--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, for example, do the great writers…" description: "\"Why, for example, do the great writers use anticipation instead of surprise? Because surprise is merely an instrument of the unusual, whereas anticipat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/roger-rosenblatt-13478_anticipation_why-for-example-do-the-great-writers-use_938666.jpg" --- # Why, for example, do the great writers use anticipation… ![“Why, for example, do the great writers use anticipation instead of surprise? Because surprise is merely an instrument of the unusual, whereas anticipation of a consequence enlarges our understanding of what is happening.” quote by Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/roger-rosenblatt-13478_anticipation_why-for-example-do-the-great-writers-use_938666.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/roger-rosenblatt-13478_anticipation_why-for-example-do-the-great-writers-use_938666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9b/roger-rosenblatt-13478_anticipation_why-for-example-do-the-great-writers-use_938666.jpg) > “Why, for example, do the great writers use anticipation instead of surprise? Because surprise is merely an instrument of the unusual, whereas anticipation of a consequence enlarges our understanding of what is happening.” [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anticipation deepens comprehension more than surprise, which only highlights novelty. **In simple terms:** Anticipation expands understanding. Key Takeaway Cultivate foresight in storytelling. Themes narrative technique reader engagement story structure Mood analytical educational philosophical Type writing psychology When to use this quote - writing workshops - story outlines - reader feedback sessions - plot development Key Concepts anticipation vs surprise cognitive expectation Questions to Reflect On - How does anticipation affect emotional impact? - When is surprise more effective? A Different Perspective Relying solely on surprise can feel gimmicky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) [Anticipation Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation-consequence-1587145/) [Anticipation Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation-instead-1587147/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Unusual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unusual/) [Unusual Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unusual-anticipation-1587148/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Anticipation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-anticipation-1587146/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“I want to live today in anticipation of what you will do next instead of constantly complaining about what isn't pristine in my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-demuth/i-want-to-live-today-in-anticipation-of-what-you-will-do-next-instead/) [Mary E. DeMuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-demuth/) > [“Another of Keaton’s strategies was to avoid anticipation. Instead of showing you what was about to happen, he showed you what was happening; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/another-of-keaton-s-strategies-was-to-avoid-anticipation-instead-of/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Listen to the Bee Gees and you can learn to be a great writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-dioguardi/listen-to-the-bee-gees-and-you-can-learn-to-be-a-great-writer/) [Kara DioGuardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-dioguardi/) > [I've never felt grounded because of my ancestry or my gender. I think until women get away from that they're not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-ve-never-felt-grounded-because-of-my-ancestry-or-my-gender-i-think/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Here's what I love: when a great writer turns me into a Jew from Chicago, a lesbian out of South Carolina, or a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/here-s-what-i-love-when-a-great-writer-turns-me-into-a-jew-from/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [There are many great writers out there and, actually, great scripts. The problem is - and this is what I've always felt, even when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/there-are-many-great-writers-out-there-and-actually-great-scripts-the/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [I've known Shawn for several years. And he's just an amazing talent. He's a great writer, a marvelous, marvelous guitar player, and plays really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-clark/i-ve-known-shawn-for-several-years-and-he-s-just-an-amazing-talent-he/) [Guy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-clark/) > [ Intellectuals of \[Albert\] Camus' age who had previously disliked him now appreciate him. And at that point we come back to literature, and it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/intellectuals-of-albert-camus-age-who-had-previously-disliked-him-now/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [I haven't stuck to any formula. Most great writers stick to the same style, but I wanted to be more various](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/i-haven-t-stuck-to-any-formula-most-great-writers-stick-to-the-same/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [It's really hard to write a screenplay, it's nauseating. All those great writers that tried to write screenplays, they couldn't do it, most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hampton-fancher/it-s-really-hard-to-write-a-screenplay-it-s-nauseating-all-those/) [Hampton Fancher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hampton-fancher/) > [Every great writer is a writer of history, let him treat on almost what subject he may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/every-great-writer-is-a-writer-of-history-let-him-treat-on-almost/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [The blog is certainly another tool for writers out there to break their way in. But being a blogger does not make you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/the-blog-is-certainly-another-tool-for-writers-out-there-to-break/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [Many great writers have been extraordinarily awkward in daily exchange, but the greatest give the impression that their style was nursed by the closest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/many-great-writers-have-been-extraordinarily-awkward-in-daily/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [Great writers zealously learn the craft of their profession so they can release the power and the depth of their imagination and experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bishop/great-writers-zealously-learn-the-craft-of-their-profession-so-they/) [Leonard Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bishop/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Roger Rosenblatt > [If you put anger in the writing, then it's like an actor crying on stage. The audience will not cry with the actor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-you-put-anger-in-the-writing-then-it-s-like-an-actor-crying-on/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [“Somewhere, I