Common writing problems
How to tell if your writing is good
Move past vague self-doubt with concrete, checkable criteria that show whether a piece works.
Beginner Start here — assumes no prior knowledge.
← All Common writing problems guides"I don't know whether my writing is good" is the most common writing problem there is. It is usually not a problem of talent — it is a problem of not knowing what "good" means well enough to check it.
What it is
"Good" writing is writing that does its job: it is clear, it holds the reader's attention, and it achieves its purpose. You can test for each of these with specific checks rather than a vague feeling.
Why it matters
Without criteria, you loop between "this is terrible" and "this is brilliant." With criteria, you know what to fix and can measure whether you fixed it.
Step-by-step guide
Check clarity. Can a person reading it once understand it? Read it cold. Every sentence you have to re-read is a place to fix.
Check the purpose. What is this piece trying to do? For non-fiction, is the main point clear and supported? For a story, is there a change or payoff?
Check the structure. Is there a beginning, a build, and an end? Do the sections flow so the reader is never lost?
Check the title and opening. Would you keep reading if you saw this on a screen, cold, knowing nothing? This is often the weakest part.
Check for wasted words and repetition. Good writing is economical. Remove what adds nothing.
Check the details and errors. Are the facts, names, numbers and spellings right? Is there a typo?
Get a specific reader's view. Ask one person actually to say what confused them, not for a grade. "Was it clear? What did you miss?"
Check against strong examples. Read the piece alongside something by a writer you trust whose style is similar. Compare the qualities, not the content.
Common mistakes
Equating "good" with clever or literary. Judging a first draft against a polished published piece. Asking for reassurance ("is this OK?") instead of a specific critique. Assuming quantity of writing equals quality. Being unable to tell because you never get real feedback.
Practical tips
- Give the piece time to cool, then read it as a stranger would.
- Read aloud; your ear flags what your eye forgives.
- Ask for two specifics: what was unclear, and what did you skip.
- A piece is "good" when it does its job, not when it is flawless.
Checklist
Tools that can help
Try a free BRYME tool
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