That Time J.K. Rowling was Rejected, Broke, and Had One Last Shot at Harry Potter

First, we have some new readers tonight. Welcome!

And while tonight’s story is not our typical entrepreneur’s come-from-behind tale, the life of a freelance writer is not much different than that of an entrepreneur. Both take vision, commitment, and persistence.

In the early 1990s, J.K. Rowling hit rock bottom.

She was a single mother on welfare, battling depression, struggling to pay rent, and writing in cafés because she literally could not afford heating at home.

The one thing she had? A half-finished manuscript about a boy wizard. She sent it to publishers. One rejection, then another, and then another.

Twelve publishers turned her down.

The feedback?

❌ “Too long.”
❌ “Children’s books about magic don’t sell.”
❌ “Not marketable.”

Most people would have quit. Rowling almost did - more than once.

In Her Own Words

Reflecting on this period of her life, Rowling has said:

“Part of the reason there were seven years between having the idea for Philosopher’s Stone and actually getting it published, was that I kept putting the manuscript away for months at a time, convinced it was rubbish. I was ready to quit more than once.”

Despite these setbacks, Rowling’s belief in the wizardly world she had created somehow kept her going.

The Big Risk

But then, one tiny publisher—Bloomsbury—decided to take a chance on the middle-aged, unknown writer and her offbeat story.

But how it came about is crazy.

At the time, Bloomsbury was a small, struggling independent press in London, best known for academic books. They had little experience in commercial fiction and almost no footprint in children’s publishing.

The decision to acquire Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was a huge gamble.

The Yes That Came From . . . Where?

Before agreeing to publish it, the acquisition’s editor, Nigel Newton, decided to give the first chapters to his 8-year-old daughter, Alice. She read them, came back, and said:

"Dad, this is better than anything else!"

That one yes from a child changed Rowling’s life, Bloomsbury’s fortunes, and the reading habits of people worldwide.

It changed the world.

Ka-Boom!

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in 1997 with an initial print run of just 500 copies—mostly sent to libraries because Bloomsbury still doubted it would sell.

They even warned Rowling to keep her day job.

Then, something unexpected happened. The book took off.

Bookstores could not keep up. Sales exploded. Scholastic won the U.S. rights in a bidding war, renaming it Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. 

Within a year, Bloomsbury went from being a tiny academic press to one of the most powerful publishers in the world.

🔹 Bloomsbury’s stock price skyrocketed.
🔹 Harry Potter turned them into a billion-dollar company.
🔹 Rowling became the world’s first billionaire author.

Today, Harry Potter has sold over 600 million copies, built a multi-billion-dollar empire, and turned Bloomsbury into one of the most successful publishing houses in history.

All because they risked saying yes when everyone else said no.

The Takeaway

Whether you are an aspiring writer or a motivated entrepreneur, rejection is part of the game. And the difference between success and failure is often just one person saying yes—but you have to stay in the game long enough to hear it.

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Steal This Strategy

📖 Book – On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King’s incredible story of rejection, persistence, and how he made it.

🎥 Video – J.K. Rowling's Harvard Commencement Speech
An inspiring talk on failure, resilience, and betting on yourself.

📖 Book - Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc
The incredible story of how 52-year old Ray Kroc took a small burger joint and turned it into McDonald's, proving that persistence, vision, and a bit of hustle can create an empire, even later in life.

 📖 Book - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: The one that started it all!

Overnight Challenge

Think about something you have given up on, maybe a tad too soon. Was it a business idea, a pitch, or a creative project? What would happen if you tried one more time?

I’d love to hear your story for an upcoming Notes. Reply and tell me: What is one thing you refuse to give up on?

About Steve

Steve Strauss is the best-selling author of The Small Business Bible (and 17 other books), Inc.’s small business columnist, a lawyer (non-practicing), and an entrepreneur. He sold his last venture, TheSelfEmployed.com to Mark Cuban & Zen Business. Need a ghostwriter or a newsletter for your business? Contact Steve!