On Writing

[@vlogbrothers]

I'm livestreaming my signing RIGHT NOW at kzbin.infopCCy7kIdhjk?feature=share p.s. everythingistb.com -John

[@andreafeelsfantastic]

This video should have been sponsored by LastPass password manager, haha

[@Awesomenesser]

Any chance of you reading the audiobook?

[@minimarker3]

@@Awesomenesser he is!

[@Clockworkbio]

“Smallpox was” continues to be one of the best sentences I’ve ever read. Deeply excited to collaborate and help with the work to write “TB was”.

[@totalweirdo8538]

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[@KalebPeters99]

+++ your content is amazing and may even help inspire the next treatment breakthroughs for TB or otherwise!!

[@TheLithophile]

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[@sarah_chalk]

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[@snowybowietheadventurecollie]

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[@UltimateChallengeKit]

I love the ongoing tradition of the singular "deadpan" in each of your books.

[@anna._olsen_]

i wasn’t aware of that little easter egg. i’ll have to look for that next time!

[@sandhillfarmer1]

I’ve been trying to remember what word John uses once per book for months now. I feel so much better now lol

[@sams1982]

@@anna._olsen_It’s also in at least one of Hank’s books!

[@sams1982]

@ Yeah he overused it in LfA iirc, and then used it once per book after that

[@JohnSmith-ep6bj]

I like to joke that he used up nearly all of his deadpan allowance in looking for alaska, so now he has to be incredibly judicial with his usage and could only spare one per book moving forward 😂

[@realspacemodels]

Take heart John, As Carl Sagan put it "What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years." Dr. Sagan has been dead for 28 years, and here I am posting something he wrote. Books are great for that.

[@flowerheit4512]

"Books are the memory which does not die."

[@kvol1668]

Finding the word "deadpan" in a John Green book is the grown-up version of Where's Waldo...

[@PhilipKlippenstein]

"The only person I can claim to know well is myself, and I don't even know him *that* well" - John Green, 2024

[@KevinGrawlich]

It is really interesting to hear someone say that non-fiction feels like a waste of time. Not because I disagree, but I've been told my whole life that fiction is a waste of time; that I should focus on reality... "the thing that matters." Congrats on being so close to the finish line, by the way!

[@johnwilford3020]

I agree, I'm one of those people who does not enjoy reading but does it often in my technical job field so the idea of reading something untrue is already unappealing to me but to then hear there are people in the world who want to write but think writing the truth was a waste of their time is WILD to me.

[@NickTheDM]

@@johnwilford3020out of curiosity, do you consume fiction in other mediums or is the entire idea unappealing?

[@johnwilford3020]

@@NickTheDM I do in other mediums it's the doing free reading as a hobby part that's unappealing to me.

[@Jedi_Vigilante]

@@johnwilford3020 I wouldn't describe non-fiction and fiction as "truth" and "non-truth". Many truths are more easily written about in fictional settings. I mean, Star Trek "discussed" many societal problems by taking them outside the realm of Earth problems (many of which we may have personal biases for or against) and instead showing them in a more stark light by replacing the problems with aliens or extra-terrestrial threats. They did this a LOT with subjects, including things like racism, slavery, warfare, poverty, the ethics of technology, climate change (at the time called environmental degradation), even manifest destiny and nationalism. Could they have replaced that fictional show with a non-fiction show that simply discussed those issues in an attempt to change minds? Sure, but how many people would have chosen to watch it after they felt called out? I am reminded of the line from V for Vendetta: "Artists use lies to tell the truth, politicians use them to cover the truth up." An artist's depiction of a tyrant may "lie" about the tyrant's physical appearance by painting them in shades of black and red or twisting them into grotesque, inhumane shapes... but they are really trying to depict a deeper truth about that tyrant's real identity. That depiction is effectively a work of fiction, and yet it is telling a far greater truth about that tyrant than a "non-fiction" photograph ever could.

