DARE TO SUCK

[AndrewHume1]

0:29 OH MY GOD I AM DRINKING TEA FROM THE SAME CUP AS THAT

MIND = BLOWN

[shrinesoul]

Unless your John Hughes. He wrote Ferris Bueller in about a week.

[L1LTERRA]

Love It: "You haven't sucked looong and HARD enough" :p

[theonlydoberman211]

That and It allows for anonymous feedback so you can improve on what you suck at.

[theonlydoberman211]

Writing: Do fanfiction first. there's no fear of sucking because it all sucks with you, because usually fanfiction is the gateway drug to authordom, so everyone is sucking with you. wow that sounded awkward.

[blakenorthman]

i made like 500 suckish vampire fiction books then i finally came up with just an ordinary fiction book good lord i sucked !

[DoamnaDeCorbii]

Yes, oh my god, you should have seen the first thing I wrote- so, so, SO bad. Like, worse than 'Varney' bad. Incredible levels of suckishness. Don't even get me started on the cliches. And the Ikea erotica. *shudder*

[fuzzheadwriter]

I wish Maureen would start vlogging. She is pretty funny. 

[Plottoberry]

A dormmate of mine yesterday told me: ''So I wanted to knit gloves for my friend, but I've never done that before, so I got a pattern and I knitted them and'' and then she showed me a perfect pair of handknitted gloves. And I could only think: ''HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE YOU HAVEN'T SUCKED YET?!''

[vidkid42]

"You haven't sucked looong and haaaard enough and did I really just say that?" XD

[zelda0is0so0cool]

lol, your not john...

[Plottoberry]

Sucktitude is an awesome word.

[BrilliantlyHermione]

It FEELS GOOD to suck.

[ReversePhysics]

THAT'S GUILDFORD, I LIVE THERE!!!

[Plottoberry]

I think you are 100 percent right when it comes down to writing prose but I'm not sure about poetry yet! I always feel like I'm ripping my poems apart whenever I want to change them later on, so I just don't and let them be there, with spelling mistakes and all kinds of stuff that makes my friend say: ''honestly you can''t say that in English, your phrase is just - wrong''. Any thoughts about it, anyone?

[ImGaryOak]

@Plottoberry Spelling mistakes are just obviously the kind of thing that should be changed.

[electronicflowers]

continue to click 1.

[schnitzeltruck1]

eh

[mthsbandrocks]

We should all tweet Maureen to see if she'll make videos again. :)

[AccoSpoot]

Question: At what point would you be considered to have sucked enough to attempt your first published work>?

[RiskyBrothers]

maureen, ok i'm 14, so ms.Johnson, im a boy, so i'm not sure if I should suck 'long and hard' that much

[Flashfire97]

3:31 Too late. I've been saying that to myself for the last ten years. Still suck though, not much improvement (perhaps the goal isn't so much as to suck, as to produce suck and then turn it into awesome. Hmm, missed that second step there)

[rayhs1984]

Morgan Spurlock now has a thing called ‘Failure Club’ which is bassicly the same as this.

[Neumie7]

"you dont just write something once and then youre done" wasnt it C.S. Lewis who did just that? lol

[KittehKatFTW]

I totally know that feeling... After Screnzy and then after NaNoWriMo I felt completely zonked for about a week. I would get up and pull up my script/story and stare at it, and then the word count because I couldn't believe I had finished my suckish story. Writing doesn't seem healthy, but I figure, neither does exercise and they're supposed to be healthy right?

[TheCjcornelius]

SUCKTITUDE

[TheSecretKeepersBand]

I am 15 and currently writing my second story.

When ever I read over what I have written and then go to read Shakespeare or something, I die a little inside.

Then I watch this and I feel much, much better.

THANK YOU.

[Plottoberry]

@TheSecretKeepersBand Then, please don't read Lolita then, EVER. It made me feel like I never wanted to write again.

[tipomartins]

"You haven't sucked looong and hard enough. Did I just say that?" Oh Maureen, you're so great.

