What do you think?
Rate this book
Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink: Learn to Write Stories, Spells and Other Magickal Works
Would you like to craft your own Book of Shadows? Write a story? Create Pagan rituals or Wiccan spells for special occasions? And ultimately infuse your writing with added beauty, style, and power? Get your creativity flowing as you step into a boundless world where magick comes alive through the written word. Clear, step-by-step instructions will guide you through each phase of creating beautiful and powerful magickal works. This book on magickal writing offers an array of exercises, tips and terms, and writing samples to help you craft stories, devotional poems, spells, chants, prayers, blessings, meditations, and rituals. By mastering the techniques in this book, your every word will crackle with energy, vibrancy, and true power.
"With the help of this book, your writing and magickal skills will expand and grow...You will be a true magickal writer."
―Richard Webster, award-winning author of Write Your Own Magic
"With the help of this book, your writing and magickal skills will expand and grow...You will be a true magickal writer."
―Richard Webster, award-winning author of Write Your Own Magic
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2008
31 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Read
July 28, 2011"Crafting Magic" By Susan Pesznecker
A great book for someone who just about to travel on the road of the writer. Supposedly geared toward writing spells and prayers the book covers other areas such as journal writing, creative writing and journals. I was expecting more techniques on writing spells then on stories. The author begins her book by teaching the reader how to create their scared writing space. This is done by a ritual ass well as by making your own writing stole and consecrating it. The next step is to establish a routine where in the new writer writes every day. The journal is of utmost importance. It documents growth and change and is always a pleasure to look back upon. Journaling helps make you a better writer and increasing your self awareness. Your journal ois sub rosa meaning for your eyes only. At times writer will experience writers block or be looking for things to write. There a couple things that are helpful. One thing is the free write. You just write whatever comes to mind. You do not bother editing or controlling whatever comes out. THe next is brainstorming. Write down topics that would like to write on. THe author also goes to teell about different genres and the elements of stories. Stuff that you learned in middle school writing classes. The last parts touch on magical writing. Alas too much on regular writing and not enough on how to spells.
A great book for someone who just about to travel on the road of the writer. Supposedly geared toward writing spells and prayers the book covers other areas such as journal writing, creative writing and journals. I was expecting more techniques on writing spells then on stories. The author begins her book by teaching the reader how to create their scared writing space. This is done by a ritual ass well as by making your own writing stole and consecrating it. The next step is to establish a routine where in the new writer writes every day. The journal is of utmost importance. It documents growth and change and is always a pleasure to look back upon. Journaling helps make you a better writer and increasing your self awareness. Your journal ois sub rosa meaning for your eyes only. At times writer will experience writers block or be looking for things to write. There a couple things that are helpful. One thing is the free write. You just write whatever comes to mind. You do not bother editing or controlling whatever comes out. THe next is brainstorming. Write down topics that would like to write on. THe author also goes to teell about different genres and the elements of stories. Stuff that you learned in middle school writing classes. The last parts touch on magical writing. Alas too much on regular writing and not enough on how to spells.
June 13, 2010
Much, much, much recommended for the Pagan Writer! Susan's exercises between chapters are interesting and thought provoking. Her entire outlook on writing mirrors how I've always wanted to fashion that aspect of my life. With her advice, I've taken copious notes on making my writing space magickal, my personal library special, and how to use my every day life in strengthening my writing.
September 21, 2017
I am glad I just borrowed this book from the library and didn't buy it. It basically is an introduction to writing, almost all of which is the same that is taught in grade school. Because its just a repeat of basic writing education I ended up skimming a lot of this book because it wasn't anything new. Also there is very little about writing spellwork actually involved in this book.
September 16, 2022
As a witch who was a writer first and foremost, I really appreciate this book for showing that the written work can truly be magickal, not just for spells but for any genre or style of writing. However, I do not think that I have learned anything particularly new or useful to me personally from reading this guide. I think it would be more suited toward witches who do not write regularly.
February 8, 2024
It really marketed itself wrong. I thought this book would be about using a talent if writing as a spell ingredient, but this is more of a writing guide with a Wiccan flare. Felt mislead.
February 13, 2021
I guess I didn't really know what I was getting into when I got this book. I'm already a writer/avid reader. Like 3 of the chapters were just about English in general. The whole book was definitely for a beginner or for someone who wants to write but never really has.
February 22, 2010
This book attempts to be both a basic introductory writing text and a guide to writing as used in magic. Since it comes in at only 240 pages, this is a book of breadth more than depth. While I can think of lots of things I wish she'd had space to cover, I think she was remarkably successful given the lack of space.
There aren't a lot of books on magical writing to compare this too (the only one that leaps to mind is Write Your Own Magic, although there may be others), but you could fill a library with how-to-write books. Pesnecker's book is necessarily brief compared to these and someone who seriously wants to develop their writing skills will want to read beyond this book fairly quickly. But for those who've only read the standard guides, Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink will be full of surprises. Pesnecker discusses setting up a writing space—including turning your desk into an altar, magically charging your writing tools, and making a writing stole to wear while writing. She talks about mundane ergonomics (how to position your chair and monitor, remember to stretch) and magical ergonomics (meditate before writing, ground afterwards). Standard writing texts are also unlikely to discuss making your own quill or magical ink. Pesnecker not only writes about adding magic to writing, as the above examples suggest, but adding writing to magic. She includes suggestions for writing spells, prayers and blessings, and rituals—again, not territory covered by standard writing texts. I could wish she'd been able to go into some of her topics more deeply, but overall, this is a good general guide.
