John Green has written such celebrated works as The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns, but not without sacrificing copious keyboards along the way. In a Huffington Post Live conversation on Thursday, the young adult novelist revealed his “weirdest” writing ritual: He develops working relationships with the keyboards at his desktop computer.
“I switch keyboards every draft and then if — here’s my problem — if something isn’t going well, I throw out the keyboard,” he confessed to host Nancy Redd.
“Keyboards are only like five bucks,” he added, but if a piece of writing is going well, he’ll “keep the keyboard.”
Strange habits
Last week, I mentioned the writing tools great authors use. Writers, though, are a notoriously strange and -often- superstitious bunch, as seen from Green’s example. For some more unusual work habits, you may refer to the excellent infographic below, also prepared by the talented Robert Morris and the lovely people over at NinjaEssays.com. So, what is your strange habit?
Great post, Nicholas!!
Thanks, Patrick! Robert sure did create a lovely infographic 🙂
I write best on my couch with background noise in pajamas. Later at night is best, and when I am sleep deprived my brain actually seems to have more detail.
That’s fascinating! Mine just turns into mush.
Reblogged this on Sleepy Book Dragon and commented:
Any odd writing habits anyone? Me, I tend to edit and rewrite in the morning and write in the afternoon and the evening.
William Carlos Williams wrote on prescription pads.
Lol – that’s a new one 😀
Why wouldn’t he? He was a doctor. 😉
We’ll have to add it to the graph 🙂
Nicholas, liked this one and the other writing tools! Sometimes clever posts like these are just what tired eyes need. Totally enjoyable. It’s PJs and lots of coffee for me! Christine
PJs seem to be everyone’s favorite (myself included) 😀
Robert Morris and NinjaEssyas.com have done a great job with these infographics. Thanks! 🙂
Reblogged this on Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess.
That’s more of J.D. Salinger than I ever wanted to see. I’ve never been a fan. . .
I write in my kitchen–close to coffee and food. 🙂
I suspect that’s more of J.D. Salinger than anyone ever wanted to see! 😀
Enjoyed and shared! 🙂
Thank you so much! 🙂
I’ve gotta to be comfy. One of the perks of working from home. 🙂
Hear, hear! 🙂
I really enjoyed this too! As for me, in the winter I am usually wearing warm pj pants with a hoodie and black slippers. In the summer, I am in a tank top, shorts and purple flip flops. A cool drink is a must for me, no matter the weather, as thinking hard always makes me thirsty. 😉
That sounds so comfy! Love it 🙂
In PJs with a pesky cat on my lap. No wonder I’m slow. 😛 😀
Yes, but how much fun is writing that way 🙂
He doesn’t always sit still and I have to get up for coffee all the time and then make trips down the hall and so on and so on… Then there’s one-finger typing with my left hand (I’m right-handed). Too funny. 😀
😀
That’s hilarious 😀
Nice job, Nicholas
Thank you so much, John! 🙂
Another great post. I really enjoyed this, and the previous one on writing tools. I think it is very interesting to see some of the more unusual habits and traits associated with the greats. Seeing their process, in even a humorous manner, is always informative.
Thank you so much! 🙂
I write on the patio, winter or summer. I can’t write inside, too claustrophobic, I feel like my thoughts are trapped in the four walls. Besides I hear the laundry shouting at me, but I cannot hear it out on the patio, only the birds and my dogs slumbering at my feet.
Yes, loud laundry can be very annoying 😀
Enjoyed this post, Nicholas. Not sure about writing naked, especially outside – think of the mosquito bites? not to mention the neighbors and their kids!
Lol – yes, that’s not one I’m doing any time soon 😀
You mean writers actually get dressed? Huh. I thought PJs were the preferred attire. 😀
Now, whatever gave you that idea? (slipping out of his PJs to wear a proper shirt)
Definitely PJs. 🙂
I’m with you 🙂
It’s funny, too, because lately my husband has been doing the laundry. I know, crazy, right? Anyway, he says to me, “You only have like three outfits dirty and they’re all PJs. Don’t you wear clothes anymore?” Yes, he’s observant, too. LOL
Oops – busted! 😀
Hahahaha! Yup.
Usually when my husband leaves for work, I’m in my PJs, and then when I get home from the gym, I often put on new ones when I get out of the shower. So when he gets home, I’m in them again. 🙂
And you can see how observant he is: does he notice the fresh PJs?
Probably not. 🙂
Another great observation, Nicolas!!!
Aw, thank you, Erika! 🙂
Pajamas work well for me.
Ooh, I love pajamas… 😀
I like the idea but my household is too chaotic to write at home.
It’s just my husband and me, so for the most part it’s quiet. When my kids were young it was a different matter.
So…
If I’m naked in bed – in the corner – in a shed, drunk, standing up… writing well – let us take part of this latter advice to the optimum logical conclusion; not on strips of paper, but the back of perhaps a thousand matchboxes.
Actually considering the inebriation suggestion alternatively “beer mats” then having taken ‘all’ this into consideration… I should undoubtedly be in line to write a flaming masterpiece!
Looks like we’ve finally cracked the secret of writing the perfect novel 😀
I write whilst eating. Any excuse to do more eating.
Lol – I love this! 😀
😀
Reblogged this on Books and More.
Envious of the offices, even the shed. Wonder if any great writers wrote sitting on a bed.
I’ll bet they did 😀
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
If my house was of a size, I’d emulate Stephen King. As it’s not, I’ll have to stick with sitting in the back seat of my car with my laptop on a board across my knees. I think that’s curious enough to earmark me for greatness 😀
Lol – I’m sold 😀
Me too!