I've always wanted to write a book about wizards and magic. But now that Harry Potter is so famous, I can't write what I really want to because I feel like if I do people will just tote is as a rip-off trying to copy J.K. Rowlings success. I've already seen a bunch of 'boy wizard in magic school' type of rip-offs since Harry Potter. Is tis category dead now for future novels? Of course I know I can still write other types of fantasy and magic stories, but specifically following the life of a young wizard...is that off-limits now?
2006-12-27 21:59:06 · 14 answers · asked by omgwtf1980 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Probably
2006-12-27 22:53:18 · answer #1 · answered by burtbb0912 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem, I wanted to write a story about magic but had to be really careful that the story was different then any other that people have already written. You would still be able to write stories about a young wizard and not have the story written off as a copy of Harry Potter, you would just have to make sure that your young wizard isn't an orphan who didn't know he was a wizard until he grew up.
I'd try to make the story a bit different to Harry Potter, like instead of being set in England, have it in another world entirely, like a made up one. Also you would have to abandon wands a bit because they are used so often in Harry Potter, but otherwise a book about a young wizard is still good and extremely workable as long as it's original.
Good Luck!
2006-12-28 23:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. I seem to be doing okay at it.
It might at first sight seem daunting to work in such a long shadow as Rowling's. But if your heart was propelling you toward writing about young wizards long before Rowling's success, why would you throw away that dream after it? A real writer writes what drives him, what he or she longs for...whether anyone else has done something similar before or not.
I've run into my share of people who've jumped to the conclusion that my work was a ripoff of Jo Rowling's. Most of them couldn't have been bothered to look at my books' copyright dates -- the first "Young Wizards" novel was published the year JK started college. The rest couldn't have been bothered to pick up a copy of "So You Want to Be a Wizard" to see the many, many differences between our characters, styles, settings, and so forth. So if you're hung up on the question of what people will think...cut it out! Even if you can prove conclusively that you were there first with a concept, there'll always be people who'll make up their minds about you and your work before they ever read a word you've written. By and large -- and I hate having to say this, but it's true -- people can be real idiots. Ignore what they think: ignore what you think they'll think: and get on with your work.
Your true business as a writer is to write what makes you happy --what you feel you absolutely have to write -- and then to worry later about whether it'll sell. Marketing comes later. Writing comes first. Whether or not a book you write about young wizards ever sells to anyone, you should know that no writing you do is ever wasted. (As a friend of mine, another writer, likes to say, "The first million words are for practice.") Sooner or later, it'll pay off...on some other project, some other book.
That said, if you can find a fresh voice to bring to the subject, something new and different to bring to the table, there's no reason your book might not sell. It might take you a while: for too many publishers, I'll grant you that Rowling is the yardstick against which a juvenile fantasy writer may routinely expect to be measured. But if your writing and your creation are *not* routine, youll eventually break through.
And a final note. Far more important than mere talent or originality in the writing is persistence: sheer bloody-minded persistence and refusing to take "no" for an answer from the world at large. Finishing a book -- hard enough work by itself -- and then sending it out again and again and again to publishers, is likely to be the key factor in the start of your career.
Don't be discouraged. Follow your dream. (And be prepared to spend a long time working your butt off.)
2007-01-02 04:20:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not at all. If you do manage to get your book published, HP opened the door wide open for your sale.
all the book publishers are looking for "the next Harry Potter" which is why so many derivative "boy wizard" books are on the market. coupled with the wild success of Eragon, Juvenile fantasy is hot hot hot. Even books that pre-date Harry Potter (such as Diane Duane's "So you want to be a wizard" series) seem to have gotten new life breathed into them.
write your book, and if/when you get your first royalty check, you might send J.K. Rowling a note of thanks.
2006-12-28 02:33:10 · answer #4 · answered by lalabee 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it probably made it easier. The entertainment industry is one of copycats, and if they see something making a lot of money, they will do their best to hurry up and copy it ASAP to cash in. Now is probably your best chance to find a publisher.
As an example- when I was a kid, there were rarely animated movies showing at the theater. I remember the Aristocats and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and that's it! Then, Toy Story came out and was a huge success, so we have 7 or 8 new animated movies every year as a result.
2006-12-27 22:23:32 · answer #5 · answered by Rebecca A 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Nope, it's not off-limits! Just make it completely original and it should be read as such. I also have felt this way many times. I thought that Harry Potter had ruined my chance of selling any of my own stories, because I was afraid anyone who read it would immediately think of Harry Potter. But that didn't happen because my stories were genuine and from my own imagination.
2006-12-28 04:29:38 · answer #6 · answered by Britt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it'a hard to say if wizard writing is dead.ms rowling is v tough to beat.her success was newfound too.i mean,she started writing before 1990.but handed her script in only much later.she had her ups n downs too.as for harry potter-he's famous cuz he's english,he's a hero and he's d answ. for good over evil battle.my advice is dun write any stories till ms rowling's done..
2006-12-28 12:45:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No - you'll just have to try harder to be original. Maybe JK Rowling has paved the way for other writers to find a market! Put a different spin on it, ie write the story from a completely different perspective.
2006-12-27 22:04:55 · answer #8 · answered by girl from oz 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As long as it is original, no, there is still hope that you can make a series that is just as popular as hers, as long as it is well written. Just remember that JK was almost homeless when she started writing, and that she started writing on napkins at Starbucks. You can do it. Put a reasonable price on it, and I'll buy it.
2007-01-03 11:49:43 · answer #9 · answered by Jeremy© ® ™ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make trhe wizards and magic in pirate time, then add some brief nudity,and Disney will maybe buy it.
2006-12-27 22:07:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