What do you think?
Rate this book
Learn How To Write A Novel By Reading Harry Potter
Learn How to Write a Novel by reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!
Learning how to write a novel is hard, but doing so by studying one of the best-selling, most-beloved novels of all time makes it a lot easier.
In this book, authors and former college professors Scott King and Clark Chamberlain will teach you how to write a novel using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as their study guide and example.
Each chapter ends with a collection of take aways. To make everything easier to remember and reference, they are reorganized at the end of the book to serve as the perfect guide for helping you write your novel.
Some of the topics covered in this book include:
- Three Act Structure
- Character Arcs
- World-Building
- Creating Conflict
- Layering Mysteries
- Character Development
- Character Voice
- Author Voice
- Active vs. Passive Characters
- Crafting Descriptions
Delve into a deep critical analysis of what makes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone so special and use the techniques uncovered to craft your own story!
Learning how to write a novel is hard, but doing so by studying one of the best-selling, most-beloved novels of all time makes it a lot easier.
In this book, authors and former college professors Scott King and Clark Chamberlain will teach you how to write a novel using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as their study guide and example.
Each chapter ends with a collection of take aways. To make everything easier to remember and reference, they are reorganized at the end of the book to serve as the perfect guide for helping you write your novel.
Some of the topics covered in this book include:
- Three Act Structure
- Character Arcs
- World-Building
- Creating Conflict
- Layering Mysteries
- Character Development
- Character Voice
- Author Voice
- Active vs. Passive Characters
- Crafting Descriptions
Delve into a deep critical analysis of what makes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone so special and use the techniques uncovered to craft your own story!
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2018
40 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Scott King
24 books43 followersScott King is an author and photographer. He was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Ocean City, Maryland. He received his undergraduate degree in film from Towson University, and his M.F.A. in film from American University.
“DAD! A Documentary Graphic Novel,” King’s first book was published in Fall ’09. He is also the creator and writer of “Holiday Wars.”
King is a game photographer based in Texas. His most common shoots are for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs. He also produces an annual calendar that highlights board and other hobby games.
King was first introduced to the entertainment industry in high school when he was hired as a production assistant on “Runaway Bride.” At the time, he served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it. He snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media, so that he could out-scoop his fellow student. Durring the meeting King asked a few questions about how the movie would affect bus routes and local businesses. The next day he was hired and he’s been working in the entrainment industry ever since.
“DAD! A Documentary Graphic Novel,” King’s first book was published in Fall ’09. He is also the creator and writer of “Holiday Wars.”
King is a game photographer based in Texas. His most common shoots are for websites, online stores, and for other marketing needs. He also produces an annual calendar that highlights board and other hobby games.
King was first introduced to the entertainment industry in high school when he was hired as a production assistant on “Runaway Bride.” At the time, he served as a reporter for the school newspaper and although another student was assigned the article about the movie King was determined to write it. He snuck into a press conference where Gary Marshall was meeting with local media, so that he could out-scoop his fellow student. Durring the meeting King asked a few questions about how the movie would affect bus routes and local businesses. The next day he was hired and he’s been working in the entrainment industry ever since.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 7, 2019
・It makes too many analogies to other books and movies, many of which took me out of the analysis.
・The quality of the writing shows a lack of finish and editing. Spelling mistakes, misplaced words, missing punctuation, and conversationally drawn out (you, I) sentences distracted my reading and took me out of the stream of thought. The lack of editing made me question the authors' attention to detail.
・The analysis focuses too much on praising Rowling and summarizing the events instead of digging deep into structure. Many concepts appear out-of-the-blue, on the fly, rather than in a format applicable to someone plotting out a story or structuring a sequence of events.
・Much of the analysis felt retrospective, in the vein of how well something was done in retrospect, rather than proactive; it would have been much more helpful to see the choices a creator makes, rather than comment on the way something was done. Many writers don't start from leaf nodes; they start from the top of the tree. Start from the structure or the outline, rather than the words themselves.
・The quality of the writing shows a lack of finish and editing. Spelling mistakes, misplaced words, missing punctuation, and conversationally drawn out (you, I) sentences distracted my reading and took me out of the stream of thought. The lack of editing made me question the authors' attention to detail.
