How to write a bestselling novel with author Ken Follett | BBC News

The BBC’s Katty Kay travels to the UK to visit Ken Follett, author of bestselling novels including ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ and ‘Eye of the Needle’.
His books have sold nearly 200 million copies and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Ken and Katty discuss the writing process and what it takes to become a bestselling author.
You’re watching Influential with Katty Kay.
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[@ZeroGravity60]

I love writing. I've written several books in the last two decades but I consider them all practice books with only one good enough for market. Oddly enough the one good book was the one I started first and ended a few years ago. Writing is an art but can also be seen as a simple recipe. Write, rewrite, and write again. Focus and passion on the author's part is what makes a book worth reading. They say in the USA one in ten read a book. In Canada, one in ten write a book. While having your book published and successful in the marketplace is amazing, [I would imagine], my true love for the art is in the bearing of my soul.

[@KYLETISZAI]

Thanks for sharing, you inspired me a bit

[@SaundaryaYogaMarga]

Lovely and sweet words about his wife! Whatever you do with great passion is bound to be successful! Great talent!

[@francesbernard2445]

How refreshing to hear from someone who is not saying that we should rid ourselves of all self-doubt.

[@Taiyeb.1Z]

Reading extra books is good for knowledge 👌🏻

[@user-km6je8my4f]

Thank you so much . Very interested report. Thank you very much dear Ken Follett in the your hard work.

[@stardust_memories2260]

Mr Follett could right about my lounge chair and make a brilliant historical thriller out of it. ✨

[@manK2022]

I like a work of Mr. Follett. He is able to combine technical, personal, and historical information into captivating stories. Pity he has not dealt yet with fascinated British inventions- a steam engine, railways. There are some persons whose live could be perfect paterns for a book- e.g. Mr Trevithick etc...

[@alancawfield6549]

I've only read one of his books (seen the Eye of the Needle Film) but seeing as its winter and just before Christmas I'd recommend people read Whiteout, it's a perfect thriller to read at this time of year.

[@28pbtkh23]

I think that I started to read that book, then someone swiped it (nicked it, borrowed it, whatever.) I’ll have to pick it up again.

[@mahnazquamar938]

We learn this author about our goal How he is Energetic in this age also ❤ It's mean very dedicated his goal 🎉🎉🎉🎉

I’m currently playing Pillars of Earth on Nintendo Switch. It’s a pretty good adventure game. Really makes me want to watch the TV show or read the book next.

[@ciobanubucur]

The TV show is great! You definitely have to watch it! And read the book, of course..

[@ytj22]

Despite what others are saying, absolutely do not watch the TV show first. The book is a masterpiece. If you wish to make yourself miserable and watch the TV show sometime, that's up to you, just don't watch it first! (You're welcome).

[@tastypymp1287]

@@ytj22 What TV show?

@@ytj22Ok, but as I said, I’m playing the game, and I’m almost done with it, so I’ve pretty much already spoiled the entire story for myself anyway.

[@PathsOfReason]

This is inspiring and heartfelt thank you.

[@Happy_Buddah_Bonsai_UK]

Bonsai master class by Bonsai master Peter Chan is my favourite 💚 book 📕 of all time 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@davidkoplitz1969]

So interesting. Thank you !

[@heatherdowhaluk8228]

I adore his books

[@maiblack448]

What a lovely humble man.

[@dan27music]

I like Charles Dickens quote about he New Testament, it "is the best book that ever was or will be known in the world,."

[@TravellerZasha]

For me personally I wouldn't rewrite my second draft from scratch. If it's on a doc file I make a copy of it and rewrite and edit the copy basically rewriting while adding parts from the first draft that is good. It saves time and doesn't make me burnout as much however that's what works for me and I've done this for years.

[@tamara3276]

Never ending books😅

[@spankflaps1365]

Once upon a time there was a goodie who beat a baddy, and he lived happily ever after.

[@kliberalsing]

2:42 lol

[@sam17987]

Hola soy costarricense y adoro todos sus libros ; he comprado todos los que están en español ; desde los primeros que no fueron tan famosos;; de ellos tengo 17 y después de la Los Pilares compro lo que escribe y espero el siguiente;; daría lo que fuese por conocerle;; estuve en Londres, pero no lo logré; ahora estoy en Zurich hasta el domingo 7 abril

[@emerbrkah]

i like books alot but im not writer

[@jonerlandson1956]

do you people really realize just how many books we have in this existence... we have more books than we have words....

