J.K. Rowling published in her website a Q&A session about the behind-the-scenes of her creative process. The author has just finished working on Lethal White, the fourth book of the detective fiction series she writes under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The author is now working on the script of the third movie of the Fantastic Beasts franchise and as soon as she is done, she will start writing a book for children. “I’ve been playing with the story for about six years, so it’s about time I get it down on paper.”
Writing Routine
For J.K. Rowling, writing is a need – not a financial one, obviously. “I don’t feel like myself if I’m not writing regularly, and I feel restless and odd if I have nothing to write, which these days is never, because I’ve got so many different projects on the go, by choice,” she explains.
The author tries to start working before nine in the morning, since the earlier she starts, the more productive she is. She is used to writing during the day, however, in the past two years, she has worked through some nights on Fantastic Beasts scripts. When she starts at nine, she usually writes until three o’clock in the afternoon. “During this writing time, I generally manage to drink eight or nine mugs of tea. Being incredibly clumsy, I prefer eating things that won’t ruin the keyboard when dropped. Popcorn’s ideal.”, she jests.
Her writing room, which is in the garden, is probably her favorite place in the world – there’s a central room, a kettle, a sink and a closet-sized bathroom. She usually writes listening to classical music, since human voices are easily distracted, “although a background buzz, as in a café, is always comforting.” It is not a secret that Rowling used to love writing in cafés. However, because of her fame, she had to give them up. “part of the point of being alone in a crowd was being happily anonymous and free to people-watch, and when you’re the one being watched, you become too self-conscious to work,” she remembers.
Before being famous, J.K. Rowling used to write Harry Potter in cafés.
“As a writer, your highest aspiration is to touch people, to connect, to amuse or console. What could be more wonderful than hearing that your book helped somebody through a tough time? I think of the times when books have been my best consolation and source of strength, and I’m proud beyond words when I hear that anything I wrote did the same for other people.”
Next publications
Although she has finished it, J.K. Rowling hasn’t revealed the release date of Lethal White, the fourth book of the Cormoran Strike series. The script she wrote for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be released, in English, simultaneously to the movie premiere, on November 16th, 2018.
Created by the graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, from MinaLima studio, the cover of the script of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald highlights the city of Paris, where a big part of the story takes place.
More:
+ J.K. Rowling explains her function on the production of Fantastic Beasts
+ J.K. Rowling explains her involvement on the creation of The Cursed Child
News by: Pedro Martins
Translated by: Caroline Dorigon
Reviewed by: Kätrin Baumgarten
