How to avoid sounding like HP

darrtwish · Oct 5, 2008

So I'm in the process of writing a YA fantasy novel, and I've come across a problem. My co-author (who's in charge of this project) has put a scene in there about a magic class..immediately my mind jumps to Hogwarts, even though I've never read past the second book in the second book of the series. How do I avoid it sounding too much like HP? (I hope that wasn't too convulted)

mscelina · Oct 5, 2008

Don't have a magic class. Sorry, that's the best I can offer. I think magic schools are pretty much DOA these days.

Cranky · Oct 5, 2008

mscelina said:
Don't have a magic class. Sorry, that's the best I can offer. I think magic schools are pretty much DOA these days.

Yeah. The whole concept for awhile is going to sound deriviative (heck, even the marketing folks might want to MAKE it seem derivative or similar, at least), even if it's not.

First impressions are hard to overcome.

Zoombie · Oct 5, 2008

Oh, no...don't not do a magic class. Just have it be rather differenty.

Like, say, if you want to read a book about a magic school that is completely different from Harry Potter, read "Year of the Griffin" by DWJ.

ChaosTitan · Oct 5, 2008

Who is in charge of the class? Where is it held? Why do the characters attend?

It's all in the details. The only way to avoid making it sound like HP is to make your details different enough that people don't go, "Hey, Hogwarts!"

And for the record, "magic class" doesn't make everyone think of HP. I don't.

Zoombie · Oct 5, 2008

I keep thinking of a Adult Learning Annex with one of those old pedophile looking men who keeps on rambling stories rather than actually teaching...

Esopha · Oct 5, 2008

Have it be taught by a TA, or a grad student. Or a substitute.

That never happened in HP.

MattW · Oct 5, 2008

Is it a correspondence class?

SPMiller · Oct 5, 2008

Magic schools make me think of Le Guin, but then, I'm obviously crazy and stuck in the 60s.

Celina's and Jen's advice seems best on the surface: if your cowriter can't sufficiently distinguish the scene from Rowling's work, you should consider scrapping it.

However, you could do a lot worse. Rothfuss did in The Name of the Wind, which made me think of both Rowling and Le Guin at the same time. Ouch. Didn't stop it from selling.

Now, it's also possible that you could simply raise this concern with your cowriter and see if she can't improve the scene until it's clearly nonderivative.

RainyDayNinja · Oct 5, 2008

Learning magic by correspondence course? I am SOOO writing that now!

FennelGiraffe · Oct 5, 2008

Write it so it isn't a pastiche of an 1890s view of British boarding schools.

ZeroFlowne · Oct 5, 2008

Have it take place in another dimension.

Dommo · Oct 5, 2008

How about an apprenticeship? Make learning magic, akin to picking up a certain trade(ok, this might mean magic is less "general purpose").

A person apprentices for so many years and becomes a journeyman and then a master. This might limit a person to maybe only really mastering one form of magic, or perhaps being competent in several.

Zoombie · Oct 5, 2008

INTERNET CLASS!

Inarticulate Babbler · Oct 5, 2008

Patrick Rothfuss just won the Quill Award with The Name of the Wind. It's more like a college than an elementary or high school, but it's a Hogwarts-ish magic shool. That was one of my complaints. However, the ages of the students are vastly different, and the story doesn't revolv around the school. And, it is in a different time (if not world). As a matter of fact, the main character told us in the frame-narration that he got kicked out of the school. All points to consider. Also, make it a very different type of wizards/magic.

Idahobo · Oct 5, 2008

Esopha said:
Have it be taught by a TA, or a grad student. Or a substitute.

That never happened in HP.

Very funny and very true.

If you absolutely have to set your story in a school, have it just be a setting, not a plot point. If there was a story

Or just name the school Schmogwarts. I'm sure no one would figure it out.

Hummingbird · Oct 5, 2008

There was a movie that I saw years before Harry Potter - and actually when you mentioned 'magic school' it was that movie I thought of.

Eh... can't remember the name right now. It was about a girls' school for witches and some of the teachers were planning on turning the whole school into potion ingredients or something. It was fun. Lol

You could have the characters visit the school on only the weekends if you wanted. Kindof like half-homeschooling. They do most of their studies at home and take the tests on a couple days a week in a classroom setting.

MattW · Oct 5, 2008

The more theoretical students attend lectures and write theses. Then there's the vo-tech school for practical application of magic.

Two schools in one, built in conflict.

geardrops · Oct 5, 2008

RainyDayNinja said:
Learning magic by correspondence course? I am SOOO writing that now!

Argus Filch tried to do that in HP.

katiemac · Oct 5, 2008

They did have a substitute, a couple of times.

Also, they didn't attend "magic class." They went to Transfiguration, Potions, etc. Like others have said, it's in the details.

Write the scene how you want it. If you're still worried, pick up an HP book and see if you need to be.

sunandshadow · Oct 5, 2008

RainyDayNinja said:
Learning magic by correspondence course? I am SOOO writing that now!

Watch the movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks first if you're not familiar with it.

Personally I think magical schools are a widely used concept and it's ridiculous to let the Harry Potter series have a monopoly on them. What about The Worst Witch, Wizard's Hall, A College of Magics, Maho sensei Negima, Akazukin Chacha, Familiar of Zero, Charmed... and that's not even counting schools that teach a combination of magic and combat like those in Naruto, Psychic Academy, Bleach, etc.

benbradley · Oct 5, 2008

Zoombie said:
INTERNET CLASS!

You beat me to it:

University of Pheonix College of Magic

"Get a magic degree in your spare time! Take classes at your own pace while still working a full-time job!"

Zoombie · Oct 5, 2008

Learning wizardry through flash animation. The best part is you can watch porn at the same time!

Erk!

Too many...wandwaving...arrgh!

<head explodes>

SPMiller · Oct 5, 2008

Zoombie said:
Learning wizardry through flash animation. The best part is you can watch porn at the same time!

Erk!

Too many...wandwaving...arrgh!

<head explodes>

http://bash.org/?111338

Straka · Oct 5, 2008

There were magic classes before HP, just look at Wizard's Hall. The MC's name is Harry too.

How to avoid sounding like HP

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