A good question, and a good opportunity for a tutorial!

Mind you, this is my way of doing things and my preferred methods and materials. Your experience may vary.

When I create a spell, I start with a concept. I determine what I want to accomplish, the time frame involved, and what or whom the target will be, if any. For example, will the spell be for myself? For a loved one? For a stranger? Is it for a general idea or a specific effect? Is it meant to work once or long-term?

I also tend to time my magical workings to the lunar cycle, as part of the empowerment of the spell and as a way of making sure my own power is at the proper…temperature, if you will, for the type of spell I wish to cast.

Once I have these particulars set down, I start figuring out how I want to accomplish the goal of the spell. Usually I go straight to my herb cabinet and start compounding a powder or a charm bag or a spell jar or whatever I need. I also employ candles, mostly black or white, and additives like vinegar, pickle juice, lime and lemon juice depending on what the spell is for.

Most of my spells include some sort of incantation. I usually structure it in rhyming couplets, but this is not a requirement. I tend to keep them short. One or two have run long, and I have written one spell that had a very long, involved incantation for a very specific effect.

Once I have all this in place, I sit down and actually perform the casting, if the spell creation was for immediate use. The vast majority of the spells I have written have been for use by others, as advice, or for my own archives for future use.

So let’s break that down into steps.

1. Determine the intent or goal of your spell.
2. Determine how you want the intent or goal to be accomplished.
3. Determine what or whom the spell will affect.
4. Determine how long the spell is meant to work.
5. Determine the timing of the spell, if applicable.
   
6. Determine what materials, if any, will be used to create a physical representation of the spell.
7. Determine the words, if any, which will empower the spell.
8. Prepare the materials for casting the spell.
9. Perform the casting.
10. Record the particulars for future reference and to determine how well the spell has worked.

Again, this is a basic outline that has worked for my castings in the past. Your methods and preferences may be different.

Happy Casting!