[Likeaperv]

Tonight I suck....your blood!

[pbjellybeanful]

haha i love Maureen.

[Nyanasama]

;A; Audio is so low.....must find earphones

[MissJuniorMinty]

when you are learning things...you suck at them!~ words of wisdom

[Fashoniesta]

Kathryn Stockett's first novel went against everything you just said...and looked what happened to "The Help"...I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!!

[aKISSinTHEmoonlighT]

*hateful

[aKISSinTHEmoonlighT]

@FutureAbe You, sir, are a giant squid of anger. This is Secret Sister Maureen and she is wonderful. Please take your hatful comments elsewhere as nerdfighteria doesn't appreciate those who are increasing world suck.

[shealsosings]

Almost 2 years later, this is still my go-to vid when I need a writing pep talk from Maureen!

[TheWittyChappy]

A good ol' English roundabout. :D

[DrNick1010]

I just had one of my short stories bomb in my workshop class. This made me feel a lot better. Thanks Maureen!

[UnnaturallyChirpy]

suck long and hard enough. rofl.

[Thisismyusername1010]

What about books that get published while they still suk? (I'm sorry, the key of the letter between b and d is broken, so suk must be written this way)

[photogramapher]

@Thisismyusername1010 the key between b and d? uhhhh...

[Thisismyusername1010]

@photogramapher The key OF THE LETTER between b and d. Re-read my comment. Oh, yeah, and it's fixed now! Yay! cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc­c :D

[photogramapher]

@Thisismyusername1010 ah, gotcha. i was thinking of on the keyboard. facepalm.

[TacoWash]

@photogramapher the key between b and d on the keyboard is still c. X) haha

[Amelia0Rawr]

you said sucking a lot in this video ;D

[muggle4444]

Great NaNoWriMo pep talk :D

[homerdude7]

oh and quote "it feels good to suck" umm yeah THAT'S WHAT SHE ^ SAID!! oh

and I've got an amazing new trend called "textbomb" where when |someone's typing someone type textbomb on it! TEXTBOMB

[homerdude7]

I've only played the violin for two years and I can play a lot of songs! like medieval wars, ghostbusters scooby doo monster mash rocky top and rondeu YEAH SUCK THAT!

[awkwardfour]

Oh my God. After hearing "you have to suck long and hard enough" I began to view everything you said in a terribly wrong way.

[linkwooden]

absolutely all of that...is what she said.

[pokemaniac908]

HOLY MOLY THE NOISE SHE MAKES AT 0:23 IS THE SAME NOISE HANK MAKES AT THE END OF TODAY'S (10-3) VIDEO!!!!!!

[MrRydude17]

......when she said 'you haven't sucked long and hard enough' i giggled like a child.

[Elphie021]

I suck at crossing any street in England. And I live here! :D

[MissMeggie2804]

I have so many stories and plots on my computer. I've been trying to even finish a draft of a novel for years but they always just sort of lose there luster after about sixty pages. So, maureen, I give myself permission to suck (and only write shirt stories ) :)

[MewesK]

I like these Maureen vlogs. I'll miss them.

[poentasticgurl]

0:26 home improvment noise <333

[okod146]

i've watched this video maybe 50 times by now. i watch it every time i get A) too confident. or B) too unconfident. LOVE IT

[Starfishluvsyou8888]

I just realised that i went through more than half of this video without thinking of any sexual innuendos...

[Sporefan9599]

Who was that? (turent voice)

[Tatterdemarian]

I GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO SUCK

[Alexmercer246]

DONT HAF TO SHE SUCKED ENOUGH

[TheKhaxbreeAttack]

I just resigned myself to it. I will be an author, it's what I want. But I resinged myself to sucking...for the time being.

[EaKirstine]

Don't get me wrong, I love John and Hank, but the best videos on vlogbrothers are these. I'm happy I've seen these. It makes me suck better. (that what I said (; )

[artyfarty1996]

Oh good. I'm glad that we need to suck, because I really really really suck. It's pathetic really. I can barely go a week without writing something, whether it's fanfiction or my own stuff, but it all sucks, really. Granted the fanfiction isn't too sucky sometimes, but that's because I suck at characterization. Suck suck suck.

