Are You A Good Writer

Last Updated on March 22, 2022 by

I recently received an e-mail with the subject field line "Are you a good writer?" The e-mail didn't come out of the blue. It was an electronic mail smash from a blog I had recently subscribed to. Side annotation: Dammit, I only concluded a judgement with a preposition. Does that mean I'm not whatever good?

So the electronic mail was pretty uninspiring. Information technology was simply an invitation to sign up for a webinar. If you're cringing at the idea of a writing webinar, I don't blame you. Most of them offering aught actionable and no communication on how to be a better writer. They but proceed pushing more and more than product and so they can proceed making more and more than money off people who want to exist successful writers.

am i a good writer

So I received some other electronic mail a couple days afterward with the subject line "Is information technology whatsoever good?" It was from the aforementioned writer, and once again information technology was cocky-promotional. But this fourth dimension there was actually some decent insight. Sort of. Apparently, according to this guy, it's impossible to say whether you're a good writer or if the matter yous've written is any good considering "good" is subjective.

So am I a good author?

I get his point, but I call bullshit. There are adept writers. In that location are bad writers. Adept writers occasionally write bad stuff. Hell, good writers might produce more bad than good. Bad writers don't ever write good stuff. And bad writers are never successful (although there are plenty of mediocre ones who are).

To be fair, the blogger I'm talking about wasn't merely copping out on what "good" writing is. He went on to talk about how it's more of import to exist effective than information technology is to be good. I really tin can't argue against that. If I create a flawless piece of writing that is held in high esteem as being objectively good by all the preeminent scholars, so that's certainly an accomplishment as well equally a sign that I'one thousand adept. Simply if no one other than these and then-called preeminent scholars read it, and if that piece of writing doesn't make me any money and produce whatever other results relative to my goals, then information technology isn't very effective. On the other hand, if I write a novel about teenage vampires that'south routinely slammed as being shitty writing merely sells millions of copies and makes me super rich, then I'd phone call that pretty fucking effective.

Simply spiral effectiveness. We're talking about being a good writer here. You didn't come here to find out if yous're effective. So let's talk nigh seven things that bear witness yous're a main of your arts and crafts.

Yous don't necessarily have to smash all seven of these items in order to be a skilful author, but you lot should be able to check off at least a few of them.

Hither are 7 signs you're a expert writer:

Yous're grammatically proficient

First and foremost, you have to be a technically skillful writer in lodge to be a good author. If your grammar is such a trainwreck that people by and large struggle to embrace what you lot write, then yous aren't a good writer. Notice how this says "grammatically expert." It doesn't hateful you have to be a grammer scholar. Rather, you need to have a house grasp on all the rules and be able to employ them in your ain writing without thinking besides hard virtually it. Will you make mistakes? Sure. Volition you lot bend the rules? Of course. All good writers do that.

And then how do you know if you're grammatically proficient? No, you lot don't have to diagram every sentence you write. You can practice something as uncomplicated as dumping your terminal draft into a tool like Grammarly. If you're a good writer, you probably won't have too many mistakes. Just keep in listen that not everything flagged by Grammarly is actually a mistake. From my own experience, about ane out of every three critical problems isn't a real grammatical error. And I never bother with the so-chosen "advanced" issues. That'southward all only a scam to get you to pay for the full version of Grammarly! (FYI: I'm simply half-joking here.) Lesser line: If yous're a good writer, you're probably very adept with grammar.

Yous have your ain fashion

Every skilful writer has his or her own mode. Think of information technology similar whatever other art. Y'all tin often tell who painted a picture just past looking at the fashion. Aforementioned with music. You tin can commonly identify a song's artist just by hearing a few notes, even if it's a song you've never heard before. Writing is an art form as well, and it's oft possible to approximate who wrote a slice without seeing the author's name.

Of grade, this doesn't mean that everything you write has to be unmistakably yours. It only means you lot'll have a way that's unique to you and clearly sets your writing apart from everyone else's writing. For amend or worse, people familiar with my work tin can more often than not read a new story I've written and say, "This reads like a Nathaniel Tower story." That's what I call way, my friend. Exactly what your style is doesn't really matter. Naturally, not every style is expert, simply having style is of import to beingness a good writer.

People ask you lot to write things for them

This might be the most obvious sign that you're a good author. I call up information technology's fair to say that most people aren't very good writers. Information technology'due south a difficult skill to master, and almost people don't ever try to primary it. In fact, virtually people volition freely acknowledge they aren't proficient writers (and volition usually laugh it off). So once they find out that you are good, they marvel at your abilities and inquire you lot to write things for them.

