YA fantasy Writers who have never read Harry Potter

I'm not the only one, am I?

Yup, ya are. Sorry! Now what are you waiting for? Go read Harry Potter!

I think that you're in the same position as a horror writer who's never read Stephen King--you might be talented, but you're out of touch with the state of the genre and ignorant of a key figure in it. Generally, I think it's a bad plan to be ignorant of one's own genre. Ymmv.

I haven't. So no, you're not the only one :)

I suppose this thread will inevitably become a "Read Harry Potter Or Else" sort of thing though . . .

Wasn't allowed to, so nope. Not alone.

I highly doubt Harry Potter is the key source to all fantasy. I have read dozens of fantastic fantasy series and not one of them was Harry Potter.

That's like saying "If you never saw Titanic, you have no business doing disaster movies with romance elements!"

HP a major work in modern YA fantasy, arguably the most important work in YA fantasy in the past few decades. Will it ultimately be judged a seminal work of modern YA fantasy, as LotR is of modern adult fantasy? Maybe no, maybe so. But it's a cardinal rule of professional writing to know your market, and you do that by reading widely in it...especially including its big successes.

Sure it does.

And the point is not "being shunned"--that's just a silly interpolation. The point is being professional, or not. If he fancies himself a pro, he needs to read HP...and probably ought also to read the execrable Twilight books as well. Certainly if he were planning to publish in the YA paranormal field he would need to read them, if only to know what cliches to avoid.


I'd suggest a close reading of Scalzi's advice to young writers (http://whatever.scalzi.com/2006/04/27/10-things-teenage-writers-should-know-about-writing/), with special attention to item 5.


Of course, if he's not interested in writing professionally--or even particularly well--then it doesn't matter in the slightest what he chooses to read.

(Not that it matters, but I've observed that most people who normally enjoy YA fantasy but refuse to read HP seem to do it out of some sense of "superiority" or "individuality," as though liking something that's so widely popular would render them déclassé. Hence, I think, the sometimes heated discussions around the issue. Personally, I don't think that Absolutely! Everybody! should read the books, though they *are* good, of their kind, but I do find it a little amusing that some people announce proudly that they haven't read them as though that conferred on them some sort of moral or literary distinction.)

Harry Potter is trash.

PD James recommends you only read books that are well written, because bad writing will infect you ;) So stay away from Harry Potter. Read the greats like Tamora Pierce and Terry Pratchett instead.

Harry Potter isn't trash. Just saying...

I've never read Harry Potter. However, not by choice. My brother got the complete set a year ago and still hasn't finished so I can't start on it *hmph*. That aside, I don't think you necessarily have to read something like Harry Potter to understand the fantasy genre. There are plenty of good authors out there that are unnoticed and they can contribute just as much. I'd just say get around to it eventually, but as long as you do read fantasy, and understand it, you're not missing anything.

And good for you for being so brave as to actually say you don't read Harry Potter :) It shouldn't matter as long as you do read fantasy (and some other good names, too).

I have only read the first Harry Potter novel and I have to say, I was bored out of my mind. Rowling's writing style just annoyed me. So, no, I do not think you have to read Harry Potter unless you want to. Maybe try reading it to see if you like it, but if you don't then why bother? Reading a book that doesn't interest you is like pricking your thumb on a thorn. You have to deal with it until the ordeal is done. That is not what reading is about. Reading is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. And to all of you who are saying that OP should read it if he want to write fantasy: why? That is like saying OP should read every single fantasy novel to have ever come out. It isn't necessary. There are thousands upon thousands of fantasy novels out there, why is Harry Potter so important? In my opinion, if you are going to write fantasy, read classic fantasy. Learn where all of these modern ideas have come from so that you can work them to your advantage. And then read the modern fantasy novels that you want. You don't have to jump on the bandwagon and read Harry Potter just because everyone else is reading it. Read what you want to read, what you feel is going to help you in the long run. If you think reading Harry Potter is going to help your writing, go for it. I'm not stopping you. I'm just saying that it isn't necessary.

Sorry for ranting by the way. Whenever I tell people that I don't like Harry Potter, they stare at me like I beat a puppy with a stick.

Pfft, read one book (The fourth one lol, I got it for my b-day) and I was done with that. Never been interested in reading any more. Even less so because it's so popular.