Most of my stories have some basis in fact. Ken Follett basisfactstory Change image and share on social
People are much more complicated in real life, but my characters are as subtle and nuanced as I can make them. But if you say my characters are too black and white, you've missed the point. Villains are meant to be black-hearted in popular novels. If you say I have a grey-hearted villain, then I've failed. Ken Follett blackcharactercomplicate share on social
I might not be a good socialist, any more than I'm a good Christian, but I am one. Ken Follett christiangoodsocialist Change image and share on social
The research is the easiest. The outline is the most fun. The first draft is the hardest, because every word of the outline has to be fleshed out. The rewrite is very satisfying. Ken Follett drafteasyflesh Change image and share on social
I like reading history, and actually most authors enjoy the research part because it is, after all, easier than writing. Ken Follett authoreasyenjoy Change image and share on social
There was a very serious communist strain among American intellectuals before the war. America was a more tolerant place in those days, and Communists were not treated as pariahs. That ended with the McCarthy era. Ken Follett americaamericancommunist 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
World War II is the greatest drama in human history, the biggest war ever and a true battle of good and evil. I imagine writers will continue to get stories from it, and readers will continue to love them, for many more years. Ken Follett battlebigcontinue share on social