Every good writer possesses certain skills and qualities that will set their writing apart from others. Many people might compliment you on your work and give praise, but how do you know you’re really a good writer? A lot goes into determining if someone is a good writer and they will usually possess these five qualities:
Constructive Criticism
No one is the perfect writer. Often times, our own personal edits will not be enough to produce great work. This is when peer edits and reviews are needed. When a writer is handed edits or constructive criticism, they should be open to it and accept the advice of their peers. A good writer will be open to change and make the necessary edits. By accepting these suggestions, it allows them to continue learning to become a better writer. Not taking suggestions and ignoring edits would only hold a writer back from their full potential.
Detail-Oriented
Every good writer has great attention to detail. To be a great writer, you need to be able to effectively observe the world around you. A good writer is able to make mental notes of the smallest details that others might miss. This kind of detail-oriented view of the world will also make them great editors. They’re able to spot even the smallest edits and produce work with fantastic descriptive details.
Large Vocabulary
One of the worst sins in writing is having to read the same phrase or the same word over and over again. It can make the reader easily bored and detached from the story. To be a great writer, you need to have a strong vocabulary. This means incorporating interesting and unusual words into your writing to keep the reader engaged and interested. Every situation in a writer’s work will call for the perfect phrase or word. A good writer will know exactly which word the situation calls for.
Clear Language
Writers take the complexities of the world, human emotions and thoughts, and put it into their writing. If they are a good writer, they are able to express these complexities into a simple and clear language. They’re able to take complicated situations or emotions and make them uncomplicated to the reader. They’re also able to find the right words so the reader is able to relate connect with the complexities themselves.
A Good Reader
Every good writer is an even greater reader. To perfect the art of writing, you need to read others’ styles of writing. By constantly reading new books, short stories, essays and other forms of writing, you are able to have a greater understanding of tone, framing, and syntax. There are some skills in writing that cannot be taught. Some skills and qualities of a good writer can only be learned through always reading more and more.