You’ve inspired me to use Buffy to make writing points. I shall now use Spike screaming about magic having costs in my newest blog post 
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oooh. Can’t wait ^^
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What is good writing?
I decided to start on this theme, because I kinda faced a writer’s block that I can’t go over.
After Episode blocked me, I started writing my main story for Wattpad. And I thought I was doing well, at least for someone whose native isn’t English.
Now like a week-one and a half ago my friend posted her story for Wattpad, and I started on it. I liked her writing style a lot, it seems kinda professional, although I can’t really explain what I mean with it. Guess that her piece deserves to be printed and put on a shelf. And then I read again what I wrote and there goes my writer’s block. I felt like it’s a total trash.
So in this post I’m trying to understand what makes writing good. I studied some articles, and below my conclusions about them.
#1 Different Perspectives
There’s a name for something with a single point of view: It’s called a press release.
Joe Chernov
It’s important to incorporate various points of view about the story conflicts. It’s how it is in real life. Everyone has their interpretation of every situation. This will make the story more realistic, more multi-dimensional, and will add motivation for characters. It’s common (at least for Episode stories) where only MC’s understanding of the situation is explained, while antagonist’s feelings/mindset is left in the dark. Even villains have motivation.
#2 Difference between simple and simplistic writing
Assume the reader knows nothing. But don’t assume the reader is stupid.
There are no specific rules for a good writing style. You don’t have to necessarily quote Shakespeare, or do they use five-syllable words. One thing the writer should care about is connecting the reader to the story. Depending on the story you will have a certain target audience. Try writing the way your style is understood by your target audience.
#3 Be aware of your flaws and weaknesses
A good writer understands what they can and can’t do. If your vocabulary is limited - don’t try sitting there with the dictionary looking for fancy words to make it more appealing. It will stand out and will probably be awkward.
I remember struggling for a couple of weeks when needed to write a love confession scene between MC and one of the love interests. I really rewrote the scene dozen of times, editing it for probably two weeks, trying to set the romantic and touching mood using cute analogies. But it wasn’t working. Just because I tried making my characters, that were created in my style, speak in a different manner, different voice. Once I understood the issue (not without some help from my friends), the dialogue was done very easy, and it had so much personality and was still romantic in its own special way.
#4 Be specific
In his book On Writing Stephen King says that writing is like ‘telepathy’.
When you are writing, you probably have a clear image in your head. How characters look, what is the interior/exterior of the scene, weather etc. But reader won’t see it all, unless you describe it, using clear specific words.
Before : She sat down on the sofa, which she thought was beautiful.
After : She perched on the edge of the tuxedo-style sofa, running a hand over the black silk velvet, admiring the box-like elegance of the design.
#5 Stimulate senses
E.L. Doctorow said that good writing has to evoke a sensation in the reader – ‘not the fact that it is raining but the feeling of being rained upon.’
Before : It started raining and Cara ran back across the beach to her cabana.
After : Fat drops of warm rain pelted Cara’s sunburned shoulders as she sprinted back to the pink cabana, thick wet beach sand clinging to her bare heels.
#6 Life experience
And now. It doesn’t mean that if you don’t have much of a life experience you can’t write. But let’s agree - someone with greater life experience is able to paint a bigger variety of experiences, people, ideas, and perspectives. Maybe this is not something that can be achieved easily, but I personally think that we can get a lot through other people’s experience, by asking the right questions.
#7 Write a story, not sentences
Write the story, not the sentences
James Patterson
Sometimes we get caught up in making the writing too fancy and forget that just have to focus on the characters, emotions, and story itself. Don’t overcomplicate your writing, don’t use pretty descriptive sentences just for the sake of being expressive.
My personal thing - I dislike reading a lot of Russian classics, just because these authors just LOVE to put excessive nature descriptions, that feel unnecessary.
#8 Understanding
To write well, a writer must be able to evaluate the quality of the writing piece. How can you improve your own work if you can’t tell the difference between average and better writing in others’ work?
Writing is also an art form and therefore is a matter of taste. Can you read a book and dislike it but acknowledge that the writing was good? Have you ever read a book and loved the story but felt that the writing was weak?
While I agree with this, I’m not sure I can specifically say how to achieve this understanding. I think that the key is to read. Read a lot of different things.
#9 Good writing gives a good reading experience
So what is it exactly? Good reading experience.
A good reading experience makes you want to re-read the book right away.
A good reading experience is when the story stays with you when you’ve finished reading. It leaves feelings, emotions.
Good writing shows ideas that are interesting and important, although they might not seem interesting in the beginning.
Good writing makes you discover things that you didn’t know or didn’t realize.
Good writing is easy to read also because the language is correct and highly communicative.
Good writing is when you need more.
I found this summary a bit helping personally for me. How about you?
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Bump
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Would be cool if you comment on what topics you want to discuss.
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I’d love to see a post on how to start stories well! 
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Please do!
start stories in terms like…the idea itself? or after you have an idea
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More like first scenes! Starting off strong to capture the audience
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Oh and also your outline tool that you showed me a while back. That’s helped me get through beginning (some) middle, and end(s) of my nearest to completion story!!!
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i think it is already here xD
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Silly me! I clearly need to re-read the whole thing and not just the piece that I’m working on atm (characters)
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Oh yo life hacks xD
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Just to clarify, if someome wants to find an unpublished story, should he/she log in the Episode forum? Or there’s another way to find an unpublished story?
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I heard one guy just used his own stories. It just has to have at least 2 chapters
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bump
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bumppp
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I’m sorry xDD I’ll work on new post
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Bump 