John’s Other Writing
Radio
For several years, I wrote commentaries for Chicago Public Radio and, on occasion, for NPR’s All Things Considered. The text of those radio pieces can be found here.
Let It Snow
I wrote a long short story called “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” in the book Let It Snow, which also features lovely stories from Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle. This book has been published in translated editions as well.
Anthologies
I’ve written stories for several anthologies. These include “The Great American Morp” in 21 Proms, “The Approximate Cost of Loving Caroline” in Twice Told, and “Freak the Geek” in Geektastic.
This Is Not Tom
I wrote this novella hidden behind insanely complex riddles called “This Is Not Tom.” TINT is unfinished (it will be finished eventually, I hope). TINT is free and available to the public, but the only way to read the story is to solve the riddles, which unfortunately is basically impossible without crowdsourcing. (A good place to start, however, would be the TINT youtube channel.)
For more information about other stuff I’ve written, including book reviews and the books I cowrote for the awesome people at mental_floss, visit the “Other Writing” FAQ page.
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Dear John Green,
Please come to Marlboro College in Vermont. Here in the middle of nowhere are nerdfighters who would love to meet you and talk to you. Hell! We even had a student on Plan write about you in her writings. Even though we are crazy idiosyncratic hyper college students we still love your books. I promise you there is no place like Marlboro College and we most definitely invite you to come have a cookie out of the cookie draw in the dining hall.
Cheers! Tori
Dear John,
The first of your writings to catch my attention was “Freak the Geek” in Geektastic, closely followed by “Will Grayson, will grayson” and your other novels.
I’ve just this hour finished reading “The Fault In Our Stars”.
“Bravo!”
Most sincerely,
Cassandra
Tucson, AZ
Dear John
Just finished reading the fault in our stars. One of the best books I have EVER read (and I’ve read a lot of books). Thank you for your amazing book.
Emma
Australia
Dear John (Oops, this is another author’s book!)
Well, I am myself and YA author too, from Brazil. I’d like to say to you thanks, for representing the YA novells so well, with these great and pertinent stories you make up. I discovered you one year before Looking for Alaska was translated to portuguese and released here, through I reader of my books. And it has been a delightfull discover. I read all your solo books by now, including the bravest one, TFioS, and I am so proud of having you as a colleague and reference. Cheers! Hope to find you someday out there in the literature world!
Dear John Green,
I am not at this point a nerdfighter, but the very idea of being a nerd and a fighter is quite appealling in its oxymoronic title. I am an avid reader of your works and as so eloquently put by Hazel Grace Lancaster, “Frankly, I’d read your grocery list.”
I realize that you were recently in the Atlanta, GA area and having a book signing. I was unfortunantly unable to attend due to prior engagements. I was able to obtain a signed copy of TFIOS via friendship. It was even signed to me! I just wanted to say thank you so much for being a great author, and for the book. If there is any possible way for you to come back to GA, and maybe visit a high school in Athens (Clarke Central) then I would be most gracious. If not, well then I’m still thankful for the book.
Thanks again, and DFTBA!
-Noah W.
Please come to Sydney? We Australians have quite a large nerdfighting base. Perhaps a book tour or something of that nature? You know what, any pretext WHATSOEVER. Not a stalker…just a weirdo.
Dear Mr Green,
I was wondering if you were in the process of writing any more novels? I’m so in love with all your work; it’s really amazing.
- Hollie.
Although they are always remarkable, I feel you should know that finishing your books often feels like ending a story in the middle of a
–but thanks, just the same.
Dear John Green,
I have a special request for you. I was very amazing with Paper Towns. To the point I have actually read it 7 times. A Whole Bunch of Teenagers would love for you to come to the Comox Valley. It is located on The East side of Vancouver Island, Which is in British Columbia as you might know. So Please E-Mail me back about it. I really hope you will be able to make it.
P.S., Please keep up the extraordinarily fantastical books
-Cameron J.
Dear Mr. Green,
My husband and I are huge fans. I was wondering if you ever come to the east coast, say like Nashville, TN? We would be the first in line. Thanks!
JD
Dear John,
Why are you so awesome? I seriously do not understand. Whenever I pick up one of your books, i simply cannot put it down until I am finished. Best thing since Harry Potter, which is saying a lot. So thanks for being awesome!
hey john,
i would just love to tell you that paper towns has made a gigantic impact on my life. i feel as if my questions about the meaning of life have been answered. i love your other books as well. they have kept me up late on school nights when i can do nohig but read. my best frind cameron got me into our books an she loves you to death as well ;) i love watching vlog brother videos on youtube thats where i go when i need a good laugh. but anywas thank you for the insight and inspiration to continue life.
love,
adrii
p.s.
you wanna do me a favor and send me a signed copy of paper towns? it would mean the absolute world to me.
ok so this might sound really odd but when i was reading this entry i totally thought it was my friend cameron who wrote it until you stated where you are from. but what maks it even more strange is her last name also starts with the letter j.