・The analysis focuses too much on praising Rowling and summarizing the events instead of digging deep into structure. Many concepts appear out-of-the-blue, on the fly, rather than in a format applicable to someone plotting out a story or structuring a sequence of events.
・Much of the analysis felt retrospective, in the vein of how well something was done in retrospect, rather than proactive; it would have been much more helpful to see the choices a creator makes, rather than comment on the way something was done. Many writers don't start from leaf nodes; they start from the top of the tree. Start from the structure or the outline, rather than the words themselves.
February 16, 2019
Curiosity is what prompted me to get this book--reading Harry Potter to learn to write seemed like an interesting hook. Still, I didn't have the highest expectations, assuming that I would read a lot of the same-old, same-old in regards to writing tips.
Happily, I was wrong.
Chapter by chapter, the authors go over what works and why it works in the story-telling methodology of J.K. Rowling.
It's brilliant. I was entertained even as I was learning concepts that hadn't occurred to me before.
If you want to get some practical coaching while enjoying a good read, this one's for you.
Happily, I was wrong.
Chapter by chapter, the authors go over what works and why it works in the story-telling methodology of J.K. Rowling.
It's brilliant. I was entertained even as I was learning concepts that hadn't occurred to me before.
If you want to get some practical coaching while enjoying a good read, this one's for you.
October 30, 2018
A Fresh Take on Writing Advice
It’s refreshing to see something new in the writing advice community. Too often we see the same old advice repackaged and sold as something new and innovative. This is not one of those books.
King & Chamberlain bring something original by tapping into the depth of wisdom in Harry Potter. If you’ve not read Harry Potter—or didn’t enjoy the books—the lessons in this book aren’t for you. But, if you like millions of others who were moved, and even had their lives changed by Harry Potter, this book is for you.
Learn how to craft characters that feel more real than your family, plots twist you’ll never see coming, but seem so obvious after the fact, and so much more. J.K. Rowling is a true wordsmith and King & Chamberlain do a masterful job distilling her excellence into understandable chunks. Take the time to learn from the great. This is a must read for any writer.
It’s refreshing to see something new in the writing advice community. Too often we see the same old advice repackaged and sold as something new and innovative. This is not one of those books.
King & Chamberlain bring something original by tapping into the depth of wisdom in Harry Potter. If you’ve not read Harry Potter—or didn’t enjoy the books—the lessons in this book aren’t for you. But, if you like millions of others who were moved, and even had their lives changed by Harry Potter, this book is for you.
Learn how to craft characters that feel more real than your family, plots twist you’ll never see coming, but seem so obvious after the fact, and so much more. J.K. Rowling is a true wordsmith and King & Chamberlain do a masterful job distilling her excellence into understandable chunks. Take the time to learn from the great. This is a must read for any writer.
November 14, 2021
This will help you to plan and write a novel
This well written book uses the first Harry Potter novel to teach the craft of writing fiction. Great on character, plot and structure, it does not get down to the nitty gritty of using words and linguistic techniques to make the writing effective.
This well written book uses the first Harry Potter novel to teach the craft of writing fiction. Great on character, plot and structure, it does not get down to the nitty gritty of using words and linguistic techniques to make the writing effective.
November 22, 2018
It's purpose is to pure gold
He shows how to use point of view and the mystery genre mechanics inside any genre. I'm not a magic fan; I like to see problems solved by brain, brawn, strategy, induction and deduction. And, it is in the Harry Potter stories! Bravo!
He shows how to use point of view and the mystery genre mechanics inside any genre. I'm not a magic fan; I like to see problems solved by brain, brawn, strategy, induction and deduction. And, it is in the Harry Potter stories! Bravo!
November 25, 2018
Not a bad book just not for me.
December 13, 2018
Fairly interesting book that shows how Harry Potter book is plotted and setup. Also shows how to use that to work with your own plot. Extremely useful if your having issues on how Plot works.
December 10, 2019
Interesting read. Learning how JK Rowling developed the first book in the Harry Potter series has been fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews