John Green’s new book, Hollywood, Ending, is available now from Dutton, so we asked him a few questions about favorite books, writing advice, writer’s block, and more.
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Who would you most like to have read your book? (your boss, your childhood bully, etc.)
Because Hollywood, Ending is a novel about the collaborative art of movie-making, I would love for the people who helped adapt my books into films to have a chance to read it. A film carries the imprint of many people pouring their hearts into the project. Still, the person I value reading the most is my partner, Sarah Urist Green.
When do you typically write?
When I was younger I preferred burning the midnight oil, but these days I mainly write while my kids are at school. I used to believe that the specifics—time of day, surroundings—were crucial. Now I’m grateful for any moment I can lose myself in a story, whether at home, in a café, or aboard a plane.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I grant myself permission to be imperfect. I tell myself, “Nothing you draft today will necessarily end up in the book,” which is usually true, especially for early drafts. If I chase perfection, I’ll stay miserable. If I approach writing as a playful search for understanding, the blockage tends to dissolve.
What’s the best or worst writing advice you’ve ever received?
Robert Frost once remarked, “The only way out is through.” I find that line helpful not only for writing but for navigating life’s challenges as well.
Which book(s) do you reread?
I reread quite frequently. The text remains the same, of course, but repeated readings reveal how I’ve changed. Recent revisits include All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren, Beloved by Toni Morrison, and Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler.
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Hollywood, Ending by John Green is available from Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.
