# How would you briefly describe what "good writing" is? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063 "2010-03-27T23:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bith_Shuffle)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/1 "2010-03-27T23:12:59Z")
I want to see how much consensus there is on the idea of what good writing is. Maybe there’s a lot of variance, maybe there isn’t. Suppose you had to briefly describe what “good writing” is. What would you say? ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/2 "2010-03-27T23:19:55Z")
Not sure whether you’re referring to fiction or non-fiction, but my answer applies more to non-fiction. When I worked as a writing tutor at my college, I explained it like this: Bad writing occurs when readers are struggling to figure out what you’re trying to say. Good writing occurs when readers know exactly what you’re saying, but don’t really care. Great writing occurs when readers know exactly what you’re saying, and you’ve inspired them enough to care about what you’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/3 "2010-03-27T23:21:44Z")
Good writing is the clear expression of an interesting thought using the right words, and no more. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/4 "2010-03-27T23:33:29Z")
Who wants to know, and why? The question can’t be answered meaningfully, unless you want the kind of answers you’ve got above, which, however nice they may sound, are useless to the person who’s struggling to produce “good” writing. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/5 "2010-03-27T23:34:54Z")
Good writing is accurate communication that makes the reader want to know more. I think that works for fiction and non-fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/6 "2010-03-28T05:58:47Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Good writing is the clear expression of an interesting thought using the right words, and no more. This. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/7 "2010-03-28T06:31:54Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Good writing is the clear expression of an interesting thought using the right words, and no more. Second this. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/8 "2010-03-28T08:46:09Z")
Good writing is, well… you know how when you’re sitting there struggling to come up with a good idea and it’s almost but not quite staring at you in the face but it’s so easy to be, in fact it’s what you’d prefer to be, distracted, and then you look for any excuse… Well, it’s not like that. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/9 "2010-03-28T09:07:46Z")
To me, good writing is terse, occasionally witty, and evocative of strong images with plenty of action verbs. I hate overly flowery descriptions that just go on and on without getting to the point of “how does this relate to the story?”. I feel like all too often this habit gets rewarded by indulgent, self-important literary snobs. (don’t get me wrong, there is great literature out there that’s very pithy with a keen sense of flow but it’s not always the rule) Which is why I’ve gravitated toward screenwriting - a form of writing where brevity is especially emphasized. The advice repeatedly hammered into aspiring screenwriters is _literally_ “cut to the chase”. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/10 "2010-03-28T09:12:34Z")
It’s the ability to select the correct details and convey them in an engaging way. It’s not enough to know how to merely write descriptively, one also must know _what_ needs to be described. Think about the most tedious creative-writing-101-short-story you ever read. Probably it went on and on about mundane shit nobody cares about (Ok, I get it, he’s got a real affinity for tuna sandwiches) or alternately, it leaves out so much information you can’t even get a firm grasp on the character, much less the character’s context. Too much detail, the reader gets bored. Too little detail, the reader gets distracted. ---
**Author:** ![Polly\_Glot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@Polly\_Glot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polly_Glot)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/11 "2010-03-28T10:15:05Z")
My 6th grade teacher gave what is IMHO one of the best pieces of advice: > [@](#): > > Good writing is like a bikini. Long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to keep it interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/12 "2010-03-28T13:25:31Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > … useless to the person who’s struggling to produce “good” writing. Yes, how to produce it is a separate question - as evidenced by the fact that the number who can do so is much smaller than the number that can recognize good writing. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/13 "2010-03-28T13:52:47Z")
Before looking at what others may have said, I would offer that good writing is a combination of directness, humor, clarity and , above all else, holding the reader’s attention and not distracting it with undue sidetracks and “calling attention to itself.” Regardless of the genre, if the “writing” isn’t obvious to the reader and doesn’t get in the way of the subject matter, then it is good. Otherwise it is less than good. There are too many examples from too many styles to exclude anybody’s efforts as “bad writing” as long as what the writer meant to convey got conveyed. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/14 "2010-03-28T14:58:23Z")
For me, good writing in fiction is when I forget I’m reading a story. I’m simply caught up in the story itself. I’m not jarred by cliches, obtrusive dialogue tags, unrealistic plot twists, dense and needless description, or other things that break the magic. I’m _in_ the story, transported there, experiencing it. In short, not Dan Brown. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/15 "2010-03-28T15:24:16Z")
> [@Polly\_Glot](#): > > My 6th grade teacher gave what is IMHO one of the best pieces of advice: That’s excellent advice; my first year English professor also gave me very good direction by writing, “WORDY” in red ink on so many of my papers. Use only as many words as you need; leave the rest behind. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/16 "2010-03-28T15:55:02Z")
I’m just happy when people can maintain a reasonable standard of grammar, spelling, and typing. To/too are _not_ the same thing! Infer and imply are _not_ interchangeable! I have a very difficult time seeing beyond such errors. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/17 "2010-03-28T16:11:43Z")
Good writing doesn’t make the reader work any harder than necessary. Whatever effort it demands on the part of the reader is rewarded. **Some** good writing is clear, concise, direct, natural, and easy to read. Some good writing is more difficult, elaborate, indirect, and self-conscious—but in that case, if it’s truly good writing, it can’t be simplified without losing something of value. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/18 "2010-03-28T16:13:06Z")
> [@Polly\_Glot](#): > > My 6th grade teacher gave what is IMHO one of the best pieces of advice: Yeah, I went to Catholic school too. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/19 "2010-03-28T16:29:49Z")
Something that is a pleasure to read. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063/20 "2010-03-28T22:19:33Z")
Something that makes you want to keep reading it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-briefly-describe-what-good-writing-is/534063.md?page=2)