I hope you've had a productive week of writing, rewriting, and perhaps even a bit of sharing. Today, we’re diving into the drafting process of another legend: J.K. Rowling.
If you're anything like me, you've spent more than a few hours lost in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Rowling's tales have cast a spell on millions across the globe, and her drafting process holds valuable insights for all of us.
So, you ask, how many drafts does J.K. Rowling write for a book?
In multiple interviews and tweets, Rowling has hinted that the number of drafts varies from book to book. For example, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone went through several drafts, with key parts of the plot changing across the process. In fact, one version had Hermione as the one to figure out the significance of the Philosopher's Stone, not Harry!
Rowling is also known for her detailed planning and extensive outlining. Before she wrote a single word of the first Harry Potter book, she spent five years outlining the entire seven-book series. Her preparation includes sketching out characters, plot points, timelines, and even detailed maps.
But her approach is flexible, allowing for changes along the way. When she penned Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, she ended up rewriting one chapter a whopping thirteen times! In her words, "It's incredibly hard to rewrite on that scale and not to lose a lot of what's good about the original." So, what's the takeaway for us indie authors?
Rowling's process underscores that there's no set number of drafts you should write. The number will vary depending on the complexity of your plot, how well you've outlined your story, and quite frankly, how you feel about your work. Sometimes, you might hit the nail on the head in just two or three drafts. Other times, it could take over a dozen.
Remember, the goal of drafting is to continually refine your work until it becomes the best possible version of itself. It's an evolving process of creation, evaluation, and revision. Don't rush it, embrace it.
In the end, whether you need one draft or thirty, the key is to keep refining until you're proud of what you've created. After all, it's not about the number of drafts, but the magic they hold within.
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