The Witch-Writer's Manifesto

🎃 Tired of basic witch tales? Jac Schaeffer, creator of WandaVision and Agatha All Along, transformed Marvel's witches from comic book characters into cultural touchstones. Here's how you can too in 5 steps (2 minute read):

Raw Truth #1: Emotion Before Magic

"You can have the coolest idea ever, but if it's not grounded in emotion and character, it's not going to last."

• Start with the heart, not the spellbook

• Build characters who bleed before they conjure

• Make your audience feel before you make them wonder

• Remember: Magic without meaning is just special effects

Raw Truth #2: Embrace the Shadows

"To me, the term witch encapsulates larger themes... people who feel othered in the world, people who are persecuted in the world."

Dive deep into:

• Survival against odds

• Power through persecution

• Identity in isolation

• Strength in difference

Raw Truth #3: Build Your Universe

"Everything is connected to everything else and everything has symbolism and meaning."

Your witch world needs:

• Consistent magic systems

• Interconnected character webs

• Meaningful symbolism

• Cultural depth

Remember: Every spell cast should ripple through your story's fabric

Raw Truth #4: Break the Mold

"She's capable of the funniest of the funny and the dramatic of the dramatic."

Your witches can be:

• Hilarious and heartbreaking

• Powerful and vulnerable

• Traditional and subversive

• Complex and relatable

Raw Truth #5: Gather Your Coven

"I hired people who were interested in the various aspects of witchcraft... for the conversation and the voice."

Research across:

• Historical records

• Cultural traditions

• Modern interpretations

• Personal experiences

The Ultimate Challenge

"Whatever work I'm doing, I want it to feel like it's its own universe that is resonant inside of the organism itself."

The witch story you're dreaming of is being written in the choices you make right now. Will you settle for surface-level sorcery, or will you dive deep into the dark waters where real magic lives?

While others conjure clichés, you're here to create something that echoes through time. Your witch tale isn't just another story—it's your mark on the tradition of magical storytelling.

Choose depth. Choose authenticity. Choose power.

Key takeaway: In the end, the only spells that truly matter are the ones that transform both character and reader/viewer. Write the witch story only you can tell.

Listen to this full interview on Apple or SoundCloud.

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