What makes a 'good' writer?

[Elliot Kane]

We all read things by writers we like, but there are clear differences between someone who can write, and someone who is a good writer.

There are a lot of possible descriptions of 'good' though - which vary from reader to reader and tend to include one or more of:

- good characterisation
- good plotting
- good description
- atmospheric
- relatable to the reader's own experience
- unique approach
- fresh ideas
- favourite genre

...and many more things besides.

What, to you, makes for 'good' writing? Is it purely a matter of taste, or are there things you think are universal?

A fascinating question, to me...

[SilvaShado]

I don't usually realize that what I'm reading is by a good writer until after I'm finished reading.

In other words, I'm so pulled into the story by something or several things, that I don't stop to think about the writing or writer.

Afterwards,k sure I usually think about what I liked and most of what you listed are things I think of.

For me, good characterization is very important. because my emtoions draw me in, I want to connect to the characters in some way.

I also want a good plot for these characters to live in.

I waver between good description versus good dialogue. Coming from a theatrical background, I've dealt with dialogue a lot more than descriptions. So I find myself lacking in that department, but then I also enjoy a lot of books that rely on the dialogue - an example is the MYTH series of fantasy books. It was the wit and humor in the dialogue that moved the stories forward.

The only universal, in my opinion, is whether the writing moves you to keep reading.

But then, that's just my opinion.