What is ‘good’ writing?

Occasionally I run into someone who tells me that he or she is a good writer, and for whatever reason, this has happened to me recently with two former graduate students.

With both of them (bless their hearts),  I thought, “huh?”  To my mind, neither of these two individuals are good writers. Smart, capable, creative, interesting, charming, and having worthy things to say? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. But good at writing? No.

So… having spent my career reading graduate school papers, PhD dissertations and writing, reviewing and editing books, I’d like to offer what I believe makes writing “good.”

Good writing is not about the writing. If I’m reading something and I’m thinking about the writing in any way, it’s not good writing.

Writing is good when it sinks into the background and is absent… while I become totally engaged and enthralled with what I’m reading.

Clunky writing is not good writing. Vague, unclear writing is not good writing. And to me (…and I’m sure there are many who will argue with me on this one), slick, witty writing is not good writing.

Writing is only there as a way or a path for the reader to enter another world. It’s like the road under your feet, it’s taking you somewhere. And when it’s “about the writing,” you’re stuck at the doorway. Even hearing someone say she or he is a good writer, is a bit suspicious. I want to know that you can take yourself out of it.

I want to know that this isn’t about you. You work is only the vessel for something greater than you to be brought into this world.