by Christine Bode
Many writers believe good writing is flawless writing. Clean sentences. Perfect grammar. Not a comma out of place. That belief is understandable and deeply unhelpful. In practice, perfectionism stalls manuscripts, dulls voices, and keeps books from ever attracting their readers. Worse, it convinces writers that something is “wrong” with their work when it’s simply unfinished. So let’s talk honestly about what good writing really means. And why chasing perfection is one of the fastest ways to lose your momentum and your joy. You have permission to make a mess.
Good Writing Is Clear, Not Impressive
Good writing communicates before it dazzles. It doesn’t ask the reader to work harder than necessary. Instead, it guides them, sentence by sentence, through an idea, a moment, or a story. Clarity is its quiet superpower. That doesn’t mean writing should be plain or stripped of beauty. However, beauty without clarity becomes noise. Readers may admire a sentence, yet still feel lost.
Clarity shows up in simple ways:
- Ideas unfold in a logical order
- Sentences say one thing at a time
- Word choices feel intentional, not decorative
Importantly, clarity doesn’t erase complexity. It carries it, particularly in nonfiction. This is why so many strong manuscripts benefit from professional editing. A skilled editor doesn’t flatten your voice. Instead, they help your meaning land cleanly. If you’d like to explore this further, The Impact of Good Editing on Reader Engagement goes deeper into how clarity shapes reader trust.
Good Writing Has a Voice—and Keeps It
Perfect writing is often voiceless. In an effort to sound “correct,” many writers hone their writing to the point that they lose the very qualities that make their work distinctive. The result reads smoothly, yet leaves no echo. Good writing, by contrast, sounds like someone. It sounds like you.
Voice lives in rhythm, emphasis, and choice. It lives in what you linger on—and what you refuse to explain. It also lives in imperfection: the slightly unexpected word, the sentence that bends the rules just enough.
In fiction, voice is inseparable from character development. Characters who feel real are shaped not only by what they do, but by how the author allows them to think, speak, and change. When writers chase perfection, they often smooth away emotional rough edges that make characters believable. Strong character development, by contrast, depends on a confident voice that trusts imperfection, contradiction, and growth.
That’s why drafts matter. Voice often emerges after the pressure to be perfect has eased. This is also where line editing plays a vital role. Line editing isn’t about enforcing sameness. It’s about refining language while protecting personality. If you’re curious, The Role of a Line Editor in Shaping a Manuscript explains how that balance works in practice.
Good Writing Serves the Reader
Good writing isn’t written for the author’s ego. It’s written with the reader in mind. That doesn’t mean pandering. It means consideration.
The writer has asked:
- What does my reader need to understand here?
- Where might they feel confused or overwhelmed?
- When should I slow down, and when should I move on?
Perfectionism often forgets the reader entirely. It turns the writer inward, obsessing over microscopic details that no reader will ever notice.
Meanwhile, readers are asking bigger questions:
- Does this make sense?
- Do I feel guided?
- Do I trust this voice?
What good writing really means is that it answers those questions quietly, without calling attention to itself.
Why Perfection Is the Enemy of Completion
Perfectionism wears a convincing disguise. It calls itself “high standards.” It claims to care deeply about quality. In reality, it thrives on fear. Fear of being judged, misunderstood, and of not being “good enough.” Perfectionism convinces writers they must solve everything before moving forward. Every sentence must sparkle. Every chapter must justify its existence.
That’s not how books are made.
Books are made through movement: drafting, revising, refining. Each pass has a purpose. Expecting perfection too early collapses the process. Moreover, perfection is subjective. Readers are far more forgiving than writers imagine. They will overlook a clunky sentence if they feel seen, guided, or entertained. They will not forgive a book that doesn’t hit the mark.
Editing Is Where Good Writing Becomes Strong Writing
Here’s the truth many writers need to hear: Your first draft is not supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to exist.
Editing is where good writing becomes stronger, clearer, and more effective, not through punishment, but through attention.
Professional editing helps you:
- Clarify ideas without diluting meaning
- Strengthen sentences while preserving voice
- Identify patterns you can’t see alone, like overuse of certain words or improper diction
Editing is not a referendum on your talent. It’s a collaboration in service of the reader.
When writers stop chasing perfection and start inviting refinement, their work improves faster and with far less anguish.
What to Aim for Instead of Perfection
If perfection isn’t the goal, what is?
Aim for:
- Clarity over cleverness
- Voice over polish
- Completion over endless revision
What good writing really means is aim for writing that does its job. A book that communicates. A story that moves. A message that lands. That is good writing. Everything else is adjustable.
Final Thoughts
Good writing is not immaculate. It is intentional, human, and alive, leaving room for revision and allowing collaboration. And it understands that perfection is a mirage, always visible, never reachable.
If you’re stuck polishing the same chapter again and again, pause. Ask whether you’re serving the work or hiding from the next step.
When you’re ready, professional line editing or copyediting can help you move forward with confidence, not fear. It’s not about fixing you. It’s about strengthening what’s already there. Your writing doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be finished—and shared. And that is more than enough.
Your writing doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs thoughtful care.
What is more, if you’ve reached the point where your manuscript feels almost there—but not quite—professional line editing or copyediting can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
At Bodacious Copy, I work with fiction and nonfiction authors to refine language, strengthen voice, and ensure your writing serves your reader without losing its soul. Explore my line editing and copyediting services, among others, here.