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Velvet Digest

How long did it take JK Rowling to write each Harry Potter book?

Author

Emily Wilson

Updated on April 14, 2026

J.K Rowling took six years to write Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the first book in the Harry Potter series. It was published on 26 June, 1997 and the bestselling fantasy novel series is marking its 20th anniversary in 2017.

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Subsequently, one may also ask, how long did it take JK Rowling to write all of the Harry Potter books?

J.K. Rowling worked on her first novel for six years. That's longer than George R.R. Martin took to write A Game of Thrones . What's more, Rowling had six more books to write about Harry, Hermione, and Ron before her series was complete.

Secondly, how many books did JK Rowling write before Harry Potter? Some years before that fateful four hours delay on the train, where the idea of Harry Potter was born, J.K.Rowling started two novels, but scrapped them both without finishing them, declaring them to have been “rubbish.”

Also know, how long did it take JK Rowling to write Order of the Phoenix?

around five years

How long is the first Harry Potter book?

The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, has 76,944 words. It has fewer words than the other six books, making it the shortest book in the series.

Related Question Answers

At what age should you read Harry Potter?

Like most milestones, there is no “right age.” It all depends on the kid—and the parents. But there are a few age-related guidelines to take into consideration: From a technical standpoint, Harry Potter is categorized as a middle-grade read, which typically encompasses 9–to–12-year-olds.

Why is Harry Potter so popular?

Harry Potter is partially popular because of the brilliant writing by J.K. Rowling and the scriptwriters for the movies. In other words, Harry Potter is popular because people can relate to it. Though it takes place in a fantasy setting, the problems that Harry deals with are all too human.

Is Harry Potter based on a true story?

While no, there is no actual Harry Potter, he was based on a real person! JK Rowling drew her inspiration for The Boy Who Lived from her neighbor Ian Potter who lived just four doors down from Rowling when she was a child.

Why did publishers reject Harry?

Did you know that “Harry Potter” was rejected by 12 publishers? Her publisher decided it was best to disguise her name (Joanne Rowling) because they feared a book with a female author wouldn't appeal to boys. “Harry Potter” came to her at age 25 while sitting on a delayed train. A lot of the books reflect her own life.

Which Harry Potter movie made the most money?

Harry Potter
Rank Title (click to view) Unadjusted Gross
1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone $317,575,550
2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 $381,011,219
3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire $290,013,036
4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets $261,988,482

What inspired Harry Potter?

J.K. Rowling first had the idea for Harry Potter while delayed on a train travelling from Manchester to London King's Cross in 1990. Over the next five years, she began to plan out the seven books of the series. She wrote mostly in longhand and amassed a mountain of notes, many of which were on scraps of paper.

What is JK Rowling worth?

$650 million

Was Harry Potter an instant success?

The first book in the series—Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone—is published in the United Kingdom. The book is an instant success, selling well and winning several awards.

Which Harry Potter book is longest?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Why is Order of the Phoenix so long?

One of the reasons “Phoenix” is so long is that I had to move Harry around a lot, physically. There were places he had to go he had never been before, and that took time — to get him there, to get him away. That was the longest non-Hogwarts stretch in any of the books, and that's really what bumps up the length.

Who ordered the Dementors to attack Harry?

The attack in Little Whinging occurred on 2 August, 1995 after the Ministry of Magic insisted that the Return of the Dark Lord never occurred, during the summer of 1995. Wanting to discredit Harry Potter, Madam Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge ordered two Azkaban Dementors to Little Whinging in order to silence him.

How many words are in Harry Potter?

When added all together, the Harry Potter books contain 1,084,170 words. Below you'll find the total word count numbers for each book in the Harry Potter series: How many words are in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stones? There are 76,944 words.

How long does it take to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?

17 hours and 34 minutes

How did JK Rowling impact the world?

Rowling has lived a “rags to riches” life in which she progressed from living on benefits to being the world's first billionaire author. She lost her billionaire status after giving away much of her earnings to charity but remains one of the wealthiest people in the world.

What is JK Rowling writing now?

Currently, Rowling is working on the next book in the “Cormoran Strike” crime fiction series, which she writes under the name Robert Galbraith. When a fan asked Rowling on Twitter how the new book, “Lethal White,” is going, she opened up about the process and revealed her writing routine.

How many pages is Harry Potter?

4,224: Total number of pages in the series of Harry Potter books, according to Scholastic. 8.3 million: Number of hardcover sales in the U.S. in the first 24 hours of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” according to Scholastic.

What is the shortest Harry Potter movie?

Shortest film in the series: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” 130 minutes.

Is JK Rowling a billionaire?

In 2012, Forbes removed Rowling from their rich list, claiming that her US$160 million in charitable donations and the high tax rate in the UK meant she was no longer a billionaire. In 2017, Rowling was worth an estimated £650 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Is JK Rowling richer than the Queen?

Harry Potter author J K Rowling is now worth more than the Queen, according to The Sunday Times Rich List. Rowling, who retained her crown as the richest woman in the showbusiness section, has more than quadrupled her personal fortune in the past two years.