Writing Excuses Transcripts

Writing Excuses Episode 14: Magic Systems and Their Rules
http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/05/12/writing-excuses-episode-14-magic-systems-and-their-rules/
( little points, all in a line . . . )
The quick-and-dirty summary? Magic without rules may be impressive and awesome, but you can't let your characters do much with it. Magic with rules, on the other hand, let's your characters be clever in applying the rules that you have nicely laid out for them to work through. So think about what you want your viewpoint characters to do - be dazzled by the background of magic or actually use it in resolving their problems?