Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • My CV
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / What Makes Good Writing?

What Makes Good Writing?

What Makes Good Writing?

Here is the thing: Few know exactly what makes good writing.

Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of little techniques you can use to bring clarity – and what have you.

But, like Ericson, I think that the approval of editors and other so-called gatekeepers is highly overrated too.

Want a story to point out how subjective it all is?

Sure. Here goes.

I once submitted an article I wrote to a large online publication.

(They are currently one of the top 15,000 websites in the world.)

Their director of content rejected my piece with a formal:

This piece is not a good fit for us. Thank you.

So do you know what I did? I submitted it elsewhere. Unfortunately, nobody else wanted it either.

So, six months later, I sent the (unchanged) article back to the original editor that had turned me down.

His response?

Fantastic piece! Will run it in the next week. Thanks!

True story.

I mean, at this point it’s almost cliche about how many times publishers turned down J.K. Rowling’s idea for Harry Potter (12 publishers passed).

Understand: Art is subjective.

The people who pay the printing bill define “good writing,” and they don’t even have to be right. All they need is enough money to pay the bills. It suddenly struck me that I didn’t need the approval of editors, critics, or book reviewers. I needed readers, and I thought I could go out and find them.

-John Erickson, Story Craft (Amazon)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Blogging, #Writing

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Recent Posts

  • The Week In Review – 261
  • Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Leaving For College Feels Like This?
  • The Warren Buffett Investing Strategy
  • Coffee And Grumpy Day For You
  • When A Summer Camp Counselor Has The Day Off
  • How Texas Country Is Texas Tech
  • Messy Head Of Hair Back To
  • The Most Important Job in The World
  • Fine Day But Who Cares For
  • Fun Where One Finds It
  • 5 Things I Learned Reading: 300 Arguments, By: Sarah Manguso
  • Redeeming What Cannot Be
  • The Week In Review – 260
  • Random Thoughts – 283
  • Instabooks 351
  • Tom Hanks Typewriters
  • The SEO Trick That Everyone Forgets (No Really)
  • The Springtime Easter Party
  • Hermes 3000
  • Note Taking Strategies
  • Only Ten Minutes To Play
  • On Grading Art
  • Thomas Sowell, Common Sense In A Senseless World

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • 8 Great Passages From: The Hiding Place, By: Corrie Ten Boom
    8 Great Passages From: The Hiding Place, By: Corrie Ten Boom
  • COVID Vaccine
    COVID Vaccine
  • The Grass Is Always Greener
    The Grass Is Always Greener
  • Another Great Riddle For You To Try
    Another Great Riddle For You To Try
  • Instabooks 16
    Instabooks 16
  • The Most Important Job in The World
    The Most Important Job in The World
  • When A Summer Camp Counselor Has The Day Off
    When A Summer Camp Counselor Has The Day Off
  • Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
    Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)

Copyright © 2021 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in