This could come in a lot of different forms. Maybe they'll ask you to read over an of import email earlier they send it. Or they might desire y'all to write the content for the new website they're thinking about launching. They could inquire for your communication on a cover letter for a new job. It really could be anything. It's kind of like how many people will ask a lawyer for any blazon of legal advice even if it's exterior of that lawyer's area of expertise. Once they know you lot're a adept writer, they're going to come to you for all their writing needs.

You tin write fast

Most proficient writers I know can really crank out their words. This doesn't mean that writing always comes piece of cake. There might exist times when you lot struggle with a particular topic, or you might go stumped on what exactly to write about during a item session. But when you go going, you lot can really hammer out a lot of great words without taking a break (and I'thousand not talking almost guys like Donald Trump who know all the best words). There'southward no specific words-per-infinitesimal requirement for being a proficient writer, and writing fast doesn't mean you lot have to be able to finish a full novel and get it published inside a month. Rather, information technology ways you have a gift for really crushing information technology on the keyboard (or the old pen and paper, if you lot prefer).

You (mostly) get practiced rejections

All writers get rejected. Getting rejected doesn't hateful you aren't practiced. But when good writers go rejected, they often get a petty something extra in the correspondence. The editor goes beyond the standard "we enjoyed reading your work, but this isn't for us." Skillful rejections oft contain very specific compliments regarding your writing. Whenever you lot become these comments, take them seriously. Be proud of them.

As a old editor who sent thousands of personal rejections, I can hope y'all that I never told anyone they were a skillful writer unless I actually believed it. On the other hand, I told many people I "enjoyed" reading their work when I really didn't. That was part of the canned response we always sent. Since adept writers are by and large good readers, you lot should be able to tell the difference between a form rejection and a sincere compliment near your writing.

People like reading what you write

No one likes reading bad writing. Well, maybe on occasion for a few laughs. But no i is going to sit down there and consistently read things that aren't proficient. If people are asking to read your stuff, then yous are good. If people desire to publish you, then you are expert. If you accept friends who are willing to read through your entire manuscript, then you lot are skilful. If you lot're not good, they're going to come with excuses for why they tin can't read information technology. Of course, it'due south also important to remember that it'due south all a thing of taste. So but because someone doesn't want to read or publish your work doesn't mean you lot aren't good.

Y'all love writing

This is a pretty elementary rule, only people generally do things they beloved doing. Sure, it'south possible to hate writing and withal be skillful at it, but it's much rarer to dear writing and be bad at it. After all, writing tin can exist a very frustrating thing. Why put in all that energy if you aren't proficient at it? If y'all love to write, I'd say there's a 99% chance y'all're good at information technology.

So are you a expert writer?

If y'all've taken the time to read all this, and so I'd exist willing to bet you're a good writer. Why? Because good writers are committed to their craft and take the time to contemplate their strengths and weaknesses. Bad writers will immediately dismiss about attempts at writing communication and go off to create their ain bad writing. And expert writers typically enquire questions like "Am I a good author?" while bad writers phrase it like this: "Am I a bad author?"

Whether y'all're a expert writer or non, yous can always become a ameliorate writer.

What makes you lot a skillful writer? Share your own thoughts about expert writing in the comments. And don't forget to share this mail service on all your favorite platforms.

Are you a good writer? Take this quiz to find out.

Am I a skillful writer FAQs

How tin can I tell if I'm a good writer?

Although writing can be subjective, in that location are some telltale signs that you're a good writer. You're probably a good writer if you lot accept a strong grasp of grammer, you write relatively fast, and if people enquire you to write things for them. Another strong indicator that y'all're a good author is if people compliment your writing on a regular basis.

What does information technology mean to exist a practiced writer?

Determining what exactly a good writer is can be difficult. Since writing is subjective, many people disagree on what makes a writer good. However, you can generally spot a skillful writer past strong grammar skills, a unique style, and the power to resonate with a reader.

What makes someone a writer?

In the simplest terms, a writer is someone who gets paid to write. This could exist a novelist, a journalist, a copywriter, an SEO author, a blogger, and many other types of authors. Writing doesn't necessarily need to exist your sole profession in social club for you to be considered a writer.

How can I become a writer?

You tin become a writer merely by writing. If you want to be a skilful author, y'all'll demand to practice your craft. If you want to be a professional writer, there are many different opportunities available including journalist, copywriter, social media writer, novelist, poet, and much more. Becoming a writer isn't easy, but if you are passionate well-nigh it and piece of work difficult, then y'all should be able to discover the right opportunity.

7 signs you are a good writer