am sure, a calm, quiet place awaits me where I may do something worthwhile again. Another island, perhaps. Or a little cottage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/somewhere-i-am-sure-a-calm-quiet-place-awaits-me-where-i-may-do/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Time can be such a menace to a man. By this age do that; by that age do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/time-can-be-such-a-menace-to-a-man-by-this-age-do-that-by-that-age-do/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Every writing teacher gives the subliminal message, every time they teach: 'Your life counts for something.' In no other subject that I know of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/every-writing-teacher-gives-the-subliminal-message-every-time-they/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [There is nothing like a man for bringing out the animal in an animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/there-is-nothing-like-a-man-for-bringing-out-the-animal-in-an-animal/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Children love to be alone because alone is where they know themselves, and where they dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/children-love-to-be-alone-because-alone-is-where-they-know-themselves/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Whatever you think matters - doesn't. Follow this rule, and you will add decades to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/whatever-you-think-matters-doesn-t-follow-this-rule-and-you-will-add/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [No writer besides Shakespeare has created more memorable characters attached to vices and virtues. In even their least sympathetic characters, one senses a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/no-writer-besides-shakespeare-has-created-more-memorable-characters/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [For those at home, as well as for those in battle, war is curiously disabling. The mere realization that one's country is at war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/for-those-at-home-as-well-as-for-those-in-battle-war-is-curiously/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [One of the very important things that have to be learned around the time dying becomes a real prospect is to recognize those occasions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/one-of-the-very-important-things-that-have-to-be-learned-around-the/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If you're going to believe in God, if you're going to take that leap of faith, as I do, then the God that seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-you-re-going-to-believe-in-god-if-you-re-going-to-take-that-leap/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If a man spends enough time in a library, he may actually change his mind. I have seen it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-a-man-spends-enough-time-in-a-library-he-may-actually-change-his/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [Do not keep company with people who speak of careers. Not only are such people uninteresting in themselves; they also have no interest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/do-not-keep-company-with-people-who-speak-of-careers-not-only-are/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [If the sad truth be known, writers, being the misfits we are, probably ought not to belong to families in the first place. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/if-the-sad-truth-be-known-writers-being-the-misfits-we-are-probably/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) > [The belief in potential human virtue underlies the whole idea of the Bill of Rights; the document is a very tough guardian of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/the-belief-in-potential-human-virtue-underlies-the-whole-idea-of-the/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) [Explore all 50 Roger Rosenblatt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) ## More Anticipation quotes > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [Long intros are cool because there's a little bit of anticipation, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/long-intros-are-cool-because-there-s-a-little-bit-of-anticipation-you/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [Playing shortstop is 75 to 80 percent anticipation, knowing the hitter and the pitch being thrown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-boudreau/playing-shortstop-is-75-to-80-percent-anticipation-knowing-the-hitter/) [Lou Boudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-boudreau/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“O I'm so afraid that it's true about to travel hopefully being better than to arrive. It might be all in the quest, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brophy/o-i-m-so-afraid-that-it-s-true-about-to-travel-hopefully-being-better/) [Brigid Brophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brophy/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/science-is-not-a-system-of-certain-or-established-statements-nor-is/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [\[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelig-pliskin/it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and-what-isn-t-and-therefore/) [Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelig-pliskin/) > [The so called unconscious inferences can be traced back to the all-preserving memory, which presents us with parallel experiences and hence already knows the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-so-called-unconscious-inferences-can-be-traced-back-to-the-all/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [ The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with \[women\] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i-do-dance-with-women-they/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Many live in dread of what is coming. Why should we? The unknown puts adventure into life. ... The unexpected around the corner gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/many-live-in-dread-of-what-is-coming-why-should-we-the-unknown-puts/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [I am honoured to be asked to take on this role, especially as it comes at such an integral time for our relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-boateng/i-am-honoured-to-be-asked-to-take-on-this-role-especially-as-it-comes/) [Paul Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-boateng/) > [“I can handle Evil, but I cannot handle Anticipation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabbo-de-la-parra/i-can-handle-evil-but-i-cannot-handle-anticipation/) [Gabbo De La Parra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabbo-de-la-parra/) > [Hope is itself a species of happiness...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/hope-is-itself-a-species-of-happiness/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Browse all 758 Anticipation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anticipation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why, for example, do the great writers use anticipation instead of surprise? 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