How a writer achieved everything despite experiencing depression and domestic violence.
Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling share the same birthday – July 31. This is not the only thing that unites the writer and her main character. They both lost their mothers early, felt like strangers in their own families and were familiar with dementors firsthand. We tell you how the famous story was born and what J.K. Rowling had to go through to see her books published.
The girl who was supposed to be a boy
J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Bristol. Her father, Peter, was an aeronautical engineer, and her mother, Anne, was a chemist. The parents were expecting a boy and were a little upset when a daughter was born. As a child, the girl was dressed in blue, had short hair, and was called by the male version of her name, Joe.
In one of her interviews, Rowling said that her youth was the most terrible period in her life. Her mother was seriously ill. Her relationship with her father did not work out. Joan escaped from reality into books. She recalled that she was a real bookworm, “with freckles and huge glasses.”
Jo came up with her first fairy tale at the age of six. It was a story about a rabbit named Rabbit. In an interview, Rowling joked : “It’s hard to believe, but no one bought the rights and made a film, but I was very proud of that book.”
The emergence of a million dollar idea
Jo continued writing. But the right idea never came. Until one day, while riding on a train, a story about a little wizard came to her mind. A boy who doesn’t know he’s a wizard goes to a school of magic. It has four faculties, unusual subjects, eccentric teachers. Joan kept coming up with ideas. She didn’t even have a pen to write down her idea, but that didn’t stop Rowling.
In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Joan recalled that she never planned to write for children. She didn’t really understand this audience, she loved intricate language and complex themes. But when the story of Harry Potter came to her mind, she immediately understood – this is what she needed!
The book’s characters were born in 1990, but it took six years to write the first part. In an interview, the writer said that she knew her characters thoroughly, so she decided to focus on the plot. In her opinion, a logical, well-thought-out plot is very important. And already while writing the first book, she saw the story as a whole.
Dementors that actually exist
In the same 1990, after ten years of serious illness, Joan’s mother died. When this happened, the writer was already working on the book. But she did not have time to tell her mother about her idea and later regretted it.
To escape the grief that had befallen her, Rowling went to work in Portugal. There she met TV journalist Jorge Aratis. The couple got married and had a daughter, Jessica. But the marriage did not work out. Rowling is said to have suffered from domestic violence. But Joan herself does not like to remember this. In a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, the writer said that her first marriage and divorce taught her that she can cope with anything.
Rowling went to her sister in Scotland. The writer found herself alone, penniless, with a small child and three chapters of Harry Potter in her arms. She applied for social benefits in order to somehow survive. And began to finish the book. Jo worked in a cafe while her daughter slept nearby.
During this period, Rowling experienced clinical depression. She recalled that she had always been prone to depressive experiences. But the period from 25 to 28 years was the darkest in her life.
“Depression is coldness and a complete lack of feelings. And no hope that it will ever end. It’s hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it.”
J.K. Rowling
The experience of depression inspired the writer to create dementors – dark creatures that suck all the joy out of a person.
Success under a male pseudonym
When the book was ready, Rowling sent the manuscript to twelve publishers and received twelve rejections. But the writer did not give up.
“I’m not a very confident person. And there was only one thing I believed in absolutely. I can tell stories.”
J.K. Rowling
The thirteenth attempt was successful thanks to the eight-year-old daughter of Bloomsbury’s chairman, Alice Newton. The girl read the first chapters of the manuscript and demanded a sequel. Thus, Rowling received the rights to print the first book and a 1,500-pound advance.
Editor Barry Cunningham decided that the story of a young wizard would appeal to both boys and girls. But he doubted that boys would read a book written by a woman. So he suggested that Joan sign her initials. The writer did not have a middle name, so she took the name of her beloved grandmother, Catelyn. This is how the pseudonym J.K. Rowling appeared. However, it was not possible to hide the truth from readers for long . The book became incredibly popular, and Rowling’s photographs appeared in the press.
Joan continued writing. Fans eagerly awaited the continuation of the Harry Potter story. People queued for hours to buy the books. Rowling won several prestigious awards and became the first billionaire writer in history. The Harry Potter universe expanded beyond the books. In 2001, a film adaptation of the first part was released. In 2010, a theme park opened .
Rowling told Oprah Winfrey that she had gone through all the stages of financial well-being, starting with poverty. She still finds it hard to believe that her money problems have been solved forever. For her, wealth is the ability to go to her favorite hotel in Scotland to work in silence. And the absence of restrictions when they plan a vacation with their family — her second husband and three children. Otherwise, the writer’s life has not changed. For example, she often takes public transport because she does not know how to drive.
Failures make you stronger
The writer is not afraid of failure: “Everyone talks about success, but no one talks about failure. About how you end up at the very bottom. Failures are important. They show that you can survive.” And it seems that these are not empty words for Joan.
In 2019, Rowling found herself at the center of a scandal. She supported researcher Maya Forstater, who said that a man can never become a woman. And later, she ridiculed the term “people who menstruate” from an article in Devex. Internet users reacted violently to Joan’s statement and accused her of insufficient tolerance. This led to the “cancellation” of the writer. Sales of her books fell threefold.
Joanne didn’t lose her composure and published an essay explaining her position. She explained that she respected the opinions of trans activists, but thought that terms like “people who menstruate” were degrading to women. And gender-neutral changing rooms and toilets put them at risk from men. The essay didn’t stop the criticism entirely, but it did bring Rowling some public support, including from the trans community.
Today, Rowling continues to write and publish. She publishes books for children and adults, including under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.