Communication Quote by John Green
“[My] interest as a writer is not in reflecting actual human speech, which, of course, does not occur in sentences and is totally undiagrammable...My interest is in trying to reflect the reality of experience-how we feel when we talk to each other, how we feel when we're engaging with questions that interest us.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Fault in Our Stars Author Talk, 2012
Writing should capture the feeling of real conversation, not just literal speech.
In simple terms: Write emotional truth, not perfect grammar.
Focus on authentic dialogue.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- personal essays
- teaching writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance authenticity with readability?
- What emotions drive your characters' conversations?
Real speech is messy; striving for perfect realism can hinder clarity.