This is from a panel I attend about a year ago from the LTUE symposium. Hope my notes will be of use.

• Pitfalls: plots been done, doesn’t mean anything can still be done in a new way. Make it your own.
• Stories with the great magic system, but we characters will not prosper. You need a combination of character with plot.
• Magic needs to have rules set rules early to save revision. Define what can and can’t happen.
• Need consistency: keep the cans and the cans consistent.
• Add complications in plot that can’t be solved by magic system.
• Don’t ignore the easy answer. Reference of you to wear Eagles carried the rain with Frodo and Sam selected drop it off in the volcano.
• Geographic limitation or range or range of affect, or limited resources, plus prerequisites in magic can present limitations.
• Sanderson’s first and second laws: look up authors, list of magic recommendations.
• By not having magic with rules, it can present a sense of mystery and wonder by the use of magic.
• The hobbit: is a regular guy going through Bell was still
• Some magic has a consequence/blow back/consequence. One example is a wizard who loses body parts when doing high magic.
• Magic is not useful unless characters go through your real emotion.
• Magic in a series: add or extract the late magic system to have a new element added through each succession of volumes.
• Make your magic off them.
• Check out Brandon Sanderson’s writing course online.
• Many rejections are due to circumstances not related to your submission.
• Keep submitting to help give you a sense of identity with an editor.
• Send out submissions, and consider rejections as not at this address. Meaning that this editor doesn’t like it, but others can
• do pictures
• the only way you can truly fail is to stop trying

Have something to add to the list? Please do so in the comment section of this blog.