--- title: JK Rowling biography 1997 description: Harry Potter author JK Rowling gave her younger self some very relatable advice canonical: https://time.com/4761349/j-k-rowling-inspirational-quote/ author: Melissa Locker article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-05-01T15:23:21.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:43:13.439Z og:title: J. K. Rowling Gave Her Younger Self Some Very Sound Advice og:description: Rowling looked back at the year Harry Potter became a star og:url: https://time.com/4761349/j-k-rowling-inspirational-quote/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt970de1a4911e8c6c/6988c0ef97cdff17646b00bc/j-k-rowling-writing-advice1.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: J.K. Rowling writing advice og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: J. K. Rowling Gave Her Younger Self Some Very Sound Advice twitter:description: Rowling looked back at the year Harry Potter became a star twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt970de1a4911e8c6c/6988c0ef97cdff17646b00bc/j-k-rowling-writing-advice1.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # J. K. Rowling Gave Her Younger Self Some Pretty Awesome Advice > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. 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Samir Hussein/WireImage by [Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker May 1, 2017 3:23 PM UTC _Harry Potter_ author [J.K. Rowling](http://time.com/4713730/jk-rowling-trump-kushner-slytherin/?iid=sr-link3) has graciously doled out a great deal of advice to [up-and-coming authors](http://time.com/4722787/j-k-rowling-harry-potter-writing-advice/?iid=sr-link2) over the years. Now she has given a little to herself. On Twitter, a fan of the author’s [asked her](https://twitter.com/janemerrick23/status/858747711604088836) what advice she would give herself if it was back in 1997\. That was the year that the world was introduced to a young man who slept in a cupboard under the stairs before being swept into the magical world of wizardry in _Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone_ and taking readers along for the ride. That book was published in June of 1997 and soon after, Rowling’s life dramatically changed as [_Harry Potter_ ](http://time.com/4110623/j-k-rowlings-biggest-harry-potter-revelations/?iid=sr-link6)became a runaway success. Thanks to the benefit of hindsight, [Rowling’s](http://time.com/4455746/j-k-rowling-pottermore-new-harry-potter-books/?iid=sr-link7) advice to herself was very pragmatic, simply suggesting to relax about money and focus on future speaking engagements. > [](https://twitter.com/janemerrick23/status/858747711604088836) > [](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling/status/858985029317402624) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4761349/j-k-rowling-inspirational-quote/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4761349/j-k-rowling-inspirational-quote/"},"headline":"J. K. 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