I'm a great planner, so before I ever write chapter 1, I work out what happens in every chapter and who the characters are. I usually spend a year on the outline. Ken Follett chaptercharactergreat Change image and share on social
We all now tell stories by cutting from one dramatic scene to the next, whereas Victorian novelists felt free to write long passages of undramatic summary. Ken Follett cutdramaticfelt Change image and share on social
I read mostly fiction, a lot of 19th-century novels. Ken Follett 19thcenturyfiction Change image and share on social
I wanted to be some kind of captain of industry. Then I wanted to be in advertising, and then I wanted to be a newspaper reporter. Ken Follett advertisecaptainindustry Change image and share on social
Listen, I wrote 10 unsuccessful books before I broke through, so I'm looking all the time to keep my books fascinating. I want to write what people want to read, not push any message. Ken Follett bookbreakfascinate Change image and share on social
Movies have influenced all writers, not just thriller writers. Ken Follett influencemoviethriller Change image and share on social
I don't think there's any great mystery to writing female characters, so long as you talk to them. If you lived in a monastery and never met any women, maybe it would be difficult. Ken Follett characterdifficultfemale Change image and share on social
My favorite period is World War II, and I'm in the middle of writing my fourth novel set in that era. Ken Follett erafavoritefourth Change image and share on social
I use a professional researcher in New York who does all the legwork, all that stuff which would take me days and weeks of calling, waiting for people to call back. Ken Follett backcallday Change image and share on social