[@telanis9]

@@johnwilford3020 Truth simply exists; it needs no author. What is interesting about repeating facts in a slightly different format from the ones from which they were gathered? I'm sure you can see that such a reduction of nonfiction to that absurdly narrow (yet "accurate") view is ridiculous and close-minded -- a refusal to actually engage with it seriously or honestly. Which is exactly what you just did with fiction, and seems awfully hypocritical for one who claims to value truth.

[@notmynameanymore941]

I'm a dummie. I JUST realized you wrote THE 'Fault In Our Stars'... wow. To be fair I was a delinquent in 2014 so cut me some slack.... Its nuts that your brother, the science guy, and you, the writer, have both been out here doing your thing. that's awesome.

[@dangerousflyer4485]

Dude I know right it's such a crazy duo, even without all the nerdfiteria stuff

[@isacami25]

note that Hank is also a writer. and that John was in a podcast about the universe. so they're both the science one and the writer one

[@MattiasKesti]

Don’t forget that Hank is also a New York Times bestselling author AND a recording artist with a Billboard Top 10 album. (It charted on the ”comedy album” chart and many of the songs are about science, but still!)

[@elijahharrison4164]

This happens to every member of Nerdfighteria at some point. For me it was like 4+ years ago, and I felt late then. Don't ride yourself for it. 😋

[@kashiichan]

​@@elijahharrison4164Yep, agreed. It's basically tradition!

[@susanbaldridge5320]

John, this reminds me of the Virginia Woolf essay, “On Being Ill,” in which she writes “The public would say that a novel devoted to influenza [or tuberculosis] lacked plot; they would complain that there was no love in it - wrongly however, for illness often takes on the disguise of love, and plays the same odd tricks.” It’s a thoughtful piece and resonates with your observations. I’m eager to read your new book!

[@AndreaCrisp]

Oouf. I feel that quote as a person with a chronic disabling illness...

[@abdullahenani9670]

“I’m trying to speak from my deepest self to the deepest self of someone else” is exactly what happened to me with reading your books, and it’s the reason why most of them were so special to me!

[@johnchessant3012]

Fun fact: If you go to the wikipedia page for smallpox, you'll find that it starts "Smallpox was an infectious disease ...". That past-tense verb conveys so much human achievement. We've done it before and we can do it again. Thanks John for writing this book!

[@derekfnord]

"The only person I can claim to know at all well is myself, and I don't even know him *_that_* well." Brother, I feel that! 😆

[@slavarote]

The fact that I learned the word "deadpan" as a non-native through Looking for Alaska makes it even more impressive for me

[@lorenabpv]

same, friend, same

[@NachosNVeganChili]

Fun fact: in Dutch, swears theme around diseases. Some diseases are less acceptable to swear with than others. "Cancer" is not okay, since it's still too real and too awful (to the average Dutch person). The (old) word for tuberculosis ("tering") and the word for typhoid fever (tyfus) are vulgar, but much more allowable. It wouldn't be unheard of to hear these last two on tv.

[@lorenabpv]

that's fascinating

[@DanielledeVreede]

Tyfus is great to really let out the anger😂

[@SerialNoYM63]

Nice take. It's interesting that where I'm from, Belgium, Flanders to be precise, even though we share a language, over here we don't really use that phrasing. I wonder why that is, or where our languages diverted. Fascinating stuff. In ieder geval, groeten uit het regenachtige België. Hou je goed ;)

[@FelixEvers06]

As another Dutch person, yup. Cancer is occasionally used only by teenage boys trying to be cool, and to a lesser degree so is AIDS, but tering and tyfus are seen as normal swears to use. I used to swear with tering and tyfus myself, but I've been trying to do it less, especially since I started watching John rant about tuberculosis regularly.

[@lochnees]

Two things: 1. Your book is the only xmas present I asked my family for. Bring on March 2025! 2. I am mother to two sons. My greatest hope is that, some day, they will have a sibling relationship that emulates yours and Hanks, even if only in a small way ❤

[@Elliana2002]

I came just because the title is Saying Goodbye. My grandpa passed away yesterday morning. Saying goodbye is so hard.