[@KYLETISZAI]

WHAT IS YOUR POINT?????

[@jonerlandson1956]

@@KYLETISZAI the news is reviews according to the senses...

[@jonerlandson1956]

@@KYLETISZAI *_Mental illnesses are common in the United States,_*_ affecting more than one in five adults... In 2021, 57.8 million adults in the United States lived with a mental illness. The most common mental illnesses include: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Dementia..._ *_Top 10 U.S. Literacy Rate Statistics..._*_ 21% of adults in the US are illiterate in 2022... _*_54% of adults have a literacy below sixth-grade level..._*_ 21% of Americans 18 and older are illiterate in 2022. Low literacy rates end up costing Americans up to $2.2 trillion every year..._ *_The U.S. has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions, the highest maternal and infant mortality, and among the highest suicide rates..._*_ The U.S. has the highest rate of people with multiple chronic conditions and an obesity rate nearly twice the OECD average.Jan 31, 2023_ _Dr. Thomas Seyfried: Cancer as a Mitochondrial Metabolic Disease -_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/gabWkohoqcarpdksi=0TOHo1R3UtW8a6N1 _Unlocking Nature's Secrets: The Mind-Blowing Rhizophagy Cycle Explained by Dr. James White -_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2LKYmprit2Gi9Usi=ftKG-aLWqJrHsYlQ

[@user-dg8po3hc4q]

❤

[@briceds]

Easy when most purchases came from 1 buyer

[@asmaniislam8785]

HMMM,VERy TRUE

[@khansvirtualdiary]

📝✒️

[@danielcaldwell1110]

So basically we need three years with paid leave to write a best selling novel, did I get it write? No pun intended.

[@lambertois11]

I have mixed feeling about Ken Follett. Yes, the Pillars of the Earth was a masterpiece! But the World Without End was a huge flop! The World Without End is basically the same story, with the same characters transposed in time! I did not finish reading the World Without End, because I lost interest in the book! Ken Follett must have been quite desperate to publish something, when he decided to cut and paste the World Without End !

[@danicadabic9789]

Isn't "The World Without End" just the second book in the trilogy? No wonder the characters and settings are all the same.

[@lambertois11]

@@danicadabic9789 Wake-up man ! The same characters, the same scenario !! Ken Follett has demonstrated is total lack of creativity ! If you need an example of a trilogy with the same characters, but with full creativity : Stieg Larsson and his Millennium Trilogy !

[@barneymagee3285]

You’re in the right place for promoting fiction…

[@peterbarton9856]

Try harder, Ruski

[@TheVanpablo79]

Not news

[@beewa8840]

Yes it is.

[@ibraibra2321]

The most funny part of Gaza story when americans and their allies saying they working on protecting civilians... those people are teaching the world that no one can beat them in lies

[@OmniRevolution187]

🇮🇱⃠

[@public.public]

"How to write a bestselling novel with author Ken Follett" Don't need him to help me at all. I'll use an AI. AIs are replacing the middle class... Good thing too.

[@lw1zfog]

auntie rolls out it’s latest MI5 implant in another effort to ‘humanise’ it for the viewers

[@peterbarton9856]

Try harder, Ruski

[@lw1zfog]

@@peterbarton9856 lady kit kat here is springing up all over the shop, trying desperately to shore up the numerous collapsing structures. reds under your bed pete ? how very 1950’s of you ! 🥴🤦🏽‍♂️🤡

[@tastypymp1287]

Who?

[@ytj22]

A famous author who has sold over 180M books. How's your day going?

[@tastypymp1287]

@@ytj22 My question defies your assertion.

[@thehangingparsiple5692]

​@@tastypymp1287his answer to your question defines your ignorance ❤

[@tastypymp1287]

@@thehangingparsiple5692 Lacks logic. Try again ol sport?

[@ani-sv5fh]

I advise everyone to read the Quran

[@beewa8840]

I advise everyone to read the holy books of all religions, then compare and contrast.

[@auro1986]

how? write good things about bbc, royal elites, and technocrats which don't have to be real just like those books on secret door