[fortheluvofme]

Before this video, I was suggesting on giving up writing. My sis showed this to me and now I feel refreshed because I am always hard on myself when it's not perfect. I'm glad she showed me this and I'm glad I allowed myself to suck!

[Benjofresh]

I feel so much better about thinking that the novel I'm working completely sucks at the moment! I really dread having to tediously rip it apart to add subplots that I know are going to make it suck less after the intensive work. Writing is rather frustrating, I think I'll take a break for a few days

[OoOImWithCrazyOoO]

who is this? :3

[werecatlove752]

I like you. You inspire me. You raise my self esteem :3

[ReKrisB]

This is great :3 Honestly, I *always* worry about how sucktastic my works are but between what John and what Maureen has shared with us through video, I am pretty confident that the first drafts are always gonna be pretty "meh" but the gold comes out in the re-writes ^_^ And at least I *HAVE* first drafts at all XD

[BeautifullyTragicxx]

When ever I feel concerned about my writing I watch this video. It always helps.

[PlatypusAnonymous]

LOVE this video. It’s spot on. Improving your writing skills takes time and practice, it doesn’t happen over night.

[sladunkaAa]

@MissSarcastic15 60%  of the world hates him...

[puertorrriquena]

@MissSarcastic15 Amen =) I need to "Dare to Suck" so to speak soon. I've been wanting to write but just, "haven't got around to it." To all the Nerdfighters out there, use the most of what time God gives you here DFTBA because He sees you try & will give you strength & determination

[gravi1ty]

@MissSarcastic15 god didn't publish it, good grief.

[EmbraceTheThunder]

@MissSarcastic15

Actually the bible is a composition of many books written over hundreds of years, continually altered and edited by controlling factions through out history and made to adapt to said current situations of those factions.

Knowing that, you could say the original bible did suck. If it didn't, then it probably wouldn't have been edited and republished so much.

History. Go get some.

[grayziehobbes]

@EmbraceTheThunder The Bible sucks now.

[phoenixcacti]

she looks like 15

[456RLW]

suckitude! XD

[thepurpletangerines]

I watch this video pretty much every day.

[singlexfilexisxlove]

0:24 LOL HOME IMPROVEMENT SOUND

[lilypad145]

Actually sucking when you write can have serious consequences.  Namely: Twilight. :<

[CompulsiveOrigami]

@lilypad145 I know I'm well over a month late on your comment, but that's what happens when you suck at writing and go on with the publishing path :3

[WaterLily331]

It's Friday, Friday...

[lyricalpraise]

You're not a brother. My brain just fell out of my nose. Put it back in. Why are you not a brother? You're a vlog sister. This isn't vlogsisters. I need that brain to operate. It's a miracle I am even typing right now. I may or may not be using the force. Either way, I live right by the Mississippi river. Zombies have been known to come out of there. With my brain making rapid exodus from my nose, I'll be bait for sure. You did this vlogsister. YOU DID THIS! lkjdlisur lksjrtia fldkgj su dfljg

[pajandrum]

This is good advice for pretty much anything. Especially any art.

[lennic95]

That's what she said....anyone?

[strickerman101]

any prostitute watching this would take some good pointers from this video :P

[bannanamouse]

that is so what she said

[TryGaming]

Clicked on the video thumbnail. Saw the appearance of the girl. Stopped the video.

[mikiverevikim]

@TryGaming

your loss

[topcat3768]

If at first you don't suck-ceed, keep on sucking 'til you do suck-ceed! :D

[completeidiot19]

You DON'T cross the road at roundabout... I know that from experience (I was 6)

[BeautifullyTragicxx]

I just noticed that she has the same name as a character from the musical RENT.

[Nonvegetables]

Haha the tags: "John, Green, Henry, Maureen, Johnson, writing, publishing, deadlines... forts."

