When is good writing good writing? Is it defined by a sentence or paragraph that hooks the reader? Or is it an ability to craft a gorgeous sentence? Or does noticing the writing of that great passage detract from the reading experience?
I think we can all agree there are books that amaze us with their prose and those that challenge us with their awkward phrasing and clunky pacing. It’s a question of quality. We know what works and what doesn’t on a visceral level. But how do we define it? And, more importantly, how do we make sure we’re on the right side of that line with our writing?
This question reminds me of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig. In it, Phaedrus struggles with the idea of how to define quality. He says:
Quality—you know what it is, yet you don’t know what it is. But that’s self-contradictory. But some things are better than others, that is, they have more quality. But when you try to say what the quality is, apart from the things that have it, it all goes poof! There’s nothing to talk about. But if you can’t say what Quality is, how do you know what it is, or how do you know that it even exists? If no one knows what it is, then for all practical purposes it doesn’t exist at all. But for all practical purposes it really does exist.
It’s that indefinable quality that defines quality. It is not something that can be broken down, but something that is felt.
In writing, we know that good grammar, pacing, tension, character development, voice, story, and flow help determine quality, but they alone do not make a good book. There are technically perfect books out there that don’t capture our hearts or earn a place on our favorites list. So the question remains: what makes a book great?
Here are a few ways good writing distinguishes itself:
Purpose
There is a reason behind the writing. It’s organized around a central idea that propels it forward. Every line matters. Every scene moves toward the next. There is a point to the story.
Clarity
Sentences and passages are written in a way that makes sense. Readers don’t have to scramble back and forth to figure out what’s happening. There’s a simplicity to the language that keeps the reader moving forward without pause.
Logic
There is a clear path to the writing (called the throughline). The reader knows where they’re headed, or at least knows the path before them. It may veer or get blocked, but the reader never feels lost even when the path detours. The actions and reactions make sense for the characters and situations. Great writing does not rely on illogical or forced solutions, i.e., things that come out of nowhere and have no explanation.
Voice
Good writing has a voice that sets it apart. There’s a cadence and flow to the way things are phrased that is unique to the characters, and which are identifiable and consistent. There’s a voice that sounds real and draws the readers into the story so they care.
Grammar
Good writing relies on the rules because the rules matter. Writing grammatically helps readers move through writing more easily. Consistency is essential here, so pick a style guide and use it. But know enough to know when you can break the rules for effect. Sometimes there are exceptions.
Word Choice
Simple word choice helps convey your message better. There’s no need to be fancy to make your point. But, at the very least, use the right words if you decide to go big. There’s nothing more annoying than realizing a writer used a thesaurus to find ten-dollar words only to use them incorrectly. Know the full definitions of the words you use. It may sound like obvious advice, but it deserves saying. Words have context and nuances that alter their meaning. Be sure you understand all of them before using a fancy word or you could jar your reader, maybe out of the story entirely.
The Facts
Get the facts right or, again, you risk losing your reader. A wrong bit of history or anachronistic detail will force your readers from the story and plop them back in the real world. At Disney, we called this “Breaking the Magic.” It was a fireable offense for good reason. It pays to get it right.
Grace
Good writing is graceful. It moves cleanly from beginning to end, without any clunky bits or awkward leaps. There’s an ease to the writing that lets the reader fall into the story without any obstacles to the act of reading. The writing flows.
Connection & Empathy
Good writing makes us feel. It gets below the skin and helps us see the world in a new way or understand a situation better or reveals a bit about ourselves. It hits us in the heart and mind. Good writing needs to connect with the reader. If it doesn’t, it won’t matter how pretty the language is.
In the end, the reader needs to feel like they’ve read a quality bit of writing. It will vary from person to person how they judge quality since quality remains indefinable. It’s an emotional reaction more than a state of existence. It’s how we feel about something based on a collection of responses to things like grammar, voice, style, theme, and the rest of the list above. Work on those and you’ll be closer to attaining the goal of great writing.
If you have ideas on what else makes quality writing, post below.