[@martharichman7457]

My condolences, mine passed last night and I feel you. Saying goodbye is very hard. Sending love even though I don't know you at all 🫂

[@dangerousflyer4485]

We're here, because we're here, because we're here, the best to the both of you

[@KatyJohnsonVO]

Sending so much love to you

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

May his memory bring blessings.

[@taukid421]

You had me in the first half (of the title). And I pray that in your lifetime, you'll be able to re-release this book as "Everything i̶s̶ 𝘸𝘢𝘴 Tuberculosis"

[@BlueSkyes17]

Puff levels are off of the screen, John. Can't wait for your book.

[@SarahAllen]

Every time John says "At least on this side of the veil" my little "more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio" heart smiles a little.

[@ashinwill]

“I’m trying to speak from my deepest self to the deepest self of someone else” Hit me in the gut like a planetary collision and I appreciate it so much.

[@mikaemilie]

I think there is something so valuable in fiction writers writing non fiction. I obviously have no idea what everything is tuberculosis will actually read like, but I think there’s something about a fiction writers tendency to write for stories and entertainment, paint pictures, and have creative prose that allows their non fiction works to stand out and captivate more than some other non fiction works.

[@b.slocumb7763]

For my great-grandmother and many of her family members who died from tuberculosis in Kentucky, and for my grandmother who wanted to be a nurse to care for people with conditions like this, but was rejected from the program (after graduating high school at 16) because her chest x-ray showed a spot on her lung (and she was then sent to the same sanatorium where her mother died), I salute you, John. Thank you for all that you and your brother do.

[@KatieRomrell]

Watching this immediately after my students completed their 3rd book club discussion on The Fault in Our Stars. :)

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

Teachers for the win!

[@samlayton8142]

Hearing the phrase "this side of the veil" in an intellectual corner of KZbin is an unexpected, yet comforting surprise.

[@ranot2]

I'm writing my dissertation (art history!) and thinking a lot about the stories we use past art to tell to try to understand ourselves in the present, so "forever is an incorrect concept" and "give way to other works of art that will speak to people's now" is really helpful for thinking this through :) Thanks, John!

[@wolfgangbar9790]

As someone who is chronically ill. The way you talk and write about it speaks to me. Thank you for giving me and other (with o without illness, with or without tuberculosis) the words we deserve to make us understand and the world understand us better!

[@Xenolilly]

Your videos have been nothing but a good influence on me for 15 years. Thank you.

[@BobVogel-t1u]

That people can be as 'good' as John (and Hank) gives me some hope... to help offset the realities I see around me. We all need 'role models.'

[@thm540]

As a lover of everything Joan Didion wrote, I can guarantee you that nonfiction is powerful and just as magical as fiction.

[@turdl38]

I can't tell you if this book will succeed in that deep soul touching connection goal, but I can tell you that YOU have succeeded in that goal, John. And I thank you for it.

[@raewood4515]

I took a break from writing a grant trying to get more nonfiction books in public school libraries and this is the video I decided to watch, which feels like a lovely, meaningful coincidence. Thank you handing off your words to us readers :)

[@MamaSassKathryn]

On a rough day after a rough night, it's comforting to be able to listen to you speak. A Tuesday video is a constant I can count on in an uncertain time. The internet is a weird place where strangers can affect your day without knowing it.

[@hayleywatson9136]

I cannot wait to read this, John. I'm so happy that you get to write what you want to write

[@graemebloodworth8991]

the theme of forging connections via non-fiction through your work is so interesting to me. Obviously your written work and your videos are different in a lot of ways, but really you've been forging these kinds of connections for years. All us viewers are tributaries fanning out from the great Green river. Some go on to become great bodies of water and others peter out into small ponds, but we're all here and have been the whole time. I'm still grateful for finding the penny video all those years ago.

