How does JK Rowling write?

Love her or loathe her, J.K. Rowling remains one of the most successful and influential authors of our time. From writing in cafés with her baby in tow to building a billion-dollar franchise, she’s managed to turn ideas scribbled on napkins into a global literary empire.

But what exactly is her process? How does she approach character, structure, and the notoriously fickle world of publishing? And what can we learn from it?

Let’s unpack how Rowling writes and how you can apply it to your own work.

She starts with structure, not sentences

Before Harry ever boarded the Hogwarts Express, Rowling had already plotted the entire series.

She famously created a handwritten spreadsheet that outlined chapters, plot points, subplots, and character arcs across all seven books. This wasn’t casual scribbling – it was strategic architecture. Rowling knows that stories live or die by their structure.

“I always have a basic plot outline, but I like to leave some things to be decided while I write.” – J.K. Rowling

Key takeaway: Start with your skeleton. Even if you’re a discovery writer, knowing where your story is headed will stop you from wandering into dead ends.

She creates characters before she names them

Rowling doesn’t just invent characters. She knows them.

Each character has a rich backstory, personality, and internal logic, even if the reader never sees all of it. For instance, she knew Professor McGonagall’s tragic love history and Snape’s motivation long before they were revealed. Names often come last, after the core of the character is defined.

Her ability to embed emotional weight into characters is one reason readers stay invested long after the final page.

She writes real emotion into fantasy

Magic isn’t the reason Harry Potter works. Emotion is.

Rowling injects real human themes into her stories: grief, alienation, inequality, friendship, and moral complexity. Harry’s trauma, Hermione’s marginalisation, Sirius Black’s false imprisonment – they resonate because they feel real.

“There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place.” – J.K. Rowling

Her fantasy is a lens to explore the ordinary pains and joys of life. That’s why it works across ages.

She writes in chaos – but with discipline

Forget the writing retreat fantasy. Rowling wrote much of Philosopher’s Stone in Edinburgh cafés, balancing a baby in one hand and a pen in the other.

She’s spoken openly about depression, single parenthood, and the uncertainty of the publishing journey. And yet, she wrote daily, rewrote constantly, and kept going despite numerous rejections.

“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling

She wrote through the mess – and so should you.

She treats rejection as fuel

Harry Potter was rejected 12 times before being accepted by Bloomsbury. Rowling didn’t give up.

Even years later, under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith, she received rejections for The Cuckoo’s Calling. She publicly posted one of them to remind writers that rejection is part of the process, not a signal to quit.

Read more: BBC: Rowling’s rejection letters

How you can echo Rowling’s success

If you’re looking to follow in her footsteps, here’s how to apply her writing techniques to your own work:

• Outline your plot before you begin Like Rowling’s meticulous chapter spreadsheet, sketch out major plot points and character arcs in advance.

• Write the ending first Know where your story is heading. This keeps your narrative focused and your themes consistent.

• Build flawed, relatable characters Avoid stereotypes. Give your characters emotional depth and personal struggles your readers can connect with.

• Draw from real life Use details from your own experiences, surroundings, and even people to bring your fiction to life.

• Explore themes that matter Rowling tackled themes like grief, identity, and injustice. Let your story say something that goes beyond the surface.

• Don’t fear rejection Push past the 'no'. If Rowling had stopped after the first few publisher rejections, the world may never have known Hogwarts.

• Write daily, even when it’s hard Rowling famously wrote in cafés with her baby asleep beside her. Consistency is key, not perfect conditions.

• Rework and revise without mercy Rowling’s success wasn’t in her first draft. It was in rewriting until the story clicked. Do the same.

What the experts say

Rowling’s approach isn’t unique, it reflects advice echoed by leading authors and educators.

• Oxford University: encourages developing structure, character, and consistency in writing workshops.

• National Centre for Writing: recommends mapping out long-form fiction and understanding your characters’ internal logic.

• Grammarly Blog: promotes clarity, rewriting, and daily habits as key to professional writing success.

Final thoughts: It’s not magic – it’s method

Rowling didn’t succeed because she’s a literary unicorn. She did the work. She planned. She rewrote. She failed. She tried again.

Whether you're scribbling short stories or plotting your own novel series, there’s plenty to borrow from her toolbox.

“Write what you know: your obsessions, your joys, your fears. That’s where your story lives.” – J.K. Rowling

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