[QueenOfTheAubergines]

That thing Maureen said about finishing something really big and not knowing what to do next- that is happening right now. Just finished my big English homework, handed it in, and now don't know what to do :/

[5hiver]

I have dared and continue to dare to suck. Not an innuendo.

[PSATParis]

I appreciate your message about sucking at something. Ironically, it's just what I needed to hear :)

[henrycollingham]

can’t... handle... the... innuendo....

[Sistahood2]

"you didn't suck long and hard enough...did I just say that?"

[RawrFunkyLlama8]

I've watched this video for inspiration like a hundred times. <3

[spidermanandsnape]

I am so glad John Green and the Yeti had a baby. because then you could come on here as not John and talk about writing and make all my fears go away. well, actually you just make me feel normal. I will keep sucking until I can't suck anymore!

[Emzilla1000]

Oh thank the lord. I SUCK. and it's completely normal. You have no idea how relived i am. *sighs*

Thank you for making this, whenever i feel like i should give up because i do suck, i come here and remember it's okay to suck. At least for now. :)

[TheNeiraaa]

Ive been sucking since 2005. I think that s enough.

Oh, that came out wrong xD

[YusufAlaseeri]

This whole video is a "That's what she said".

[michaelfognielsen]

Keep pressing 3... (she says AIDS)

[onlybyautomobile]

Her eyes are exactly the same colour of green as mine. I'm far too excited by that.

[Kangakool]

Press 1 over and over again.

[emeraldmaria]

John Green needs to get pregnant.

We still love you!

[wherearethehouseelfs]

i wrote a novel for NANOWRIMO and believe me

its sucks

i gave myself a lot of permission to suck on that one

[PantsAreUseful]

SO-MANY-THAT'S-WHAT-SHE-SAID-J­OKES

[rcnrcn927]

@PantsAreUseful Technically she said all of it. Nice username, by the way.

[PantsAreUseful]

@rcnrcn927 You have a very good point there.

P.S. Thanks, your username is nice too :)

[SirHauntedEagle]

This whole video is a giant sexual innuendo. Awesome.

[07qt]

@SirHauntedEagle actually, she's trying to say don't be afraid to try. you may not be good the first time but keep at it. you will eventually get it right and you will feel totally awsome when you do! and also don't be afraid to ask for help, cuz sometimes we need help to get on the right path.

[EmotionsNeverLie]

I took your advice, and a broke writers block that I've had for six mounths! But I still want to get the book published when I'm still a teenager.

[uniforchrist]

i just have to say, thats what she said.

[kelseyhm]

Omg I know...I have to write something and I know It...well basically sucks. and my teacher tells me I can only write it once, and I say..But it sucks..and they say, No it doesnt...me: Believe me, YES it does......

That is why I do not like writing english exams. Because they dont give you enough time to SUCK. :)

[CyraEm]

I wish Maureen made videos like this all the time. There are a handful on her channel, but not like this. She's just so smart and funny and awesome.

[OverlordChristofer]

You haven't sucked /long/ and /hard/ enough, kids.

[AVeryIronicGoose]

Anyone else watching this for Nano inspiration?

[Blade5468]

@AVeryIronicGoose Yeah, and the email we got from John was also very inspirational. I'm 10,000 words behind, though D:

I don't know if I'll manage, but I'm trying.

[greengirllover]

SUCKITUDE

[RawrFunkyLlama8]

I think I've watched this video about 100 times. It's so inspirational. It makes me want to suck longer and harder untill I'm awesome. 

[moonlady3000]

Heeh, I got a pair of gloves just like the ones she's got on. In hopes that they'll give me good luck on this year's nanowrimo (she was a pep talk writer last year). I don't pretend they'll turn me into a miraculously good writer, but they're cute and make me happy.

[caithemessiah]

who was that???

