Reading Quote by Jarod Kintz
““I don’t like writers whose writing is so obvious that I can predict what he’ll write while I’m still taking in his current thoughts. Why, this means that I know what he knows, and the point of reading is to discover things and thoughts which I don’t already know or that haven’t occurred to me. The greatest amusement is surprise. Fellatio! (Bet you didn’t see that coming!)””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast discussion, 2023
The quote criticizes predictable writing and celebrates surprise as the joy of reading, urging authors to challenge readers with new ideas.
In simple terms: Predictable writing is boring; surprise makes reading rewarding.
Key Takeaway
Seek originality and surprise in writing.
Themes
creativity
reading
surprise
literary criticism
Mood
provocative
playful
critical
Type
analysis
commentary
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing workshops
- literary reviews
- author talks
Key Concepts
Narrative expectations
author-reader relationship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you make familiar topics feel fresh?
- What risks do you take to surprise readers?
A Different Perspective
Predictability can sometimes be intentional for comfort or genre conventions.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
