Anatomy of a Magic System

I posted over at Indie Urban Fantasy last week, on the topic "Anatomy of a Magic System".  Here is the beginning of that article, and a link if you'd like to read the rest.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. -Arthur C. Clarke

 
At my writer's critique group last week, one reviewer asked of a fellow-novelist, "Your character used a lot of magic here. What does it cost your character?" Like any good writer, he had an answer -- an answer he assures...