AtExeterUniversityRowlingtookherdegreeinFrenchandspentoneyearstudyinginParis.AftercollegeshemovedtoLondontoworkforAmnestyInternationalasaresearcherandbilingualsecretary.Thebestthingaboutworkinginanoffice，shehassaid，wastypingupstoriesonthecomputerwhennoonewaswatching.Duringthistime，onaparticularlylongtrainridefromManchestertoLondoninthesummerof1990，theideacametoherofaboywhoisawizardanddoesn’tknowit.Heattendsaschoolforwizardry—shecouldseehimveryplainlyinhermind.BythetimethetrainpulledintoKing’sCrossStationfourhourslater，manyofthecharactersandtheearlystagesoftheplotwerefullyformedinherhead.Thestorytookfurthershapeasshecontinuedworkingonitinpubsandcafesoverherlunchhours.
In1992RowlingleftoffworkinginofficesandmovedtoPortugaltoteachEnglishasaSecondLanguage.Inspiteofherstudentsmakingjokesabouthernamethistimetheycalledher“RollingStone”，sheenjoyedteaching.Sheworkedafternoonsandevenings，leavingmorningsfreeforwriting.AfterhermarriagetoaPortugueseTVjournalistendedindivorce，RowlingreturnedtoBritainwithherinfantdaughterandasuitcasefullofHarryPotternotesandchapters.ShesettledinEdinburghtobenearhersisterandsetouttofinishthebookbeforelookingforateachingjob.Wheelingherdaughter’scarriagearoundthecitytoescapetheirtiny，coldapartment，shewouldduckintocoffeeshopstowritewhenthebabyfellasleep.Inthiswayshefinishedthebookandstartedsendingittopublishers.ItwasrejectedseveraltimesbeforeshefoundLondonagent，chosenbecauseshelikedhisname—ChristopherLittle，whosoldthemanuscripttoBloomsburyChildren’sBooks.