What Counts As “Good Writing”

Something that has recently come to light regarding reading groups online, namely “BookTok,” has been the concept of what qualifies a piece of writing as “good.” This has sparked my interest as an avid reader, as well as a senior English major at Bradley. I wouldn’t call myself an expert in reading and writing, but I do think that I am pretty well-versed in these topics. However, I don’t think that this makes my argument any more accurate than someone who barely reads, since this whole argument is abstract. I am just including my personal opinion on this topic. 

I have never read a book that I did not enjoy, and therefore I would argue that I’ve never read a bad book. If I started a book, I then finished it, even if it took longer than wanted and I read another book in the middle of that. Therefore, I don’t think any writing I’ve ever read has been bad. While I can completely agree with the argument that some of what I’ve read has been more impactful than others, or is more classic than others, I wouldn’t say that I’ve read anything “bad.” The very notion of any literary works being “bad,” in my opinion, completely demeans the entire point of reading in general. Reading, generally, is seen as being a great way to escape reality or a strong way to gain knowledge. If you’re able to escape reality or learn something, then the writing was good. 

Most of the argument gets skewed, in my opinion, by those who just don’t enjoy what others are reading. The focal point of this argument was “smut” books or books that included sex scenes. It was argued by many, both women and men, that those were not “good” books, and they were therefore not “good” writing. I believe that if those who read those books enjoyed reading it, for whatever reason is, then the writing is good, and the book was able to accomplish this goal. If you’re looking to gain historical knowledge, then you’re obviously not going to pick up a smut book, but that doesn’t take away the significance of the books that are being read. 

I feel like there is a lot of negativities around the entirety of BookTok which is now clouding the positive aspects of it. For example, more bookstores have flourished, including the opening of more Barnes and Noble locations, which is because many people are interested in reading physical books again. During COVID, ordering books online became very popular, and there has just generally been a decline in reading overall in our society. However, BookTok was able to revive it and give it a new life in a short period of time. Along the vein of ordering online, new authors are gaining popularity and being able to make a name for themselves because of one person on BookTok enjoyed it and spoke about it. The community, aside from those claiming that the writing is not good, is amazing and very supportive. If you have a book you enjoy, you can find several people who also enjoyed it and have great recommendations based on that to keep you reading. 

The argument that there is “good” and “bad” writing is completely abstract and rooted in disapproval of what is being read. It’s a way to put others down people for enjoying readings that are not deemed as important or lifechanging. A book can be great if it doesn’t change your life, and the storyline can be weird and have an impact on someone. 

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