8 Things I Wish I Knew When I was Writing my First Novel

All-in-all, I think the second book has been easier than the first for me. This is (I have heard) not the usual experience. In part, I think this is because I didn't have to work as hard to create the characters (they already existed) and because I had some really strong ideas coming out of the last one.

Still, there are some practical reasons why it was easier as well...just because I knew about them now. Ways in which I had previously misunderstood the writing process. Here are a few of those things.

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[FlorTedesco]

It's all fun and games until your characters start doing whatever they want and ruin all your ideas (that's cool though, they usually have better ones)

[Isabel-ygqz]

"Not all writing is writing. Thinking, staring, researching, stressing, reading other people's books, reading your own book again, reading stuff that you've already written--all of that stuff is writing." This is so validating! Thank you so much for saying this!

[oneofmanyjames-es]

Have you considered calling the sequel "More Light Than Heat"?

[nixtheclause]

Call The Book “Forever An Absolutely Remarkable Thing”. Not just because I’m actually quite proud of it, but it would give you that ‘FAART’ acronym you wanted so much.

[emersonjakes]

It's funny that one Green brother has described his books as about "plot being interrupted by character" and the other says he started with plot and needed more character :)

[vigilantsycamore]

I'm taking notes for my overly ambitious fanfic projects

[simsamsammie]

Omg I would 100% read a John Green soccer novel

[samragni]

You have a break up and what could have been the worst day on earth turns into the best day because turns out your most favourite book ever will most definitely have a sequel! Love you, Hank

[aricwood]

I find it deeply interesting that John seems to have a harder time talking about writing than Hank. Not that John isn’t good at talking about it but his answers are often “I just kinda sit down and do it”.

It’s a really cool case study to see two brothers do such a similar thing, one being kinda naturally talented and one having to work at it more in a structured way.

[vntagecassette]

Writing in a non-linear fashion is the ABSOLUTE BEST. I do this all the time, and it keeps me motivated to actually make it to the cool scenes I've already written.

[jadedtoday]

Writing a book -> lots of hours spent screaming at your computer for one beautiful result.


Got it.

[matthewhodgins]

Hank, I just want to throw you a quick thank you. I teach grade 8 English in Canada, and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing was the novel I chose for a class read-aloud this term. Both the students and I loved returning to your story every time we picked up the novel. Maybe less f-bombs in the sequel, alright?...ha.

[theCodyReeder]

Is it bad that I don’t really want a sequel? I thought the book wrapped up nicely.

[arillusine]

I didn’t know I needed John’s soccer (football) novel. But I NEED it.

[Rosalie_Jansen]

I'm now stuck on my thesis right now and this video was unintentionally very helpful for me to see right at this exact moment, so thanks Hank!

[sherbet]

I'm currently 7 chapters into the audiobook, yelling text your into my empty house and absolutely loving it!! Tysm Hank, and it's cool to know that there will be a sequel :)

[ewrase]

Wimbley Wombleys All The Way Up: The Story of AFC Wimbledon by John Green

[rozempire]

No spoilers please.
It’s gonna be 10 days until the book becomes available in my library.

[tmikemartin]

VLOGBROTHERS DEEP CUT ALERT: John actually *did* (start to) write a novel about soccer! :D

Titled "The Space, " an excerpt from the book was released alongside John's first-ever story ("The Cat and the Mouse") as a PDF perk for 2014 P4A supporters.

It features hilarious dialogue; much to this Mountaineer's delight, it takes place in West Virginia; and as you'd expect from John, the writing itself is frequently gorgeous.

The opening is especially striking: "Duarte and I prepared for the AA District finals as we had for every game that season, in the steam tunnels beneath New Pine High School, the darkness complete except for the beam of our headlamps.... I told myself it was just another game, that life is long and soccer is short, but I could not shake the feeling that it might be the last time we’d play together. I did not mention this to Duarte, who was invisible to me except for the circular white light beaming from his forehead. In terms of the visible world at least, he was the light."

</excerpt so as to avoid copyright infringement> <apology to John if I annoyed him with this comment>

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Also: Fantastic video, Hank! Thank you! :D

[yushbhattarai]

"Good morning John, remember how I wrote a book." Best opening line of a vlogbrother video ever😎
(Edit: thank you so much to everyone who's liked this. I wasn't expecting it but that's the thing that makes nerdfighteria special)