The Law of Belief

It's belief that makes it real. Note that I said belief, not "wishful thinking." You have to know it in your bones that the magic will happen — or it won't. Or, it will, but not in the way you intend. So you can't just decide that something is going to work. You have to believe it so deeply there can be no question. And that's the hardest thing in the world to will yourself to do.

— Queen Sable Aradia, from her class on The Theory of Literomancy at the World Literomantic Academy Warren Campus

    It is reasonably well understood by Literomancers and Literomantologists that one must believe in one's powers in order to affect magical ability. However, this is usually regarded on the level of "wishing upon a star." Dream big, and big things will happen. After all, it is the power of creative energy, measured in units of Werds, that fuels the magic of Literomancy.   But this is a misapprehension. It is not sufficient to "wish" or "imagine." One must know. One must have no doubt, not even at the subconscious level, in the effect one is attempting to invoke.   In other words, one must truly believe it.   The most widely misunderstood part of this fundamental law of literomancy is that this, more than anything else, is the key trait that shifts a "writer" into a "literomancer." It has nothing to do with genetics, or superior talents, or literary greatness, or even strength of will. It is the ability to believe in their creative powers, and ability to make change in the world, on a fundamental, almost instinctive level.   This is the reason that literomantic families, and folk witch traditions, are not uncommon. Not genetics, but a cultural advantage. If one's ancestors were able to believe in their literomantic powers, it is naturally easier to believe in one's own due to their example.  

The Effect of Common Belief

So why is it that we literomancers don't ever seem to know the full extent of our powers, then?

— Dame Flubb

 

We don't have to believe in the specifics. We have to believe in their possibility. And besides the point, right now the common belief about magic is that we don't understand it. What other people believe also affects what you believe, especially if you hear it often enough.

— Queen Sable

  Also the cause of literomancy's tendency to conform to literary tropes, it is important to note that the beliefs of one's culture and society often affect one's own beliefs, either limiting or advancing individual capabilities. For instance, it was once scientifically proven that a Human could not run a 4 minute mile. When someone at last achieved it, the record was broken again three more times within the next few months. In other words, once people knew it could be done, they believed they could do it.   The same phenomenon may be responsible for the return of literomancy in the first place. The appearance of Zombies caused people in general to doubt what they had come to believe about the existence of magic — and thus, they suddenly believed that magic might once again be possible. As a result, they were suddenly capable of doing things previously believed to be impossible.  

The Effect of Personal Belief

So why can't everyone just do literomancy, then?

— Dame Flubb

 

Everyone now believes magic is possible. But not everyone believes that magic is possible for them.

— Queen Sable

  Not only must a literomancer believe that magic is possible in the first place, they must also believe that they might be able to do it. While it is certainly possible for humans to run a mile in 4 minutes, that does not necessarily mean that the average track student can just do it. Some natural talent is also necessary, along with training, practice, raw determination, a proper diet, and community support.  

It's a bit like what Sir Terry Pratchett said. We need practice in believing in the little lies, so that we can believe in the big ones.

— Queen Sable

 

Like justice, duty, mercy, that sort of thing?

— Dame Flubb

 

grinning Yes.

— Queen Sable