05-04-2007, 03:58 PM
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 J.K. Rowling gives advice on writing; more info on her teen years
During the 1978-79 school year, J.K. Rowling took a creative writing course from a student teacher by the name of Dale Neuschwander. Though he was American, he instructed Rowling and her peers on the art of creative writing at Wyedean School in the county of Gloucestershire, England.
Years later, he originally didn't remember her.
Quote:
"I was contacted by the teachers in England who I had stayed with, and they told me that the Harry Potter author had gone to Wyedean at the same time I was there and perhaps I knew her," Neuschwander said. "It had been a long time, but I went to the grade book that I kept from that time and when I saw the class that she was in and her grades, I remembered her."
After discovering this, he promptly wrote her, saying congratulations. Then, though not many expected it, she wrote back. The handwritten letter itself actually hangs on the bulletin board in his office at St. Cloud State.
Quote:
Dear Dale,
One of the most wonderful and unexpected side effects of publication is hearing from people long since vanished from my life. I do indeed remember you and was very touched by your letter. Words of inspiration for your students:
Keep writing.
Accept the fact that you will tear up an awful lot of work in frustration before managing to write anything you like.
Start by writing what you know (your own feelings, people with whom you are familiar, etc.).
Most of all: READ! Nothing else will teach you what makes good writing or bad.
Now that he had looked into it, the teacher noticed some similarities between the school and Hogwarts.
Quote:
"There was this Snape prototype who was the head of biology. Alan Rickman, who plays Snape in the movies, looks like this guy, and he even has the same monotone voice. He was a memorable character, nice to me and the other adults, but not to the students. But now he's retired, and he dresses up as Snape and gives Harry Potter tours."
More on J.K. can be viewed here, including how she wrote when she took the class at the age of thirteen, being a Head Girl, and her overall apperance.  |