"لا دموع في الكاتب، لا دموع في القارئ. لا مفاجأة في الكاتب، لا مفاجأة في القارئ."

When you're pouring your heart out into writing, you’re not just arranging words on a page – you're carving out pieces of yourself and laying them bare. This idea centers on the truth that genuine emotion in writing originates from the writer’s own feelings. If you aren't experiencing the raw emotions as you create, your readers won’t feel them either. The same goes for surprise: if your writing doesn’t astonish you as you develop it, it won’t catch your readers off guard.

This concept has its roots in the early 20th century, articulated by Robert Frost, a poet who firmly believed in the power of authentic emotion. He lived through a time of significant change and upheaval, which undoubtedly influenced his perspective on the need for emotional sincerity in art. Writing during a period when the world faced wars and economic hardship, Frost understood that real connection through words required a writer to feel deeply and personally.

Let’s bring this idea to life with a real-world example. Imagine J.K. Rowling crafting the Harry Potter series. When she wrote the scene where Harry walks into the Forbidden Forest, prepared to face Voldemort and his own death, she reportedly wept. That deep sorrow and bravery she felt as she penned those words transferred onto the page. Readers around the globe were moved to tears – they felt Harry’s fear, his courage, and his acceptance. This wasn’t just a result of good storytelling; it was Rowling’s own connection to the pain and sacrifice she wrote about. That’s the power of emotional authenticity in writing.

So, how do you apply this wisdom to your own writing? Start by tuning into your emotions. Don’t shy away from them. If something in your story makes you laugh, cry, or gasp, dive into that feeling. Let it fuel your writing. Consider keeping a journal as you work on your piece, jotting down how certain scenes make you feel. If a section doesn’t evoke any emotion in you, it might be time to rework it until it does. Also, don’t be afraid to surprise yourself. If your plot twist doesn’t take you off guard, it probably won’t surprise your readers either.

Picture this: You’re writing a novel about a young woman who’s just lost her mother. You’ve experienced loss yourself, and the pain is still fresh. Instead of shielding yourself from that hurt, you dig deep into it. You let yourself cry, remembering the weight of those moments. As you write, the grief on the page is palpable because it’s real. Your readers, who might have felt similar loss, connect with your character almost instantly. They cry with her, they grieve with her, and they find solace in her journey because it’s written with genuine emotion.

Or think about a scenario where you’re crafting a mystery. You come up with a twist that makes you gasp out loud. It’s unexpected, even to you. You can’t wait to write it because you know your readers will never see it coming. And when they get to that part, they’ll be just as stunned as you were.

Writing with true emotion and surprise isn’t just a method – it’s a bridge between your heart and your readers’. When you let your guard down and write from a place of sincerity, your audience feels it. They’re not just reading your words; they’re experiencing your journey right alongside you. So next time you sit down to write, don’t hold back. Feel deeply, surprise yourself, and watch as your readers do the same.