Dear Mr. Green
At this point I have read your book The Fault in Our Stars about 20 times. And am currently reading Looking For Alaska and love that too! It is life time goal to read every single one of your books. You have been the only writer so far that has held my attention for so long I usually don’t read book but yours are different. Thank you for everything you write it is a gift!
– McKenna
I just have to say, after reading your book the fault in our stars, i put it down and could not believe there could be a book as amazing as the one i had just read. I have read hundreds of books over the years and have never found one so sad and funny as the fault in our stars. I am now trying to get your other books and I seriously you keep writing because one day i would love to be an author and you are my inspiration.
Hello John,
Please visit Dallas if you’re available to do so! You seem like a very amiable person, and I’d love to speak with you about your stupendous books. I’m almost finished with “Looking For Alaska” and it is my mission to rake up the funds to purchase TFIOS (not quite easy being a nerdfighter that can’t afford a friggin’ hardback novel).
I thank you with all my heart for your amazing reading items.
–Savannah.
Mr. Green,
I am proud to say that you, aside from Ms. Jo Rowling, are my all time favorite author. I’ve read all of your books and find them to be very inspiring, most especially Looking for Alaska. You have a way of making me live inside your books, and that is something that I really enjoy. They’re quite captivating. I live in Indianapolis, so it was really interesting knowing all of the places where Hazel hangs out, in The Fault in Our Stars. I am so glad to have discovered your books. Thank you for being so amazing!
-Audrae
Dear Mr. John,
I have got to say, your writing is incredible. I love your writing style, and it feels as though you put so much thought to even the most “mundane” sentence. Thanks for being awesome. Come to Columbus, OH??
-Ali
Please, please, please come back to Vancouver, BC. I missed the chance of seeing you last time you were here. :(
I am absolutely in love with your work, and previously just finished TFIOS. I couldn’t stop crying.
PLEASE COME TO VANCOUVER.
Dear John,
Well, i am an eighth grader in California, and i am reading your boo “The Fault In Our Stars.” i am one of the many who had the pleasure of getting a signed copy. i was so excited, and still am. I am graduating on June 15, 2012. and was wondering, if you could perhaps try to come to Portola Middle School in Tarzana, it would be amazing if you could come and perhaps give a speech to the graduating class of 2012. i know you may not read this, perhaps you might, but it’d be a great honor and joy to have you stand on that stage, giving a speech to all of us. i’d probably be one of the happiest days of my life. Anyways, thank you. for opening my eyes to see that we take the little things for advantage, i appreciate and admire your work.
Please come to Portola Middle School in Tarzana, California
i know you’d be a big inspiration to all of us.
thank you.
Cecilia
You’re my favourite author now :D
Have been for a while.
My first favourite book of yours — Will Grayson, Will Grayson. (Thanks to which I discovered NHM, so, double thanks.)
Then I read Paper Towns, which is still my favourite book, closely followed by Sherlock Holmes.
Then I read An Abundance of Katherines, followed by Looking for Alaska, then finally, The Fault in Our Stars. (I’d like to say the pages were so soaked with my tears I could barely read; but I read it as an ebook, so..)
Anyway, you are general epicness (not a word, I am aware), so hurry up and write something else so I can read that too.
P.S. The clues in ThisIsNotTom are obscure as hell
-Thanks
Dear Mr Green,
I am torn between thanking you from the bottom of my heart for these so-much-more-than-amazing books that have each had me in plenty tears, and leaving a grumpy comment because my education is paying for it with the constant re-reading. Either way, I can’t express how grateful I am for your writing, and I won’t try because I suck at all things literary, and to expose that fault on none other than your page would be nothing short of humiliating. Also, I am not looking forward to reading An Abundance of Katherines, purely because once finished, I’ll have that feeling again of no more of the story, only, there won’t be another JG one to pick up afterwards.
Keep writing, and being awesome is more of a reflex than breathing for you so there’s no point, but nevertheless, DFTBA!
John:
I gave you a smashing good write up on”Waiting for Alaska.!” I LOVED that book. By the way, I am not what you would call a young adult. I m more of an older adult. If the new 50s are 40s, then I am in my 40s. I hope you don’t mind I still love your books. I would love it if you could come to Salt Lake City, Utah (beautiful place) and sign some books. I would be there with my favorite “Waiting for Alaska.” Thanks for your great writings and kudos to you!!!!!! :)
Dear John,
Dear John is the title of a good song by Taylor Swift! :D I am currently about to start reading the Fault in Our Stars, and I am an aspiring, avid writer. If there are any tips you have for me, let me know!