[@exeggcutertimur6091]

"I. Hate. Pennies!!!" Such a hilarious video.

[@InaBlueNutshell]

Your work has spoken to me deeply John! Today I did my final presentation for a class in Health Inequalities, I did it on tuberculosis and the lack of attention it receives. We have new TBfighters among my classmates now:)

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

That's so awesome!

[@mariaalicegarciamadeira2455]

I started crying because now your book is ours, it makes me emotional, it doesn't matter if it's non-fiction. I love reading romance novels, but I know it's important to read real facts, it's informative. Thank you, John and congratulations on everything you do. Now, everything is tuberculosis belongs to us, and I look forward to reading this!!

[@okayheykae]

Thanks for writing these book gifts for us, John, we'll take good care of it once it's ours!

[@Exnem]

Man, this just hit me right in the feels. It's that mix of pride and sadness that is so real. I love how he's grown from being that young writer who looked down on non-fiction to someone who sees its value in connecting with readers. His point about books not lasting forever actually being a beautiful thing really struck me, it's oddly comforting to think about new stories taking over when old ones fade. It's cool to see that even though he's switched to non-fiction, he's still exploring the same themes that have always fascinated him, especially how illness shapes our lives. That final moment where he hands the book over to its readers feels like watching a parent send their kid off to college, proud but definitely a little heartbroken.

[@jctsea]

John, I'm finally heading through TAR- and I'm so thankful for the raw honesty- While it's clear where a part of it is coming from, I'm grateful for your views. Haliey's Comet especially. I hope we both find our ways to 2061.

[@Rycore]

As an aspiring writer who has no shortage of story and ideas but struggles mightily to get those onto the page, the idea of trying to share something from inside myself is truly resonant.

[@Dcyaboi33]

Mad respect to John for doing this. He's one of the most mature and caring people I've seen on the internet ever (next to Hank of course) This video is helping me think about ambition

[@Thetechnicolorchild]

Just ordered a copy for my partner and self from our local indie bookstore, happy reading!

[@carterfrvr]

Thank you for giving us a new story. We will take good care of it. Hopefully those that work in healthcare and international law will also take it carefully and use it to make a difference- to make "Everything WAS tuberculosis."

[@McFearless80]

Writing is already a vulnerable act. Writing in a new way must leave you feeling completely exposed. Kudos for your courage! We're excited to read what you've written.

[@jpendowski7503]

Love the new haircut. It is a fine thing to send things out into the world for others to consume (or not), for any length of time it is needed.

[@autumnbrookesings]

I love watching the signing livestreams and hearing thoughts expressed in those videos tied up in a nice bow of a vlogbrothers video

[@laurasosnow7507]

John, I've been following Nerdfighteria things for years in a casual way, but then I was diagnosed with a lifelong chronic illness (Interstitial Cystitis) at 24 and it drastically altered everything I knew about...well, everything. During the winter afterward, I picked up The Fault In Our Stars and it was like a thunderbolt to the heart: suddenly I wasn't alone. I've since gone on to claim the term "disabled" and read tonnes of books we apparently label "CripLit": books about the disabled for the disabled. Still, the Fault In Our Stars has stuck with me and helped me form my core belief system about illness, particularly as it affects young(ish) people. 12 years (and a 2nd diagnosis) later, it sticks with me still. Words can't express what you, Esther, Hazel Grace, her parents, Augustus Waters and Isaac have done for me. Thank you for writing about illness the way you do. Thank you for seeing us.

[@p4tternss]

one minute ago. i feel so honored. I cant wait to read this one, I absolutely love your non-fiction books, thank you so much John for giving us another opportunity to write a goodreads review

[@crowonthepowerlines]

The art you create today enables and inspires those who come after.

[@debcarroll8192]

I wish you all the success in the world with your latest book, and for a second, revised edition with that revised title. God bless you.

