“Is my book any good?”
That’s the question that’s been keeping me up at night.
I’m on my final revision of my book, gearing up for one last round of querying, and I find myself coming back to the same annoying spiral:
Is my book good?
Am I good enough?
Is this the kind of book someone would actually want to read… or am I just emotionally attached to my own nonsense?
You know—the unanswerable questions all writers have.
Because here’s the truth: every author, myself included, wants their book to be good.
But that’s also the problem.
Because what does “good” actually mean?
Ask 10 people what “good writing” is, and you’re liable to get 10 different answers.
Because we’re humans, and humans can’t even agree on what to have for dinner.
So in my doubt, I Googled what other writers say “good” is, and most of it sounded like people auditioning to teach an overpriced creative writing seminar:
“It’s the prose.”
“It’s the symbolism.”
“It’s the pacing.”
“It’s the voice.”
“It’s the character arc.”
And sure—those things matter.
But in my opinion, they miss the point.
Because the reader doesn’t care what you did.
They care how they felt.
And those are not the same thing.
You see, writing advice loves to talk about what writing is…
but it almost never talks about what writing is for:
Reading.
So at some point we need to stop asking, “What makes writing good?” and start asking a better question:
What makes reading good?
Because nobody picks up a book hoping to admire your metaphor structure.
They pick it up to be taken somewhere.
So if you want a blueprint for “good fiction writing,” I urge you to stop thinking like a writer and start thinking like a reader.
Because here’s what readers actually care about:
1) They want the story to be entertaining.
Here are six words that will save you 40,000 dollars in creative writing tuition:
People read books to feel entertained.
That’s it.
After all, reading for fun should be… you know… fun.
You can have the prettiest sentences ever. You can have themes so deep they come with a beret. And you can have picture-perfect prose.
But if the reader is bored, it doesn’t matter.
Because they’ll be gone.
The truth is, your book isn’t competing with other books.
Your book is competing with someone’s attention span.
And a good book wins that battle.
2) They want the story to flow.
Have you ever wondered why, on a cold and stormy night, with the fire crackling, you don’t curl up beside the fireplace and start reading an owner’s manual?
Because it doesn’t flow.
And flow is the invisible momentum that makes reading feel effortless.
When the flow is good, the reader doesn’t notice it.
They just keep reading.
But when the flow is bad, the reader notices everything:
-
The awkward phrasing
-
The confusing sentences
-
The paragraphs that drag
Which takes them out of the story.
So optimize for flow, and don’t be surprised when the readers flow right through your book.
3) They want to know what happens next.
Have you ever started a show on a Saturday afternoon… and then you look up and it’s 2 a.m. Sunday morning?
You know, a good, all-American TV binge.
The reason you stayed up late is simple:
You wanted to know what happens next.
And it’s the same with books.
A good book makes you curious—about the story, about the people, about what’s coming next.
And a good book keeps you reading because you need to know how it ends.
4) They want to feel something.
Did the book make you feel something?
That’s the difference between a book you finish…
and a book that stays with you.
A great book is like walking out of a movie where the magic hasn’t worn off yet.
You’re still thinking about the story, still feeling the emotions, and slowly transitioning back into normal life, while still hanging on.
A good book makes you feel something and it could be anything:
tension, joy, dread, hope, anger, heartbreak, humor.
Which you relive long after you finish reading.
Stop writing for writers.
Writers obsess over technique.
Readers obsess over experience.
And only ask one question:
Will this book be fun to read?
So if you’re still stuck in doubt…
If you’re rewriting the same chapter for the 15th time…
If you’re spiraling over whether your writing is “good”…
Stop thinking like a writer.
And start thinking like a reader.
Because the goal of writing isn’t writing.
The goal of writing is reading.
And if the reader is entertained, carried by the flow, hungry to know what happens next, and emotionally hit along the way…
Then congratulations.
Your book is good.
Please like, comment, share and tell me what you think. Do you agree? (also this is geared towards fiction writing) Judge me on my own advice and read my first chapter here. The Last Letter – tonysbologna : Honest. Satirical. Observations
P.S. follow me on substack here: Tonysbologna | Anthony Robert | Substack
Thank you for the reminder! It’s so easy to forget.
No worries at all, i have to remind myself of this too
For me I write as a hobby, for an audience of one – me. I never studied writing or poetry meaning that I am self taught as opposed to having been trained.