Sincerely, Can’t put this letter into the correct format! (AKA FabianRutterFan)
John Green,
I have only read one of your books but it was absolutely amazing! My best friend AJ told that I should read it. He know sthat I’m big on reading so he kept insisting on it. Looking For Alaska made me think, I really like it when books do that. I’m going to keep reading your books, starting with WGWG, I believe. Oh and DFTBA!!!
Sincerely,
Emily
Dear John,
I have read all of your books so far and I have loved them all, but The Fault in Our Stars touched me in a way that I don’t think any other book I’ve read has done before, especially a work of fiction. Your writing is so staightforward and raw, I feel an honesty there that I don’t think could be achieved in any other way. TFiOS made me laugh and cry with both joy and heartbreak. I do realise that Augustus and Hazel are fictional characters but they came alive in your story and my heart broke for them. I would just like to thank you for writing such a beautiful story and ask that – as long as you are able – you never stop writing, because I think the way that it you reach people is an incredible gift and should be shared.
Thank you again, and DFTBA.
Natasha
Dear John Green,
Firstly, I absolutely loved Papertowns and I am searching foracopy of
The Fault in Our Stars. I admire your supreme writing skillsandlovezombies.
Brains! I am a writer at heart and hsve learned a lot from your works!
Also, your videos (and Hank’s!) are spectacular.
~~~~~
From Squid, an unofficial nerdfighter
See what I did there?
PS~ I learned about you from Charlie. If you were wondering
John Green,
I speak to you on a personal level. I love your books. I started off reading Paper Towns. I instantly fell in love with the novel. I’ve ready every book of yours that is published. I’ve even read Paper Towns four times, and boy do I cry everytime! I know there isn’t a chance you’d reply back to me, but it gives me hopes you will. I’d be honnored to meet you, and discuss books on you, on a person level. Just as long as you aren’t like Peter Van in The Fault in Our Stars haha! Well, I just wanted to say, that you are one of the most inspirational people, and please continue making novels, fingers crossed for a sequeal to Paper Towns.
-Whitley
Dear John Green,
I am writing an essay on high school students and I’ve had a few people edit it so far. It’s approximately 8 pages and I’m looking to enter it into a contest to win scholarship money for college. Even though I’m only in 9th grade, I still am always looking for things that will benefit me in the future.
I have read all of your books and I love every one of them. I am also a nerdfighter and have been for a long time. I think you are extremely talented and I would be so grateful if you could edit my essay. If you would that would be so amazing and helpful. You were my inspiration to start writing in the first place. Reading your books lead me to finding interest in the lives of teenagers. Then watching your videos lead me to reading books you recommended. Then that lead me to want to do more reading and research. In the process of doing all of this, my vocabulary and writing skills grew an insane amount.
Please. I would be so grateful if you could do that for me. If you are interested, please leave a reply telling me so and I will email you the essay.
Thank you so much!!!
Dear John (as of we’re on a first name basis..)
Never stop writing.
-Lauren
Dear John
I loved your book Fault In Our Stars it was amazing. I read the book In one sitting. I started reading and couldnt stop! Never stop writing books :)
John,
The first book of yours I read was the Fault in Our Stars. I just have to thank you for writing something so heart-wrenching and perfect. By the end, I felt about TFiOS the way Hazel did about An Imperial Affliction. I loved it, but I almost loved it too much to let other people have it. It felt *special*. You had me simultaneously crying my eyes out and laughing. You’re brilliant, and you’re one of the several authors who remind me every single day *why* I want to write. The feelings you can create with a few words are incredible.
Thanks,
Savannah
Dear John,
I would just like to say thank you. You’ve made a huge impact on my life and how I look at things through the books you have written. Having read each of your books more than twice, I’ve cried, laughed, and experienced everything your characters felt along the way. Although TFiOS is by far my most favourite, I’d have to say that I take each and every one of your books with me whenever I know I’ll be waiting a long time, simply because I can’t get enough of them. I also now feel how hazel grace feels about an Imperial Affliction, and am also hoping you’re not like Peter Van. Thank you so much for opening my eyes and sharing with me your thoughts.
Hello John,
With thanks to the amazing technology of e-books I was able to purchase and read The Fault in Our Stars while I am in Argentina studying abroad. I just wanted to tell how awesome the book is. It’s awesome. Really, really, awesome. Thanks for writing, and making great videos, and also teaching me about ancient civilizations through Crash Course! Please keep writing, you’re exceptional at it.
Con amor de Argentina,
suerte! (good luck!)
Hey John!
Hey! Living in Connecticut is a drag, come to New Haven, CT!!!! There’s great food, and there are sooo many nerfighters here! WE would all love for you to come.
Hey John!
France’s talking to you!
I just want to thank you for everything you do. Thanks to your videos I understand English and thanks to your books I learn a lot of new vocabulary. Actually, you’ve changed my life at so many different levels and I will always be thankful for that.
Merci pour tout!
