What makes a good writer?

[Rebeccalynn_dj]

I have always considered myself a garden-variety writer.  When I blog or journal it isn't to impress others but simply to communicate.

So what makes one writer superior to another?  This is the question going around and around in my head.

Technical writing is fundamental.  If the author is trying to convey a point they need to be able to make a coherent sentence.  This person needs the ability to edit themselves and spell. use spell check

Is that enough?  Can the author get by on grammar and spelling alone?  I think not.

I say no in loose terms.  If you are writing to a grammar or spelling audience then of course the answer is obvious.  They want nothing but perfection. 

The key to good writing is the ability to draw in your audience.  This is evident in the Stephanie Myers Twilight books.  Her writing is lacking but her story telling is wonderful.  Many can't look past that point but the majority can.  They see the story for what it is; a love story. 

When I am writing to non-Christians I don't write to them in scripture.  It means nothing to them.  Writing to them in this way comes across preachy and pompous.  I consider my audience and speak from my point of view on my faith journey. 

When a person is speaking to stay at home moms they should stay away from stereotypes.  I don't know how many people have said things that are offensive to this group of women.  Why should I listen to someone that thinks all stay at home moms sit on their butts all day and eat bonbons?

Listen to your comments.  If you have one comment that indicates you're grandiose in your writing then ignore it.  If there is one post with many comments maybe you can look the other way.  If in several posts you hear the same or similar complaint then rethink your writing.

Cafemom has a plethora of people that want to become writers and be published.  I see these people post on a regular basis.  They don't see that they lack the ability to draw in their audience. 

There are others that are not as confident in their work.  They like to see people comment and love to be on the popular list as well.  They are the ones that don't have to beg for comments because they have drawn in their audience.  These are the people that should consider being published.  They keep us on topic while making us laugh and engaging us. 

I do not think I am the authority on writing.  I do read a lot and that is what prompted me to post this journal.  I am not going to be published anytime soon.  I will, however, read and post on those journals that catch my attention. 

[SalemWitchChild]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 5:20 PM

You certainly did catch my attention. What your basically trying to teach is that a writer must know his/her audience and how to convey thoughts in a coherent fashion without prejudice. It is much harder to do than one would think. I'm also a writer. I'm working on my first fantasy novel. I do not have a large following here, but that is not my goal either.

I think many women come here and want to be the center of attention like it is High school all over again. That is fine.

Then there are those like myself who are here to make a few friends, and is perfectly content to sit on the side lines and read, and make some comments along the way. I don't require to be the center of everyone's attention therefore my posts do not get as many comments. What comments I do get are generally much more substantial in content than those that have mass amounts of attention. So as always my philosophy is quality over quantity. As always, spell check is our best friend.

[logansmomma2007]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 5:27 PM

I think you make some great points.  Drawing in the audience is especially important for blogging.  If the audience isn't interested then they are likely to pass up the writing. 

I imagine technique is a lot more important when publishing books.  Although, the most innovative writers often created a style all of their own, paving the way for future writers. 

[logansmomma2007]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 5:36 PM

A good example of an innovator is William Faulkner.  He was not a believer in technique. 

From Wiki...

In an interview with The Paris Review in 1956, Faulkner remarked, "Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done, no shortcut. The young writer would be a fool to follow a theory. Teach yourself by your own mistakes; people learn only by error. The good artist believes that nobody is good enough to give him advice. He has supreme vanity. No matter how much he admires the old writer, he wants to beat him."

[evwsquared]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 5:59 PM

Excellent use of a semicolon, my dear!

Faulkner's point that you learn by error is very true. I believe that these don't need to always be your errors, though. It wasn't until I started reading hundreds of things written by others that I recognized the errors in my own writing and was able to correct them.

[KristiS11384]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 6:08 PM

I'm one of the few who couldn't get past the horrible style of Stephanie Meyers' writing. As for cafemom Fan fiction. It REALLY doesn't interest me.

[HistoryMamaX3]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 7:09 PM

Stephanie Meyers writing is as equivalent to the acting in the movies... blah. However, the story itself is complex- as are the characters. The flow of the information is intertwined and well planned.

Evidently, some one used spell check. :0) Probably not her biggest worry. lol

But the point is the same... people are still captivated. If you have something to say (type) then it should be tried. At least try, in ALL regards to convey your message... and someone will listen. :0) The more effort you put into it, obviously, the larger the audience you have a chance to captivate!

[ErikaRobin]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 7:55 PM

You make a good point.  What I like to read is the same as what I like to write.  I appreciate being informed, but I love to be entertained.  Entertain me and I'm part of your audience forever.  

[KTMOM]

Sep. 23, 2009 at 8:01 PM

^^  what she said.  I like to be entertained.  Something needs to grab me and suck me in.  

[Fistandantalus]

Sep. 24, 2009 at 7:10 AM

BRAVA!

[geminilove]

Sep. 24, 2009 at 2:05 PM

I think a lot of people forget that there is a different method of writing for fiction vs. non-fiction. Fiction is, for want of a better word, "looser". There is a certain amount of leeway on rules - but in order to know how to appropriately and sucessfully break the rules and still keep your readers engaged - you have to KNOW the rules.

grammar/spelling (in fiction, this means "know your characters" and use "their" grammar, especially in first-person and dialogue.)
research - if you're going to write something, research it. I can't tell you how many times I've read fiction that describes places I have been and are wildly inaccurate (suburban cities of 100,000+ people as small, sleepy desert towns, for example). If you're already on the internet, GOOGLE IT! FInd pictures. Wikipedia it. Do something. Or.... don't include so much detail. Because I guarantee, the more detail you add, the more likely you are to include something that a reader will take umbrage with because it's wrong.
know your characters - plot them out, live them, breathe them. If you find yourself excusing their behavior or having to explain it later, something is generally wrong. Either your character is acting out of character OR your plot is confusing. Likewise, don't give your characters information or skill sets they have no reasonable way of having. (For example, a child raised in a third-world country would not reasonably know how to read a map of the London Underground.)

For non-fiction (unless you're writing op-ed):
RESEARCH
Back up your research
stay impartial
grammar/spelling

Op/ed and informal communications are a whole other beast. For those, you really need to have a firm understanding of your audience - and how to apply or ignore the rules as necessary to apply to that audience.