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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…” quote by John Green
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“[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.”

John Green

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.

Key Takeaway

Focus on authentic dialogue.

Themes

communication authenticity creativity

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • novel writing
  • screenwriting
  • personal essays
  • teaching writing

Key Concepts

narrative theory psychology of conversation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you balance authenticity with readability?
  • What emotions drive your characters' conversations?
A Different Perspective

Real speech is messy; striving for perfect realism can hinder clarity.

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