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 FollettRead
When I'm writing a woman character, I don't think, 'What would a woman do?' I just think, 'What would this character do in this situation?'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The focus should be on the character's individuality rather than their gender when writing.
Ken Follett emphasizes that when creating a female character, the writer should prioritize the character's unique personality and traits rather than reducing their actions to stereotypes associated with their gender. This approach helps in crafting more authentic and relatable characters that stand on their own merits, independent of traditional gender expectations.
Themes
WritingCharacterGenderIndividualityAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, I might share this quote to encourage participants to create well-rounded characters.
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You see, all that I ever held dear has been taken from me," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "And when you've lost everything-" Her facade began to crumble, and her voice broke, but she made herself carry on. "When you've lost everything, you've got nothing to lose.
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Without books I would not have become a vivacious reader, and if you are not a reader you are not a writer.
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I want to tell a story that makes the reader always want to see what will happen next.
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Well, for people who want to write best sellers, the best advice I can give is to say that the novel has to engage the reader emotionally.
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