By Stacey Graham
Like any responsible adult, I believe in magic. Not the hokey kind with tuxedos and sleight of hand, but everyday magic that wraps around what we do and how we interact with others. Without sounding like a nut: the magic of words. Think about it, our day consists of wishes for others:
-Have a nice day (poof!)
-Be awesome! (What I tell my kids every morning before they board the school bus.)
-Happy birthday!
Even more to the point: I wish you were here, I wish you wouldn’t do that, and even wishing upon stars. See? Wishcraft has woven itself into our language. We’ve become so used to these phrases that we wish without thinking, but there is magic on our lips.
As an author, I use those words to weave worlds, make people fall in love, tell scary stories, and write really terrible jokes. How many times have you been whisked away into another world, time, gender, or reality due to a wish to start a new adventure in a book? As a writer, my job is to make it as seamless as possible for the reader to fall into a wish and emerge many chapters later. Most of the time, the reader doesn’t realize they still have a little wish on ‘em after they close the book—that’s when they recommend it to others.
Wishcraft exists because of the need of the writer to tell their stories but without putting the plan into action, your words are merely whispers, so get out there and start writing! Pointy hat optional.
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Stacey Graham is an associate agent with Red Sofa Literary, the author of four books and a rag-tag collection of short stories. You can currently find her scaring the pants off of readers with her latest book, Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls, and Other Creepy Collectibles. She intends on returning the pants at a later date.