[CarolineTurpentine]

@caithemessiah maureen johnson, a young adult author friend of johns that filled in for him in the vlogs after henry was born. her books are really great, if you like john's books then you should check out hers. my favourite is The Bremudez Triangle :)

[harvestguy204]

That's what she said

Sorry, I had to >_<

Good questions and answers though

[halogod121212]

\O

..||\

./..\┌∩┐(●_●)┌∩┐

[animeotaku555]

gotta love inuendos or things that can be taken as them

[SSdetectiveagency]

how many times must you rewrite your writings in order for it to be good enough for the public eye?

[phoenix61385]

@SSdetectiveagency: As many times as it takes. It will suck on a level of suckitude that you have never thought possible at first, but through feedback from whoever you share it with and re-writes, it will progressively suck less until you are in possession of story 463 times better than the original. Writing a novel is a very, very, very, very, very, very long process that will test your dedication and tolerance of your own shortcomings. This process WILL make you a better writer, I promise.

[slugBuTtxXx]

0:25-0:30

Reminds me of the Home Improvement theme song x]

[sugarplumfairie88]

christopher paolini offends your "dare to suck" reasoning.

[GlassAngel100]

i love how you so serious threw out the video haha

[Kangakool]

You'd think that a video titled "Dare to Suck" would have more views.

[Extertainment]

@Kangakool A perfect example of the enormous importance of thumbnails.

[VampireLover132]

That's some really good advice. You're definitely right about the sucking part (which was basically the whole video). When you start writing you're going to suck immensely. My first stories are complete sh*t, but I'd like to think I've gotten much better. Still, no matter how much you right and how much people say you're a good writing, there's still room for improvement.

[YouWannaNoWhatIHate]

I'm a teen and I want to become a novelist someday. I have been writing and have a couple pages of my book "done", I thought I was doing a pretty good job too. I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson and realized how much I suck. I've been writing for a long time, I found a book I was working on when I was thirteen. Oh. My. God. It. Sucked.

[kelseyhm]

@YouWannaNoWhatIHate i know what you mean...is it possible i got deja vu from reading this...?

[ergflab]

Okay, this is the first video of yours that I've seen, and I subscribed. You gave great advice. I'm a writer as well, and I believe I'm talented, but I know that I have a lot to learn, so you're right. I still suck. I have a lot to learn. <3

[RawrFunkyLlama8]

I have lived in England my whole life. And I suck at crossing the road at rounabouts. Don't worry. :P

[Link55t]

i had an orchestra teacher who played at carnege hall (spelled wrong)

[PirateBunnies15]

uuuuuuuuUUUUUHHHH? xD i like this girl!

[lilla8216]

Best writing advice I've ever heard!

[Tattas999]

I feel like that every time I finish one of my animations for Youtube...

[thepurpletangerines]

"All writing is rewriting."

[magpiefabric]

I don't think it's that you suck at crossing the street at roundabouts, it's probably more that you're not really supposed to because of all the cars.

[WonderBeef]

I really like this lady, and I think I really needed to hear this.

[Zeke1018]

soooo....for this entire video i wish to say...THATS WHAT SHE SAID!!!!

[love801yaoi]

at last someone who tells the truth you'll SUCK A LOT before your gonna get better and you will countinue to SUCK A LOT even if you have become better.

[AliFREAKINGJewers]

I am like 80% sure that roundabout is near my house....

[carolin988]

i do dare to suck,in fact, thats all i do

[Megacookiefan]

It's MONDAY!!!

[Films4You]

Reverse Psychology, see my mental health video if you suck

[Michdabomb15]

uh i thought the screen name is vlogBROTHERS not vlogSIBLINGS wtf is up with that?

[dinosgorawr16]

@Michdabomb15 Maureen was just filling in for John while he was on Paternity leave since his wife had a baby back in January. -_-

[1nsultTo1njury]

Do you give sucking lessons?

=)

[TheAcademyGirls]

you haven't sucked long and hard enough.

OH MY GOD STOP, I CAN'T HANDLE IT.

[kira9931]

my bro is thinking of BlowJobs XD

[PedroT2000]

your a world suk terrorist