25 June 2007

Writing

Bad writing is where the words get in the way of what the writer is trying to say.

Good writing is invisible.

Great writing is where the words do such a spectacular job of conveying the writer's meaning that the reader must stop to admire it.

1 comment:

Galenthias said...

An interesting idea, but I am not entirely sure that I agree.

Abysmal writing is where the words get in the way of the message in a way that actively misrepresents or confuses things.

Bad writing is where the writer just writes things straight up and down.

Good writing is where the writer tells you things in ways that makes you sit up and take notice.

Great writing is good writing that other people with other backgrounds can appreciate as well, but on different levels.

Heavenly writing.. or what you said was great.. well, is it really that good? Sure, if as an author you stop to admire a turn of prose, that might not be bad, but else your definition of great is the same as your definition for bad - the words getting in the way of the message. That the great writing makes you happy to not see the message, instead of annoyed.. well, does that matter to the message?