What is a Writer’s Abracadabra?

If you didn’t already know, magic is everywhere, especially in our writing.

Sharon's Writerly Musings
New Writers Welcome
2 min readMay 18, 2023

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In what looks like a snow covered forest, a tan-colored glass mug with the words, “Make Your Own Magic” written in black letters is on top of a rock..
Photo by Danilo D'Agostino on Unsplash

Abracadabra, or “Avra Kehdabra,” is a well-known term. One cannot hear it without relating it to some form of magical connotation, being transported to childhood memories of Aladdin and The King of Thieves, non-fiction books on how to mystify your friends with tricks or even a dark spell in the Harry Potter series “Avada Kedavra!”

But Avra Kehdabra also means, “I will create as I speak” in Aramaic. Many times, I wish to conjure up a thought for a new book and speak it into existence! It would be edited and polished and ready for a bidding war! LOL! Since there are no spells to cast or a genie’s lamp to rub (without consequences). We are sometimes stuck in the mud, disappointed with our slow progress.

But it doesn’t have to be that way; instead of wallowing in melancholy and thinking about what has yet to happen. Let’s consider the positive things we’ve accomplished so far. Forget about the rejections, revisions, and redos. Instead, think of the supportive friends and colleagues or the valuable comments and critiques that have benefited you personally and your writing.

A piece of paper with the words “think positive” written in red ink.
Photo by Viktor Forgacs on Unsplash

Think of the power of words and how you wield them. When we bend them to our will, writers can become omnipotent in their own right. We create worlds, people, and creatures. We decide whether they live, die, or become immortal. The food they eat, their clothing, or if your protagonist should be good or evil. Will they communicate through thought or a language or dialect only known to them? The bits and pieces are limitless.

According to Peter Parker’s (aka Spider-Man) Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility.” This adage also applies to writing. Because words have so much power, creatives should be mindful of how they are used and who they’ll affect. Whether it is the smallest child or a grown adult, he/she/they can be influenced by what writers choose to put out into the universe.

A young woman standing in the dark, holding within her hands, a ball of light.
Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash

So consider your abracadabra and how we exercise our ‘writerly’ magic each day. Recognize your talent and remember that it is a gift we should not take for granted.

Hope this resonated with you!

Until next time!

Sharon-

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Sharon's Writerly Musings
New Writers Welcome

Sharon, an author and freelance creative writer is actively working towards publishing her first novel.