[@brittany281]

This is great, and thought provoking, and wonderful. And it very much reminds me of Taylor Swift and the Eras tour. She has said multiple times that while many of her songs are written from her life experiences, that once she releases them and especially once after singing them in concert, they belong to the audience and represent new experiences together. Maybe the reason your fandoms overlap is because of that idea of shared stories and experiences are valued by and resonate with so many.

[@valeriereishuk5112]

Visual artists and performing artists have a similar moment of surrendering the work to the audience. Looking forward to this publication, John.

[@iamrjdennis]

Thank you for being such an inspiration, John. You make the world a better place.

[@mykadassano438]

Completely irrelevant but I'd like to take this moment to say that my favorite John Green book is An Abundance of Katherines. Hope this new book is a tremendous success. Best wishes!

[@bethhollingshead8876]

As always, John, your grounded and thoughtful perspective is much appreciated.

[@kendalhooper3302]

Always love your takes John. Your stories have been inspiring me for a long time. You say that you used to think only made up stories could touch people, I'll add my thought to this: all stories are made up, even non-fiction ones. Narrative is a concept we construct, and even when telling "true" stories, we are still picking and choosing which pieces of information to present and how to present them in a narratively compelling way. One of the reasons you and Hank are such great communicators is because you are masters at crafting compelling narrative, whether that be fiction, non-fiction, or through your digital mediums. I can't wait to read Everything is Tuberculosis. Thank you as always for the work you both put into the world, and DFTBA!

[@elizalee1595]

As a child I wrote all the time (reading too) but it wasn’t until i stumbled upon one of your books that I realized I actually really enjoyed this process of putting pen to paper. I really believe in the self you put out there and I know your words have definitely spoken to something in me. One of these days I hope to maybe do that for someone else…even if it’s one person. But all in all, I’m excited for this new phase John and I’m sure this book as all your other books have will entrench me once again in the marvelous world that is the way you see the world and tell others about it.

[@synthwav_]

there are posters with your books on the walls of my school! i think it's super cool to see them :D

[@christianmendez7697]

It's simple really, john drops a book and I buy it. Simple thank you

[@kingcowgirl]

On Writing by Stephen King was such a good thing to read to come across growing up

[@ruairihair]

Your last non fiction book was your best book in my opinion. I cannot wait for this new one!

[@minimarker3]

Just the slightest shade at Hank for his shenanigans on bluesky yesterday 😆

[@6023barath]

What'd he do? I'm not on bluesky!

[@untappedinkwell]

^^

[@CherryAngeJade]

right 😂😂😂

[@minimarker3]

@@6023barath he gave some ... unnecessary details about April May, which led to many a joke and tomfoolery.

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

Give us a hint!!

[@mansee6023]

I loved everything in this video, especially when you said that we essentialize each other. I'm going through a certain kind of grief myself, and I just realised that I view other people's lives with that lens.

[@DavidR-zw7jp]

"The only person I can claim to know at all well is myself and I don't even know him *that* well." This is, at once, both horrifyingly and comfortingly relatable.

[@natasalways]

as someone who enjoys Anthropocene Reviewed much more than any of your other work, it being one of my favorite books of all time, don’t worry about writing less fiction. non-fiction for the win baby!

[@evilbull8995]

On the bright side, I will happily be saying "hello" to your book when I get my copy :)

[@tomrogue13]

I pre-ordered mine!

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

I knew this video back when it was "Saying Goodbye (To A Book)".

[@BucketOfMarbles]

"We imagine our lives to be complex and multitudinous, but then imagine others lives simplistically." Wonderful, a reason why writing exists

[@loreskoulatos]

"writing is an attempt to reach across the infinite divide between me and you to make something from within me that might matter within you." --John Green That quote was so powerful i needed to write it down and share

[@stephaniepotter2729]

Looking forward to what this book will bring to both my own life and the world.

[@samanthaspegele2700]

As a genz who, like many, had their love for literature ignited by your novels-I am exuberant to read your first nonfiction!1💖💖

[@geeksdo1tbetter]

There's another one, The Anthropocene Reviewed!

