| Harry Potter. The name brings instant recognition | | | | So if you have planned and structured your story |
| from people all over the world. The books have sold | | | | effectively, done your research (either real or in your |
| over 350 million copies worldwide. Only the bible has | | | | imagination) and collated your notes, then the writing |
| more translations. The movies have gone on to grace | | | | process is an absolute joy, where you can be very |
| the lists of the Top 10 grossing films of all time. | | | | certain of your ability to produce the best possible |
| When Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was | | | | novel. Jo Rowling said she felt she "had to do right |
| published in 1997, Joanne Kathleen Rowling was a | | | | by the book". She really believed in the story and so |
| previously unpublished author. She had no publishing | | | | when it came to writing it, she made sure she had |
| credits, no insider knowledge, no friends in the | | | | taken care of all the necessary preparation. Once |
| industry. So how did she do it? How did she go on, in | | | | that's done, writing is almost easy! Rewriting Jo |
| the space of ten short years, to become the first | | | | Rowling rewrote the opening chapter of Harry Potter |
| billionaire author on the planet? The answer to that | | | | and the Philosopher's Stone a total of 15 times. Her |
| question lies not in what she did in those ten years | | | | own mother died just 6 months after her first |
| between the publication of the first book and the | | | | attempt at Chapter One of that book, and that sent |
| publication of the seventh, Harry Potter and the | | | | her into a frenzy of rewriting, essentially changing |
| Deathly Hallows. The answer actually lies in what she | | | | everything. The Potter books are about death, there |
| did in the seven years prior to the first book's | | | | is no doubt about that, and they are driven |
| publication. So if you're an author who is yet to be | | | | particularly by the death of Harry's parents and his |
| published, you're actually in the best possible position. | | | | miraculous survival. When Jo Rowling experienced |
| Because it's in this time, before your book hits the | | | | such a major turning point in her own life, she |
| shelves, that you can have the greatest influence on | | | | rewrote the story to reflect and process her own |
| its success. Quite simply, JK Rowling followed a | | | | pain. Writing and rewriting are separate processes. |
| four-step writing process that you too can adopt to | | | | Writing is scribing or sculpting out the drafts of the |
| write your very own list of bestsellers. The question | | | | story. Rewriting is re-looking and re-seeing. Often the |
| is: do you have what it takes to be the next JK | | | | rewrite will show up where the story has gone off |
| Rowling? Planning This is by far the most underrated | | | | track and where questions asked at the start haven't |
| of the steps in the writing process. And in the final | | | | been answered by the end. In JK Rowling's case, she |
| wash up it is absolutely the most important. It was | | | | realised after writing the entire first book that she |
| 1990 and Jo Rowling was on a train between | | | | had given away the entire plot of the seven books. |
| Manchester and London. Harry literally strolled fully | | | | She rewrote it in this light, and held many things back. |
| formed into her mind while she was gazing out the | | | | Many successful authors say that you only write to |
| train window at a field full of cows. She spent the | | | | rewrite. DH Lawrence even said that he wrote his |
| next four hours (the train was delayed) imagining | | | | entire first draft, threw it away and then started |
| Harry, the world he inhabited, the friends and | | | | again from scratch. Editing Editing is the process of |
| enemies he had there and the dangers and joys he | | | | refining and polishing your manuscript. This part of the |
| may encounter there. She had nothing to write on so | | | | process may be done by you, or by an external |
| had to be content to play this all out in her | | | | editor. It is often wise to have an editor look over |
| imagination. By the time she got off the train in | | | | your work before submitting it for publication as it is |
| London, the central cast of characters were already | | | | extremely difficult to get the distance you need from |
| cemented in her mind. But did she go home and | | | | your own work to see where it can be improved. |
| immediately begin scribbling a story with these | | | | Not that you have to listen to what the editor says. |
| characters? No, she didn't. She spent five years, yes | | | | In the end it is your name on the spine of that novel |
| that's right FIVE YEARS creating and developing | | | | and you are entirely answerable for its contents. |
| every last detail of the wizarding world, including | | | | Having said that, a good and subtle editor can lift |
| government and education systems, how the | | | | your novel to heights that you may not be able to |
| wizarding world stood shoulder to shoulder with the | | | | achieve on your own. It is clear from the Harry |
| muggle world, and she devised a highly sophisticated | | | | Potter series that JK Rowling was more tightly edited |
| system of magic that would eventually form the | | | | at the beginning (the first two novels are barely |
| backbone of her own special brand of writing magic. | | | | more than 200 pages and by the time we get to |
| On top of this she sculpted out the entire story, | | | | number five, Harry Potter and the Order of the |
| planning the details and events of all the seven | | | | Phoenix, we are faced with a weighty tome of over |
| books, before she put pen to paper to begin writing | | | | 700 pages) so it is generally advisable at the |
| the first. Would you attempt to build a house without | | | | beginning of your career to bear the advice of your |
| plans? Would you attempt to drive across the | | | | editor heavily in mind, especially if you are new to |
| country without a map? Or would you set sail on the | | | | publishing. In every event, less is more, and a distilled |
| seas without a compass? Writing a book without a | | | | and focussed book is more likely to captivate and |
| detailed planning stage is like attempting to build a | | | | intrigue a new audience than a meandering epic that |
| house without plans. Miss this step and you are | | | | constantly loses its way. Writing a book is a process, |
| almost certainly destined to become lost in a forest | | | | never forget that. Each step in the process is unique |
| of your own words. Writing When you are writing, | | | | but necessary. Don't mix them, and certainly don't |
| you are just writing. You are not planning, you are | | | | attempt to skip any steps. Do that at your own peril. |
| not editing. You are writing. Once you have planned | | | | JK Rowling has shown the world what is possible if |
| your story, it is time to sit down and write it. JK | | | | you adhere to the basic processes of the art and |
| Rowling planned the Harry Potter series for five | | | | craft of writing a good story. So before you attempt |
| years before she put pen to paper on the first book | | | | your next novel, address the four steps in the writing |
| She wrote the entire first book, and felt as though | | | | process: planning, writing, rewriting and editing, and be |
| she were "carving it out of this mass of notes". All | | | | sure you give each step its due. And who knows? |
| the planning was worth it. She was able to devote | | | | You could be the next JK Rowling. |
| herself to the actual task of writing, knowing that all | | | | Suzanne Harrison is the Director of Writers Central, |
| the story and character elements she needed were | | | | an online creative writing school and community, |
| covered. This is the best possible place for you to be | | | | offering creative writing, short story, novel and |
| in when you are writing a novel. Novels are long. | | | | screenplay courses, as well as a vibrant community |
| Usually over 100,000 words and sometimes as many | | | | forum packed with news, reviews, competitions and |
| as 200,000 words and more. That is a lot of words! | | | | 24/7 feedback. |