Questions about Other Writing and/or Radio Stuff
Q. Where can I find your book reviews?
A. You can search Booklist Online to find some of the hundreds of reviews I wrote for Booklist (or you can sign up for a membership and read them all). In the New York Times Book Review, I’ve reviewed The Book Thief, The Hunger Games, The Dead and the Gone, and Chris Raschka’s The Purple Balloon.
Q. How about your radio pieces?
A. For audio, you can search the web sites of NPR and WBEZ. You can find transcripts of my commentaries here on the site.
Q. Didn’t you used to write for mental_floss?
A. Yes! mental_floss is this wonderful trivia magazine founded by some hardcore nerds who truly believe in the power of making people smarter, and I love that magazine and their awesome web site and their books. In fact, I co-wrote (occasionally with my brother Hank) several of their books, including Cocktail Party Cheat Sheets, What’s the Difference?, Scatterbrained, and The Genius Instruction Manual.
Q. What was it like writing Let It Snow with Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle?
A. It was so, so, so, so, so, so fun. I absolutely adore Maureen and Lauren, and we had a great time coming up with all the little threads that would weave through the story (like tin foil man). Writing “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” might have been the most fun I’ve ever had writing a story; I was inspired by Maureen to try to make it as zany as possible and inspired by Lauren to try to give it real heart.
Other questions about other writing I’ve done and/or radio stuff? Leave them in comments.
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
What are you working on now? You may not be able to disclose this, but.
Do you know of any good writer’s references for developing plots and/or characters? The ideas are all there, but I’m just stuck in general.
Try ‘On Writing’ by Stephen King. It’s a great inspiration for writers as well as a great source for advice on writing.
Not a question but…
I’ve read all your radio pieces and listened to the ones that are still there, and I loved them. I like the edgy, satirist side of you. Of course I am someone who loves pretty much all liberal satire. But still, you should get back on the radio. (But keep on writing books, books are the top priority)
will grayson is such an awesome book.
Hey John,
I am a 7th grade English teacher in that one northern suburb of Indianapolis I that I don’t like to admit I work in because people assume lots of things about me. Anyway, I just discovered your greatness this summer, and after reading all of your books I have to ask, do you think that ANY of your books would be okay for a middle schooler to read? I want my students to be exposed to really good stuff like yours, but I am concerned about suggesting it lest their conservative parents eat me alive for perverting their minds with far less shocking things then they already know about from their conversations in the lunchroom. thoughts?
Hey, I’m a middle schooler, and I absolutly adore John Green’s books, but im not really sure whether they would be appropriate for the class at large to read, what with people developing at different times, some might not fuly understand the refrences and jokes, let alone the large quantity of swearing and sex. I love his books, and the majority of my friends do too, but I think you should just look over your class and see if they could cope, and also you should probably send a form to the parents? I dont know, I’m just rambling now. Just leave it to your judgement. They would be great to discuss and stuff. Oh well, I’m done. Bye
Hola John!
So I was listening to a couple of the pieces you wrote for the radio (they are all amazing by the way) and since a question has formed in my head. In your piece ‘Uncle Tom’ you mention going to a party and meeting a “petite brunette named Sarah”. I was just wondering if the Sarah mentioned is in fact also The Yeti or you, like your character Colin, have dated several girls of the same name?
Anyways, thanks for the books :)
When is the next book coming out? You’ve talked about your next project quite a bit, but is there any sort of release date in the near future on it?
I wish to read your old old blogs.
Was the title of your blog “sparks fly up” a biblical reference to job 5:7?
http://dftbarecordsllc.bandcamp.com/track/the-sparks-fly-upward-feat-john-green
I’ve been trying to find the answer to this question all night haha. I think this is a pretty good answer.
How do I get the digital copy of Zombicorns that I bought a raffle ticket for? This has to do with Project4Awesome….please help.
Please please tell me you’re working on something. I’ve read every book you’ve done. Now that I know of some other things you’ve done from your “other stuff” page, I’ll go and read those, and then I’ll have nothing. Thankfully I’m working through Maureen Johnson’s works right now. Let It Snow got me into her; that book was simply amazing. John Green, you are truly one of the best young adult authors of our time.
Hi John,
I’m a teacher of English Literature and I was wondering if you could give me any advice on the age range for which your books are appropriate?
Definitely more of a high school age. Most 8th graders could probably handle it, but the content is more appropriate for high school age readers. Also, I (being a high school student myself) believe that the average middle schooler would not be able to understand a lot of the jokes made throughout the novels.
Apart from the 4 books you listed, what other mental_floss books/magazines did you contribute to?
I absolutely love the stuff you’ve written so far and was wondering if you had any new ideas? Like are there any works in progress right now? That’d be great, and I’m looking forward to reading more of your books in the future :D
How bout them Zombiecorns?
I really dug this short story by you and It surprises me how you didn’t feel it was good and went to great lengths to make sure the reader knew you thought that before hand. I admit it’s not PaperTowns but its still a john green story and thus it has many of the magic and charm of a john green story plus a lot of guns and corn. Did i mentioned my mind was blown when i realized it was through a female’s perspective?
Hi John. I was wondering where your blog archives are?
Hey John, did you know that i spent four hours last night trying to find out riddles on This Is Not Tom. And i got to page 12. And then guess what….the website is not there anymore! I am going to cry. What happened????
Working on anything new? I got my friends hooked on you and we are all waiting on your next book.
HI, me again… so now this is not tom us up again but now i have a message coming up that says it contains malware and that the website could have been overtaken by hackers… so yeah, is that true ? or did you put it back up?
Hi. I was wondEring if you had books that you’d recommend that were your favorite. You described eXactly what my town is Like in the book “Paper Towns” and I just wondered…where does your inspiration come from? and what helps you come uP with stories like these?
I just got my pre-ordered copy of TFiOS but it wasn’t signed. What should I do?
What are your feelings of people putting references to you and/or nerdfighteria in their media (eg. Books, music etc.)?
Dear Mr. Green,
I’m not going to be long winded, but i simply wanted to say, i just read The Fault in our Stars, and cried like a baby for about an hour. Your work is astonishingly beautiful. Thank you.
Mr. Green,
Are you going to write any other books? I don’t need to know if they’ll be released soon or in five years or whenever, but I really like everything you’ve written and I’d love to read more (Frankly, I’d read your grocery lists). Thank you.