Writing is somewhat like art in that not everyone agrees on what is “good.” Having said that, here are some factors that have been present in much of the writing I consider good:

Precision of Meaning

Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” In other words, the right word has power and force, and brings writing to life, whereas the almost right word carries only a small fraction of those qualities.

Economy of Language

Fewer words have greater impact.

Logical Flow of Ideas

Communicating ideas is important. Communicating how ideas relate to each other is equally important. Pieces that exhibit good writing get the reader’s attention by providing a strong introductory “hook,” then creating a “chain” of ideas that logically follow one another as the piece progresses. These ideas are linked via strong transitions. This format provides an opportunity for the reader to buy into each idea before presenting a new one.

Presence of Information That’s Important and Absence of Information That’s Not

It is tempting to write all you know about a topic in any given document; yet, there is a fine line between offering enough information and offering too much. Conversely, there is a danger of skimping on information in the attempt to streamline. The appropriate amount of information to provide depends on a variety of factors, including space considerations, audience knowledge, and medium. The right balance is a sign of good writing.

Authenticity

If there is one key ingredient to good writing, this is it. Your grammar, punctuation, and style can be all wrong, but if you write from the heart, your writing will be all right.

What elements do you consider essential for good writing? Please share them in the comments.

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