Steal Their Look: Modern Witch Edition
And the Aesthetics of Worldbuilding
5/12/20253 min read
Aesthetics are usually my starting point. No plot. No characters. All vibes. And while a story cannot live on vibes alone, I still find aesthetic development to be not only an important part of the process, but a fun part as well.
Early aesthetic development is an open sandbox. At the very start of an idea, the world has no boundaries, rules, or identity. In this state you can Pinterest board everything. Throw ideas around like confetti. Find what resonates and discard what doesn’t, all while the idea is unburdened by the constraints of plot.
A note on letting go: Early aesthetic development can generate a lot of ideas that feel right in the moment. When a plot comes to give shape to the piles of visual confetti, not everything gets to stay. But ideas aren’t ever really lost, just saved for a later plot they can help, not hinder.
Aesthetic details uncover unique features about the world. In writing Blightshade, I loved the aesthetics of man-made structures reclaimed by nature, but also liked the look of a magical city. This layering led me to develop the setting of Veil, where modern witches shape their city around the forest reclaiming it.
Aesthetics strengthen characters. Aesthetics can take a character’s internal world and make it external, all while leaving an impression that you can not only visualize, but might want to steal for yourself.
Steal Their Look
The aesthetic of each character in Blightshade captures not only their personality, but their magic, lifestyle, values, and fears. It’s the story they tell themselves and the armor they wear.
Lorne
Lorne’s look is dark and dramatic. Defined by his vanity and uncontrollably volatile Curse Crafting, Lorne’s style is highly curated. Because no one who looks this good could be a piping hot train wreck…right?
Tahj
Tahj’s look is warm and inviting. As bright and supportive as his Charging magic, Tahj wears his sunny personality in his clothing. Loose sleeves, Velcro shirt closures, and shoes without laces are built into his wardrobe to make dressing with a missing arm simpler.
Vii
Vii’s look is athletic and refined. Always a knock out, Vii prefers leggings over a skirt and a good combat boot over a heel. The straps and belts detailing her wardrobe are a nod to her Binding magic—a magic as precise and controlled as Vii herself.
Sacha
Sacha’s look is reserved and practical. This is a man who sleeps with his steel-toed boots on. Always on alert, Sacha uses thick, bulky layers to make himself more imposing, and is never caught without the tools to carve his way into or out of a bad situation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “It was so fun meeting the different kinds of magic and thinking about which magic I might have if I was in Blightshade myself! I felt the magic was very refreshing and also visceral in a way!” – T.H.
Immerse yourself in the world of Blightshade and find the magic for yourself…