What is "good writing?"

What is "good writing?"

     On the topic of teaching, American scholar, author and pastor, William Arthur Ward is quoted for saying that "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." I believe that the absolute same can be said to describe the art of writing, for the very essence and purpose of the written word is to express, communicate, and spread thought. Good writing is that which can adequately, and even alluringly, explain a concept or story, gently cradling the reader's attention and understanding and even elevating the reader to see a new viewpoint on a topic.

      As a reader, I have a very clear sense of what I believe defines good writing. The first element that I would say must be present in an article that is worth craning my eyesight for is one that provokes my immediate interest. In the first few sentences of an article, the battle for the reader's interest is won or lost, and having the right catch phrase - something not too cheesy, but also something intriguing - is essential. The diction that catches the reader's attention at the beginning of the paper is of course expected to continue throughout the piece; if the author's writing style were to change at some point in the paper without sufficient reasoning then the fluidity of the paper would disintegrate.

                A second quality of good writing requires the author to have earned credibility from their audience. Before the author gives their opinion, they must first prove why it even matters. This requires that the author know their audience, and thus their purpose, for writing the article so that they might subtly or boldly ensure their respect from the readers. Statistics, PhD’s, awards, photographs and even personal anecdotes or testimonies establish this credibility significantly.

                Going beyond ethos and intrigue, a third and final aspect of good writing is when the piece has an emotional impact on the reader. This can be achieved through appropriate word choice, and intentional emphasis of detail by the author. Plot twists and dramas can be found in even the most mundane of topics, and when the author so juxtaposes an article that it not only tells a story, but communicates a moral, even perhaps teaches a lesson or calls for a change for the better, a great victory has been achieved. The reader leaves the experience having felt interest, respect, and an emotional change that, in the absence of that article, might never have taken place.