If you’re looking for writing lessons you can apply to your own work in progress, look no further than the magic of J.K. Rowling’s, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
J.K. Rowling doesn’t just know how to write about Muggles and magic, but she understands the special magic of masterful storytelling. A wildly successful author, this debut led her to become a billionaire author. There are five specific writing lessons we can learn from her craft.
Whether you grew up with the books or not, speaking as a team who has helped teach over 8,000 authors how to write, publish, and market their books over the last 10 years, trust us when we say there are great writing lessons to learn from Rowling!
Writing lessons: what’s covered
- Master worldbuilding
- Create well-defined characters
- Layer in mystery and foreshadowing
- Balance elements of light and dark
- Remember the importance of a well-structured plot
1. Master worldbuilding
The many details of the Hogwarts wizarding world speaks to J.K. Rowling’s exceptional worldbuilding skills. Rather than plunge the reader into the world via pages and pages of description, Rowling unveils the world gradually, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the narrative without feeling overwhelmed.
This is something a developmental editor would encourage you to do, and a method we highlight our authors follow as well.
Rowling’s approach to world-building is arguably seamless. She doesn’t inundate readers with extensive exposition but rather introduces elements as the story unfolds. This strategy allows the audience to discover the magical world while the plot continues to unfold.
This writing style is a great writing lesson in subtlety and pacing. Wherever possible, refuse to disrupting the narrative’s momentum with worldbuilding.
If you want to know how to write a novel that keeps readers turning pages, write in a way that immerses your readers rather than throws information at them.
As Rowling so expertly shows, as you worldbuild, don’t forget to create of a society with its own rules, customs, and history. Rowling does this via:
- The way magic is regulated
- The concept of pure-bloods and Muggles
- The backstory of Hogwarts
Writing lessons, point one: The ability to construct a compelling world is crucial to fiction writing. Your story world gives the readers something to grasp and something for the plot to stand on. By mastering world-building, you’ll draw your readers into your story, keep them engaged, and of course, turning pages.
2. Create well-defined characters
The vibrant characters are one of the key aspects that keeps readings coming back for more. Each character has a unique voice, background, fears, hopes, and personalities.
Rowling’s character development emphasizes the importance of crafting well-rounded characters who feel real. It’s not just about creating a compelling protagonist but also about constructing a supporting cast that makes sense for the story.
Rowling also takes care to ensure each character evolves throughout the story. This makes them feel real and relatable. Character growth is particularly noticeable in Harry, who transforms from an orphan living under the stairs to a brave wizard.
Writing lessons, point two: Character development is a cornerstone of compelling storytelling. Fully fleshed-out characters with distinct personalities, backstories, and growth make your narrative feel like it could be a real story with real people. As you master the art of creating well-defined characters, you will draw in your readers, create an emotional investment, and enhance the impact of your story.
3. Layer in mystery and foreshadowing
J.K. Rowling establishes a real sense of mystery and foreshadowing in the first book of the series. While her debut makes for a great standalone read, it also lays the groundwork for future subsequent books. There’s a reason readers stood in long lines just to get their hands on the next installment.
You can use mystery and foreshadowing as a creative tool that enhances your story but also to ensure future reader engagement. By hinting at what’s to come, you can pique your readers’ curiosity and keep them hooked.
A good mystery will also add layers to your plot, make it more intricate and ideally, a big page-turner. It’s important to note that Rowling’s mystery and foreshadowing don’t feel forced. She subtly weaves these various aspects into the plot, just as she did her worldbuilding.
Writing lessons, point three: Like Rowling, use mystery and foreshadowing with purpose to both elevate your creative writing and your plot. Foreshadowing builds suspense, intrigue, and paves the way for future plot developments. By hinting at future events, you keep readers reading.
4. Balance elements of light and dark
These writing lessons wouldn’t be complete without discussing Rowling’s fascinating blend of light-hearted adventure and dark undertones.
While the books are for younger readers, Rowling uses the balance between light and dark to create an emotional experience. Even young readers can learn about good and evil, right and wrong, and all through the magic of Rowling’s wizarding world.
We can all learn from Rowling’s ability to write moments of joy and wonder (Hagrid giving Harry a birthday cake), despite the looming threats and dangers (…while he is trapped on an island in a storm).
Rowling’s mastery of this mix in her writing teaches the importance of maintaining a balance in stroytelling. By infusing your story with various themes of both light and dark, you can create a rich, multi-dimensional story that appeals to a wide range of emotions.
The balance of light and dark elements acknowledges the complexity of what readers face in real life:
- Joys
- Sorrows
- Challenges
- Triumphs
This realism, despite the magical setting, makes the story more relatable.
Writing lessons, point four: To deeply connect with your audience, be sure to include both light and dark elements. Remember that too much darkness can feel oppressive, but too many light moments will feel unrealistic. Use Rowling as an example for how to write about the complexity of real life and appeal to a wide range of emotions.
5. Remember the importance of a well-structured plot
J.K. Rowling‘s plot is a fundamental aspect of good storytelling. Rowling uses each event and subplot for a purpose that directly contributes to the overall narrative. To create a more structured and impactful story, cut anything that does not advance your plot structure or aid your character development.
Briefly described above, Rowling’s plot demonstrates the importance of pacing and timing. She structures her plot so that each event unfolds at the right moment. This careful plotting is one of the many writing lessons we can learn from Rowling’s debut.
Writing lessons, point five: A well-structured plot is the backbone of a compelling story. Every subplot and character should propel your story forward and contribute to the overall plot. By mastering plot structure, you maintain suspense and keep your readers hooked from the first page to the last.
Writing lessons: take your next step today
J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not just an entertaining read but can act as a case study for writing lessons we should all learn from. She demonstrates the importance of worldbuilding, great characters, mystery and foreshadowing, balancing light and dark themes, and of course, a well-structures plot.
If you haven’t read the series for some time, you may want to start from book one and see what writing lessons you can pull out to influence your own storytelling. Remember, creativity is a skill you can grow just like any other.
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