Did J.K. Rowling steal Harry Potter?
Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Orson Scott Card all rejected the claims.
But I've found 5 crazy similarities I can't stop thinking about: 🧵
Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Orson Scott Card all rejected the claims.
But I've found 5 crazy similarities I can't stop thinking about: 🧵
1. In Neil Gaiman's The Books of Magic (1990), you meet Tim Hunter.
• Messy dark hair & glasses
• Discovered he's a wizard at 12
• Gifted a magic owl called Yo-Yo
• Mentored by trenchcoat-clad mages
Does this remind you of a wizard from Hogwarts?
• Messy dark hair & glasses
• Discovered he's a wizard at 12
• Gifted a magic owl called Yo-Yo
• Mentored by trenchcoat-clad mages
Does this remind you of a wizard from Hogwarts?
2. Harry Potter—the orphaned Chosen One destined for greatness—is well-covered ground in fiction.
• King Arthur
• Frodo Baggins
• Luke Skywalker
Check out the similarities between Harry and Luke Skywalker's story arc 👇
• King Arthur
• Frodo Baggins
• Luke Skywalker
Check out the similarities between Harry and Luke Skywalker's story arc 👇
3. Wizard schools predate Hogwarts by DECADES.
• Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series (1968) has a school for wizards on Roke Island.
• Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch (1974) follows Mildred Hubble at Miss Cackle's Academy.
Both feature:
✅ Rival cliques
✅ Stern teachers
✅ Outsider protagonists
• Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series (1968) has a school for wizards on Roke Island.
• Jill Murphy's The Worst Witch (1974) follows Mildred Hubble at Miss Cackle's Academy.
Both feature:
✅ Rival cliques
✅ Stern teachers
✅ Outsider protagonists
4. Even the iconic Hogwarts Express wasn't original.
Trains have been used before as a metaphor for traveling between worlds so this was not unique to Harry Potter.
In The Railway Children (1906) & Murder on the Orient Express (1934), trains are used as portals to adventure.
Trains have been used before as a metaphor for traveling between worlds so this was not unique to Harry Potter.
In The Railway Children (1906) & Murder on the Orient Express (1934), trains are used as portals to adventure.
5. The Harry Potter world often feels constructed from stock parts:
• Goblins & trolls from folklore
• Quidditch from medieval sport
• Centaurs & hippogriffs from Greek myths
Now, why is this important?
• Goblins & trolls from folklore
• Quidditch from medieval sport
• Centaurs & hippogriffs from Greek myths
Now, why is this important?
J.K. Rowling understood that people crave the comfort of the familiar.
So, her job was to sew together archetypes & tropes to create a familiar story with broad appeal.
This chart is quite interesting to think about:
So, her job was to sew together archetypes & tropes to create a familiar story with broad appeal.
This chart is quite interesting to think about:
Writing a great story is like cooking.
All new chefs start by using the same basic ingredients and cookbooks.
What people call "unique style" comes from years of building a solid foundation, practicing, and injecting your own twist.
All new chefs start by using the same basic ingredients and cookbooks.
What people call "unique style" comes from years of building a solid foundation, practicing, and injecting your own twist.
As writers, we can take comfort in this.
Even J.K. Rowling—one of the best-selling writers of all time, "stole" from others to create the epic Harry Potter series.
The best creators absorb stories across genres, mediums, and eras.
Here's how:
Even J.K. Rowling—one of the best-selling writers of all time, "stole" from others to create the epic Harry Potter series.
The best creators absorb stories across genres, mediums, and eras.
Here's how:
Do not only "steal." Analyze your inspiration.
Ask yourself:
• How would I do differently?
• What perspective can I add?
• What personal touch can I mix in?
Repurposing like this is how you become a prolific fiction writer.
Ask yourself:
• How would I do differently?
• What perspective can I add?
• What personal touch can I mix in?
Repurposing like this is how you become a prolific fiction writer.
That's it!
I love studying the art of writing.
But the fastest way to monetize as a writer is to become a Premium Ghostwriter.
It's how I went from a broke freelancer to $20k/month in 60 days.
Here are the 5 steps to become a Premium Ghostwriter: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com
I love studying the art of writing.
But the fastest way to monetize as a writer is to become a Premium Ghostwriter.
It's how I went from a broke freelancer to $20k/month in 60 days.
Here are the 5 steps to become a Premium Ghostwriter: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com
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