One element is the appearance of the witch. Usually, they are described as old, haggard women with long, unkempt hair and wearing tattered black robes. Another element is their powers. They are often said to be able to cast spells, like cursing people or making potions for good or bad. For example, in some stories, a witch can make a love potion to make someone fall in love. Also, the setting is important. Witches are often associated with dark and isolated places like deep forests or old, dilapidated houses.
Well, in real witch stories, there are often mysterious happenings. This could be things like strange noises in the night or unexplained disappearances. Then there's the idea of the witch's familiar, which is an animal that is believed to assist the witch. It could be a black cat, a raven or a toad. In addition, the social reaction to the witch is an element. In many stories, the community is afraid of the witch and tries to either get rid of her or avoid her at all costs.
A common element in real witch stories is the use of symbols. For instance, a pentagram might be associated with a witch's magic. There are also elements related to the knowledge the witch has. They are often said to know about the stars, the properties of plants and the secrets of the natural world. In some real - life inspired stories, a witch might use her knowledge of astronomy to predict events. Also, the way the witch communicates with the spirit world, through chanting or using special incantations, is another element.