[@shguturu]

can't believe I'm so early -- i've been following the vlogbrothers for so long and so excited for this new chapter! (ha)

[@KatyJohnsonVO]

"I am trying to understand and speak from my deepest self to the deepest self of someone else." What a goal, I hope I can do this too

[@josher887]

3:17 PREACH

[@curiousKuro16]

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[@NmMindstorm]

Someone's second death is in every way the most tragic one, but disturbingly, it is the one that no one will mourn.

[@HelenRosemarySmith]

Congratulations John! Exciting that the book is nearly ready to make its way into the hands of readers!

[@lauren-gx1lg]

I preordered this book after hearing the first chapter in the last big edit livestream. The first chapter alone is so good. In general, I deeply admire your advocacy for public health, and am really looking forward to this read.

[@t3hsis324]

Thank goodness for the parentheses...(!)

[@mdphybes]

Cheers John! Generousity, especially in a creative endeavor for solidarity, should always prevail. The Green Brothers are something else, uniquely useful, representative of diverse individuality and simultaneously positive perspectives.

[@jasmine3250]

I'm sooooo excited! Also I can't wait to see what color signature I get!

[@ConcertsAtHome]

I love your explanation that it won't last forever is a good thing. I feel we need a lot more of that perspective in the world.

[@shaynannigans]

I finally saw the movie Turtles all the Way Down and it was so good! They did such a good job bringing that book to life and good job being the gym teacher cameo!

[@jane_se.]

Looking forward to reading your book, John!

[@trinaolson7131]

As a fellow author (currently working on my second book) this is so helpful to hear. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on writing!

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

I'm really touched to know John also uses the phrase "this side of the veil". As a writer it's one of my favorites

[@pam112061]

I don't have any examples at the moment, but as someone who normally only reads biographies and autobiographies - the number of times someone had a family member die of turberculosis was something that stood out to me only after hearing you speak about it. Granted most of my readings involve people from the 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s when TB was common in every day life here in the US as well as every other country. Many or our past presidents, first ladies, artists and inventors of any kind - they had their life impacted by TB. Diphtheria was also very common illness and affected many families as well..

[@jesusgomes8421]

Watching this as I edit the manuscript of my second novel. Both unpublished though. Can't wait to say "Hello" to Everything Is Tuberculosis, John. DFTBA.

[@General12th]

Hi John! I've only ever watched your videos. I should start reading some of your books.

[@penny3767]

Congratulations, and thank you 🙏

[@ryanneliza]

John, we’re gonna love it ❤ Congratulations on last pass

[@RibbitRibbitTheFroggy]

Just started rereading The Anthropocene Reviewed the other day and was reminded of how much it speaks to me. I love the feeling of reading something that feels like it's on the inside of my head in ways that relate to different times in my life. Excited to read the new book; congrats on your last pass!

[@kendallcarter3491]

Congratulations on the completion of your book John. I can only speak for myself when I say I will be purchasing it.

[@ahuggingsam]

the ending to that video was like innuendo studio levels of good, and that is some of the highest praise I can give

[@lynnbilodeau4783]

The world is a much better place because you are in it.

[@ProfessorDropout]

"Forever is an incorrect concept" is such a banger of five words.

[@natalihoeg227]

I have read every single one of the Vlogbrothers' books - I'm so excited to have my signed copy delivered on release day!!

[@lauren8135]

If it’s any consultation John, I don’t pre-order books often but when I do statistically it’s a good chance they are yours. Looking forward to this one.

[@LizArgall]

That is lovely and as someone who's been taking the shift from fiction to non-fiction. Just beautiful.

[@davidball8370]

anyone else feel the need to give John a great big bear hug at the end of today's video?

[@MlleDrusilla]

I just wanted say that I was very excited this year when my niece told me she had to read looking for Alaska for school. We are in Colombia.

[@DanielRamirez-oi5dk]

I'm so pumped for this book. Love you Green brothers