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“If I had listened to ‘the rules’ back in 1990, there would be no Harry Potter. Stories about schools are passé. 95k words is too long.”
- J.K. Rowling on Twitter on November 9

I know I’ve talked about the impact the Harry Potter series has had on my life in previous posts, but I really can’t mention it enough. It was so important to me. When I first got my hands on that book, I was not very much of a reader, but it was that book and that series that really flipped the switch for me. I started reading and imagining other worlds and I haven’t looked back since.

The other thing that I love about the Harry Potter series is that I can look at it critically, and still love it despite its flaws and issues (and my agreement that Ron and Hermione should not have ended up together). But that is neither here nor there, since the point of today’s post is really about Rowling’s tweet about rules.

Rules, as always, are meant to be broken.

Never let anyone tell you that there is no audience for your story. There is always an audience. It may not be easy to find, it might take a very long time to get noticed within that audience, but there is always an audience for whatever you work. It doesn’t have to be a large audience for you to find people who are so passionate about the stories you write.

If someone tells you they don’t think it’s time for vampires or magic or wizard schools or what have you, don’t get discouraged, and don’t stop writing your story, because you are the only person capable of telling it. Your story is not like the stories people are saying are like yours. They might have similar themes, but they are NOT your story. Write for you, not for who you think wants to read it. The audience will come with time, and there’s nothing to say that there won’t be a resurgence in your story by the time you’re done.

Nothing is static, especially not writing. One of my favorite lines from the Battlestar Galactica reboot is, “All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again.” And again. And again. And with the way there’s probably going to be a reboot of BSG at some point in the future, and again, once again, applies.

There is always space for you and your story, and don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t write something. It’s your story, your choice. You can take advice, but if someone says there is no place in this world for the world you’re creating, maybe it’s a good time to not talk to them about your book anymore.

As always, here’s to a productive week of writing.

*#MondayMotivation quote found on my Pinterest Board: Inspirational Quotes About Writing**

** Just not this one. Obviously, I found this one on the Twitter.

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