The other day I was fantasizing about my next trip to London. The last time I was there I stayed at my favorite hotel (the Covent Garden Hotel) and just around the corner from it “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child,” a sequel to the Harry Potter series, was (and still is) showing. I made the mistake of not going to see it when I had the chance, not realizing that I wouldn’t be getting back to London for years.

The Cursed Child is an inspiration to me.

It, and other Harry Potter spin-offs, such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, reminds me of one thing I deeply respect about J.K. Rowling as a businesswoman and creative: the need to own and control your own content. (I know of no other writer doing this as well, and I suspect the only corporation which does it better is Disney).

I think most writers deeply underestimate the value of their content. I hope not to become one.