--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for…" description: "\"Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a lot. The second thing is to write...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/john-green-12_advice_whenever-i-m-asked-what-advice-i-have-fo_46801.jpg" --- # Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I… ![“Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a lot. The second thing is to write. And the third thing, which I think is absolutely vital, is to tell stories and listen closely to the stories you're being told.” quote by John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/john-green-12_advice_whenever-i-m-asked-what-advice-i-have-fo_46801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/john-green-12_advice_whenever-i-m-asked-what-advice-i-have-fo_46801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/john-green-12_advice_whenever-i-m-asked-what-advice-i-have-fo_46801.jpg) > “Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a lot. The second thing is to write. And the third thing, which I think is absolutely vital, is to tell stories and listen closely to the stories you're being told.” [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading builds a writer's internal library of language, style, and ideas; writing hones skill; actively listening to narratives sharpens empathy and storytelling intuition. **In simple terms:** Read, write, listen to stories. Key Takeaway Reading fuels writing; listening refines storytelling. Themes education creativity communication empathy skill development Mood inspired thoughtful encouraging Type advice instructional reflective When to use this quote - writing workshops - college courses - self‑study for aspiring authors - creative retreats Key Concepts literacy narrative structure active listening Practical Applications - advice for writing programs - curriculum design for literature classes Questions to Reflect On - How does listening to others' stories influence your own voice? - What habits can you adopt to balance reading and writing? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-writers/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“My advice to all young writers is quite simple. I would caution them never to evade a new experience. I would urge them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/my-advice-to-all-young-writers-is-quite-simple-i-would-caution-them/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [People have been asking me, "What advice do you have for young writers?" I tell them: a) get off social media; b) don't ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/people-have-been-asking-me-what-advice-do-you-have-for-young-writers/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [The worst advice a young writer can get is "Write what you know." Imagination is more important than experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-haldeman/the-worst-advice-a-young-writer-can-get-is-write-what-you-know/) [Joe Haldeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-haldeman/) > [Advice to young writers? Always the same advice: learn to trust our own judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/advice-to-young-writers-always-the-same-advice-learn-to-trust-our-own-2/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“What is your advice to young writers?” “Drink, fuck and smoke plenty of cigarettes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/what-is-your-advice-to-young-writers-drink-fuck-and-smoke-plenty-of-2/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Advice to young writers wo want to get ahead without any annoying delays: don't write about Man, write about a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/advice-to-young-writers-wo-want-to-get-ahead-without-any-annoying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“the thing you are most afraid to write write that -- advice to young writers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/the-thing-you-are-most-afraid-to-write-write-that-advice-to-young/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [What is your advice to young writers?Drink, fuck and smoke plentyof cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/what-is-your-advice-to-young-writers-drink-fuck-and-smoke-plentyof/) Hemantsmarty > [Advice to young writers? Always the same advice: learn to trust our own judgment, learn inner independence, learn to trust that time will sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/advice-to-young-writers-always-the-same-advice-learn-to-trust-our-own/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [When people ask, "Is there any advice you'd give a young writer?," I say write short stories. They afford lots of failure. Pastiche is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/when-people-ask-is-there-any-advice-you-d-give-a-young-writer-i-say/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [If I were to offer any advice to young writers, it would be this: be discriminating and be discerning about the work you set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-l-pez/if-i-were-to-offer-any-advice-to-young-writers-it-would-be-this-be/) [Barry Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-l-pez/) > [That's my gutsy advice to any young writer: write only about what you know well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/that-s-my-gutsy-advice-to-any-young-writer-write-only-about-what-you/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Buy a blank notebook. Draw a huge heart on the cover. Dont write anything negative in here. If you need another outlet, make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/buy-a-blank-notebook-draw-a-huge-heart-on-the-cover-dont-write/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [One piece of advice that I would give to any young athlete or performer is remember to thank your mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/one-piece-of-advice-that-i-would-give-to-any-young-athlete-or/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) ## More by John Green > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I just want to stay away from people and read books and think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-just-want-to-stay-away-from-people-and-read-books-and-think/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [A Margo for each of us--and each more mirror than window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/a-margo-for-each-of-us-and-each-more-mirror-than-window/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/no-one-ever-says-good-bye-unless-they-want-to-see-you-again/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Traffic's not too bad on Sheridan, and I'm cornering the car like it's the Indy 500, and we're listening to my favorite NMH song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/traffic-s-not-too-bad-on-sheridan-and-i-m-cornering-the-car-like-it-s/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Praise God for good nurses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/praise-god-for-good-nurses/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Nothing has ever looked like that ever in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/nothing-has-ever-looked-like-that-ever-in-all-of-human-history/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“said to him quietly, as if I couldn’t hear or something. Dad was about to respond but I interrupted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/said-to-him-quietly-as-if-i-couldn-t-hear-or-something-dad-was-about/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I believe humans have souls, and I believe in the conservation of souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-believe-humans-have-souls-and-i-believe-in-the-conservation-of-souls/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“He was hot. A nonhotboy stares at you relentlessly and it is, at best, awkward and, at worst, a form of assault. But a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/he-was-hot-a-nonhotboy-stares-at-you-relentlessly-and-it-is-at-best/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. (...) You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/imagining-the-future-is-a-kind-of-nostalgia-you-spend-your-whole-life/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) [Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a lot. The second thing is to write. 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