There aren't a lot of books on magical writing to compare this too (the only one that leaps to mind is Write Your Own Magic, although there may be others), but you could fill a library with how-to-write books. Pesnecker's book is necessarily brief compared to these and someone who seriously wants to develop their writing skills will want to read beyond this book fairly quickly. But for those who've only read the standard guides, Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink will be full of surprises. Pesnecker discusses setting up a writing space—including turning your desk into an altar, magically charging your writing tools, and making a writing stole to wear while writing. She talks about mundane ergonomics (how to position your chair and monitor, remember to stretch) and magical ergonomics (meditate before writing, ground afterwards). Standard writing texts are also unlikely to discuss making your own quill or magical ink. Pesnecker not only writes about adding magic to writing, as the above examples suggest, but adding writing to magic. She includes suggestions for writing spells, prayers and blessings, and rituals—again, not territory covered by standard writing texts. I could wish she'd been able to go into some of her topics more deeply, but overall, this is a good general guide.
September 13, 2012
Disclaimer: I am not a Wiccan, I am doing research on witchcraft for a project (hence the research shelf.)
I didn't get what I expected with this book. From the title and the blurb I thought it would be about writing spells, but instead it's more of a general writing book that happens to be from a Wiccan perspective. Towards the end she does start to go into writing spells and rituals, but most of the book deals with basic writing instruction: how to set up your work area, how to brainstorm, etc. The whole work is Wiccan-flavored, because even the mundane writing topics mention Wiccan/neopagan beliefs and tools, but I was expecting a book much more centered on...well, magic. The information on spells and rituals specifically seemed very barebones to me.
That said, for a newbie writer who is also interested in magick, this book could probably be very useful. I just wish the cover and marketing copy had made it clearer what purpose this book is supposed to serve.
I didn't get what I expected with this book. From the title and the blurb I thought it would be about writing spells, but instead it's more of a general writing book that happens to be from a Wiccan perspective. Towards the end she does start to go into writing spells and rituals, but most of the book deals with basic writing instruction: how to set up your work area, how to brainstorm, etc. The whole work is Wiccan-flavored, because even the mundane writing topics mention Wiccan/neopagan beliefs and tools, but I was expecting a book much more centered on...well, magic. The information on spells and rituals specifically seemed very barebones to me.
That said, for a newbie writer who is also interested in magick, this book could probably be very useful. I just wish the cover and marketing copy had made it clearer what purpose this book is supposed to serve.
February 17, 2012
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!
This book is so incredibly basic that if you've completed middle school you know all of the "mundane" writing things in it, and if you've read ANY Wicca 101 book you know the magickal stuff in it. She doesn't teach you how to write a ritual, she only mentions what needs to go in a ritual--ie circle casting, etc. She doesn't even give you examples. There are FAR better books out there than this one. For "mundane" writing, try "Plot vs Character" by Jeff Gerke, and for ritual crafting try "Ritual Craft" by Amber K. (Note: I haven't read Amber's book in it's entirety, I have only skimmed through it. I have heard several rave reviews regarding it though.)
I would give this only half a star if I could, but Goodreads doesn't allow for that rating.
This book is so incredibly basic that if you've completed middle school you know all of the "mundane" writing things in it, and if you've read ANY Wicca 101 book you know the magickal stuff in it. She doesn't teach you how to write a ritual, she only mentions what needs to go in a ritual--ie circle casting, etc. She doesn't even give you examples. There are FAR better books out there than this one. For "mundane" writing, try "Plot vs Character" by Jeff Gerke, and for ritual crafting try "Ritual Craft" by Amber K. (Note: I haven't read Amber's book in it's entirety, I have only skimmed through it. I have heard several rave reviews regarding it though.)
I would give this only half a star if I could, but Goodreads doesn't allow for that rating.
December 16, 2013
I borrowed this book from a friend and really enjoyed it. Though it could have been organized better, it straddled the worlds of mundane writing advice and fun magical tips and tricks. If you like reading books about witchcraft, this is a good way to get yourself to read about writing skills and techniques without dying of boredom. This isn't just for constructing rituals and spells. I would recommend this book to all my witchy author friends.
April 19, 2015
This is a great reference book for ideas on how to get your writing juices flowing, whether it be writing stories, journal writing, or poetry. It is a great addition to my library for writing help. It's very much my style.
July 10, 2009
I'm reviewing this book for a publication.
Just a short note: I LOVED it!!!
Just a short note: I LOVED it!!!
December 1, 2010
An excellent merging of writing 101 and magickal practice.
July 29, 2016
Enlightening....
December 26, 2012
Slowly working my way through the book
Read
December 26, 2017i liked this book but not sure that I will put it into good use for my writing as it will be very very limited indeed
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews