or lose perspective on your own magic system. You might be wondering right now if you've made your system clear enough—or if you've accidentally written your story into a corner with conflicting rules.

I've had authors come to me after they've spent months—sometimes even years—pouring their hearts into drafts that simply didn't work, often in large part because their magic system wasn't truly serving the story. Their manuscripts were technically finished but felt forced in the part that was supposed to feel the most magical. This doesn't set up a story to become a published, marketable book! Nor will it have as much impact or staying power for readers.

But the authors I've seen succeed the fastest—and achieve the most powerful results—got direct, personalized feedback early in their writing process. They had the freedom to iterate on their draft and brainstorm with someone who understood both the story craft and reader psychology.

How Enchant Your Readers Helps You Build a Strong Magic System

That's exactly why I created the Enchant Your Readers book coaching program. I designed this program specifically to help fantasy authors build magic systems—and so much more—into stories that hook readers deeply, deliver emotional payoff, and keep them coming back for an incredible immersive experience with every new book release.

Customized Feedback

You'll get personalized, detailed feedback tailored specifically to your magic system and your story's unique arc—ensuring your magic always enhances your narrative rather than distracts from it.

Direct Brainstorming Support

In our coaching sessions and private community, you'll be able to directly brainstorm with me to blend hard and soft magic effectively, finding the perfect balance between logical clarity and emotional intrigue.

Unlimited Reviews for Iterations and Guidance

Unlike traditional editing, you’re not limited to a single round of feedback. You’ll have ongoing, unlimited reviews and guidance as you revise, helping you avoid costly, time-consuming mistakes. You won't waste months—or even years—on a manuscript that isn’t working.

Confidence in Your Story’s Marketability

You'll know what to do to make your book publishable. You'll have the step-by-step process so you can polish your manuscript with confidence, knowing your magic system and overall story are designed to create the kind of emotional connection and immersive experience that readers crave.

🎥 Client Success Stories

But don’t just take my word for it—listen to what authors inside Enchant Your Readers have experienced working through their science fiction or fantasy stories with me:

[Insert brief compilation of direct client testimonials here—emotional, short snippets highlighting clear results, excitement, and transformations.]

Ready to Craft a Magic System Readers Love?

If you're serious about writing and publishing fantasy novels readers will fall deeply in love with, don't guess your way through it, struggling with all the uncertainty and imposter syndrome alone.

Let’s make your magic—and your entire story—into a novel readers can’t stop thinking about.

Click HERE right now to join Enchant Your Readers, and finally craft a magic system readers absolutely love to nerd out about.

Categories: : creativity, magic systems, novel planning, worldbuilding