Mr. Green i’m a great admiror of your work. Paper towns and the fault in our stars are some of my favorite book. Please keep writting, in this awsome way, use your comedy please because thats what we need more , books are my scape from this world because they let me travel .
Dear John,
I think of you as my own relatable Peter Van Houten. Though I only grace the age of 13 1/4 I’m pretty smart and people say I can write (I usually disagree). I hope to a writer half has good as you some day. Though I don’t struggle with a disease like Hazel or Augustus I do suffer from a mental problem. The way Hazel referred to cancer and basically her views on the world amazed me and I’d honestly say changed my life. I bought the book a week ago and have read it almost every day since. Thank you for helping me come to terms and help me sort out thoughts I didn’t even know were lingering in my mind. The thoughts only added to the confusion and hell of being a pre-teen. Of course as Hazel always wanted I’d love for you to write me back and will probaly have the same reaction as she did if you were to although I do understand you may never see this and in addition your a very busy man. Thank you for writing and please continue.
The Fault in Our Stars is better than any other book I ever read. The only books to match it are the Redwall series and The Lord of the Rings series. I can’t think of anything more awesome.
Dear Hero,
I’m sorry for calling you hero. I just know I have to. There are three most important things I want to thank you. First, I want to thank you for being alive. Second, for writing books. And lastly, for keeping us alive. Not in a way that we’ll die, but in a way that you are building our spirits.
John Green, you are such an amazing writer. You inspire people and make them feel something you never thought about. You are so down to your fans. I remember you making a proposal to a nerdfighter from a nerdfighter. I just love that you are making your way to your fans.
There was this Peter Van Houten on TFIOS that people love because of his book. Unfortunately, he never interact with his fans. Instead, he ran away from them and never read their letters. I am so hoping you won’t be like him. It’ll break my heart, for I so loved you I can’t believe you’ll do that. You gave me hope that there was this author(that I love) that I can communicate with. Interact with. Make me feel that I do exist in his world. Thank you for that John Green.
Keep writing. We’ll keep on supporting!
Hey John! I wanted to tell you that your John Green Paper Towns Book is very interesting and is fun to read and its also very exciting and pulls you in.
looking for alaska is the saddest book i ever ever ever read.
an abundance of katherines is the funniest.
Dear Mr. Green,
I recently read a book of yours. I have read Abundance of Katherines, and Iam starting to read Fault in Our Stars and I’m already hooked. I’ve heard plenty of positive feedback. I plan to read Looking for Alaska. I love your writing and I can’t wait to read more of your books. My 7th grade classmates and I would defiantly enjoy it if you came to Vermont at the Northshire bookstore. There are many author events and I would enjoy your’s the most. Thank you so much for writing these marvelous books!
Thanks,
Natalia Sowulewska
Dear John,
Do you ever read “Dear John” and feel as if you are a part of a Nicholas Sparks novel/Taylor Swift break up song? Also, I would just like to mention my GINORMOUS appreciation for your amazing books (the first one I read was An Abundance of Katherine’s which was perhaps the best thing I head read at the time) and I can’t wait for more books. Yes, I am already demanding another one after you just pushed a new one out. What can I say–you’re an amazing writer!
Dear John,
Come visit Bhutan during the Mountain Echoes literary fest. Sigh!
Dear John,
I’d like to take the time to tell you how inexplicably grateful I am for your writing. With each book of yours I read, I ached to write just like you and I ached to have relationships like your characters. Every single character you created had me wrapped around their fingers and once the book was over, I didn’t know what to do with myself. It felt like they dumped me. But not one of your characters, not even Alaska, had me as broken up as Hazel Grace and Augustus.
Their love to me was so pure and it broke my heart completely. You are truly inspiring and I think it is safe to say that you are one of my role models.
With great thanks,
Kelsey J., MA
I don’t even know why I’m writing this, i guess it’s just 9:30 on a Monday night i have a lack of anything better to do, for i can’t fall asleep regularly, let alone before 11.
I love to write, as do probably many other of your fans. And I find your voice intriguing. Meaning your voice in your writing.. And i can’t help but relate to the characters you write about. Say forth, Alaska, and Margo. I too, in relation to Alaska, am a deeply sad person. Have been, really my whole life. But that isn’t the point here, and I’m starting to wonder if there really is even a point here to begin with.
And i hate this, feeling like a fan. And maybe that’s true. Maybe I am a fan. I just hate being put into a majority, being classified as one or another.
So, i’d like you to think of me, if you ever do read this, as Jen, a terribly depressed teenager who lives off of writing and reading to escape a world i cannot bear to part with, and can not bear to stay within. And who, maybe one day, would love to share what i wrote with you and get feedback. Get a response.
By the way, I love the endings of your books. I’ve always found goodbyes tragically beautiful, and endings have always been my favorite part.
Sincerely,
Jen.
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