<p>In the past, I have been told I’m a “good writer.” While it’s a nice compliment to receive, I honestly still have no idea what it means. What makes a “good writer?” Part of it is content, obviously, but there’s more to it then that, as two people can write on the same topic with similar content and yet come out with varying degrees of quality. Is it diction, syntax, imagery, lyrical writing?? And how much of content/style contributes to quality? Can good writing be taught, or is it innate?</p>
<p>According to Ayn Rand, good writers are made, not born. </p>
<p>Generally, I think that some of good writing is the clear expression of ideas; flow (transitions and structuring sentences so that one idea leads into the next); use of language (FountainSiren’s writings being a prime example; it is often said that the best writers are the ones who are able to do things with English that had never been done before); and the quality of being poetry. Obviously, the further you go down the list, the more difficult to define but the more indicative of excellent writers. </p>
<p>I do not think that good writing is so much taught (except at the very low levels) so much as developed through constant practice and reading. I learned a lot up through the middle of high school when teachers would make comments on my papers - work on transitions, vary sentence type, bad word choice, etc. IMO, doing all of that will only make a very competent writer. The excellent writers are those who can go beyond the mechanics and into the element of poetry. The effect upon the ear, the mind, and the heart is the same.</p>
<p>Aries, I like what you said about how there can be competent writers who have the mechanics down pat but then there are those who go beyond that in style and a lot of that aspect isn’t taught as much as is a by product of being well read or expressive. </p>
<p>One thing that is purely evident to me, however, since I am in the midst of reading many applicants’ essay drafts and helping them with feedback, is that some high school seniors do not write well at all. It is scary to think of them in college with this level of writing skills. I feel that my revision process with them (many many drafts), if anything, has been lessons in writing, though I had hoped to focus just on the essay at hand. It has turned into having to teach. A lot. :D</p>
<p>Many great insights above. I would add that
*a good writer is an acute observer and can often put into words what we recognize as real but would not have been able to express ourselves.
*a good writer knows the important *Elements of Style<a href=“Strunk%20and%20White”>/i</a>, also well-presented in Stephen King’s On Writing. Both are excellent books, not at all dry yet full of important “instructions.” IMO, Strunk and White should be read and re-read by anyone wishing to write well.</p>
<p>I have to respectfully disagree with Ayn Rand. Though mechanics can be taught and learned, great writing I believe comes from within. No matter how many art classes or voice lessons I might take–an artist or a singer I will never be. The gift of writing is much the same.</p>
<p>…grab ‘em with snap
hold ‘em with crackle…
…and finish 'em off with pop-pop-pop…</p>
<p>…harrumph just a bit before you bust a cap in ‘em.</p>
<p>And admiring the concensus of my betters and in the spirit of the great Polonius–the fish-monger–read the perfunctory books on grammar and style dusted-off above when given to issuing more art, less matter.</p>
<p>In any case, excepting that one proviso^^^, that’s the sort of writing that turns this naif into a buckeye caught in the headlights. </p>
<p>As it is, tastes vary–beware–‘tis true 'tis pity; and pity 'tis 'tis true, and now remains that we find out the cause of this effect, or rather say the cause of this defect, for this effect defective comes by cause.</p>
<p>To that effect–come defect–it may also be worth noting that in the real world rule of cause and effect–that is, writing–the following dictum should never be taken too seriously:
De gustibus non est disputandum. </p>
<p>Writing is, quite to the contrary, a bloody battlefield of taste…don’t be naïve.</p>
<p>Wolfpiper, that’s a good question. People read to be moved in some way, and thus the job of a good writer is to move readers – to laughter, to tears, to reflection, to action or just to a higher state of knowledge. If you can do that, you’re a good writer. </p>
<p>Stephen King, in his memoir, On Writing, discusses whether people can become good writers or whether good writers are just born that way. If you’d like I can quote what he says – I found it encouraging.</p>
<p>Hope you keep up your writing, putting it to good use!</p>
<p>I think a good writer is someone who starts with good ideas – who can then translate those ideas onto paper in a way that is either entertaining (perhaps even amusing) or understandable.</p>
<p>I would disagree with ariesathena on this point:
While this may be great fun for a certain type of writer, it is very rarely fun for the reader. I personally think convoluted writing is some sort of attention-seeking effort, that rarely results in good communication.</p>
<p>Of course there is a small percentage of readers who enjoy working out puzzles (and may enjoy FS’s musings) but among even the most avid readers, there may exist the urge to shout, “Oh, just spit it out!” ;)</p>
<p>(Although this clearly all depends on what you’re writing and who it’s for…Children’s Literature isn’t the same as writing an opinion piece for Newsweek!)</p>
<p>weenie, I heartily agree that good writing should not be hard on the reader. I don’t like to work at reading. Which brings us to another part of what makes good writing: effort. </p>
<p>The reader shouldn’t have to work at it, but the writer must. Revise, revise, revise. Do not fall in love with your first draft. It can almost always be shortened and improved.</p>
<p>And for those of you considering starting a first draft, let me not miss this opportunity to mention that [National</a> Novel Writing Month](<a href=“http://www.nanowrimo.org%5DNational”>www.nanowrimo.org) begins in less than two days! Anyone joining me this year?</p>
Do you mean to disagree with Aries’ claim that “it is often said” and contend instead that “it is never said” or said not so much as to be referred to as “often” when in good–if tedious–company? Certainly putting a fine-point on it, Madam.</p>
<p>
My dear, it is clear that you are only rarely acquainted with the word “fun” as it applies here; however, in your defense, this is a shortcoming common to those who presume to speak for “all” or “most” or “many readers” --and of course those given to substitute “THE READER” for “a reader”–that is to say, the universe of enthusiastic readers composed of more than A grim-reader: unless of course you have a scholastic mouse in your pocket…that reads.
…ah, Newsweek! The razor’s edge of middle-brow mediocrity. </p>
<p>
The singular of which, as you know, is ‘a-musing’.</p>
<p>I’ll stay mum on Ayn Rand. , but will say this. I think most people can learn to be competent writers. Being a great writer, however, is a probably a gift.</p>
<p>There is a subjectivity involved too. I took one course my freshman year and no matter how hard I worked I never got better than a B+ on the papers. The TA put some A papers on file in the library and I realized I would never write an A paper in that class. I thought they were horrible - jargon filled and convoluted. After that I started writing papers without reading the materials and still got Bs! Alot less work. OTOH in other fields (especially art and architectural history) I was regularly told I wrote well. I thought it was pretty funny as my 10-12 page papers were never more than 8 pages, my 12-15 page papers hit 10 if I was lucky and so forth.</p>
<p>My kids were all finished with SATs before the new one was instituted so I never really “researched” the new test. However, due to subjectivity in evaluating writing, I have wondered how valid the scores are on the new writing section.</p>
<p>I know my son had a prof for one writing class who told him that he (son) basically knew nothing about writing and would be lucky to get above a D from him–son dropped the class. The next prof he took told him that he was one of the best writers he had seen go through the school. This is why I liked science as a student!</p>
<p>Shakespeare, if I’m not mistaken, has been credited with inventing words and phrases that are part of our English now - for example, “My salad days, when I was green in judgment.” (Antony & Cleopatra)</p>
<p>There are poets who have experimented with new rhyme schemes, authors who have conceived of new ways of writing, and a host of others who have brought us from dactylic hexameter into modern literature and poetry.</p>
</p>
Anyone joining me this year?</p>
, but will say this. I think most people can learn to be competent writers. Being a great writer, however, is a probably a gift.</p>