Which gives me the freedom to compose and write the poems, essays and short stories that I want to read that nobody else is writing.
There’s a certain freedom that comes from not knowing the “rules”
Some “rules” however will improve your storytelling.
I try to find the balance between the two!
Thank you for reading!!
Thank you! Great advice. Appreciate this a lot. 🙂
A great blog, as usual, Tony. I see other writers obsessing on social media, and there’s nothing wrong with that, if it works for them. For myself, I write what I’d want to read, which in effect is writing for readers like me – the trick I need now is to find those readers, lol. I do think it’s a good idea to use good grammar, correct spelling, punctuation though; I read from an early age, and my eventual writing style was influenced by those books I read – whether I took from them or rejected what they offered. My point is that it’s a good idea to show readers above-mentioned good spelling etc in the hopes that they’ll recreate it in their own lives. Whatever. You make a good point. 🙂
Thank you for the information. I admit, you had me for a few moments, then I was out. Ask why; I would say “overload” for the moment I was reading. Keep writing.
Thanks Lynda!
This is such a good reality check. Especially the part about competing with attention spans rather than other books.
That said, I have to admit I take a slightly more ‘selfish’ approach when I’m actually getting the words down! I tend to write the book I want to read, mostly just to get the noise out of my head.
I figured if I do that honestly, the right readership will eventually find it. And if not? Hey, at least it’s out of my brain and there’s room for something new!
But you’re absolutely right that once they do pick it up, we have to respect their time.
Well to be honest, I think there’s nothing wrong with that and a great mindset. I do the same, I try to write the book I would want to read
I really enjoyed reading this, because I felt I was reading a book and it felt awesome
So happy it was, thank you!
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I don’t know but I think writing is more about the writer. You write to use and express this talent in your own style and voice. The more techniques, you learn and practise along the process, the more you get the flow and enjoy your piece. The reader is important too, very important indeed in the process, but their flow depends on their own interests.
Yeah I agree I think as a writer it is important to make yourself happy
I can relate to this. Write for the reader, not other writers. Good stuff. Thanks.
Anthony, Thank you for this reality check. I agree with you. I was writing to convince an agent or publisher to publish but lately I have shifted to who my client is – it’s the reader, not the publisher. The reader is more demanding. So, I’ve been trying to entertain and inform my friends and family – even more demanding. Thank you for reading and liking some of my stories. I decided to be my own publisher. You will see my novel on Amazon soon. soon. It’s called Channels of Peace.
Very exciting! It’s fun feeling!!
It’s a fun feeling when you publish**
This nailed it; you broke down what truly matters in a book in a way that makes every reader nod and think twice.
Thank you so much!
That post was itself a demonstration of principles put into practice. Thanks 🍻
Gotta practice what you preach! Thank you so much
Excellent! Good luck with your book!
Thank you so much my friend!!
So true- reading is for fun, you want to know what happens next, and you want to be connected to the characters
You are spot on! When I’m writing, I am always asking myself, “is the reader invested in my story or have they already put it down?” If the latter, then my next question is, “what can happen in the story to compel the reader keep reading?” So maybe the answer is, “compelling.” If your story is not compelling, they’re not going to waste their time.
Thanks for sharing your insights, Tony.
All so true! These are good reminders, but it’s tough for us to experience our work the way a reader would, we’re so familiar and blind to it. That’s what good editors and beta readers are for. Best of luck with your book!
I love how you framed ‘good writing’ around reading experience instead of technique. Makes me realize how often I forget that the story’s impact > fancy words. Definitely saving this advice!
So happy you enjoyed! Thank you so much for letting me know
My spouse, CUPCAKE CACHE on WordPress, is just now getting her second book published through Barringer Publications. The Book “Quest for Absence” is a follow-up to her first book, “The Bayou Heist”. All we can say is this:” Your four wants” are correct, but even at that, it is tough for a new writer to attract attention. The best advice I read from a writer is this: If you are writing to make money, stop, put your pen down, and find a new hobby. Writing must be a passion, spelled “p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e”.
First and foremost! Congrats! Wow what an accomplishment for your spouse!
And yes it is hard to attract an audience. I think the best writing comes from a love of the game.
Great observations. Especially, that a book needs to make the reader feel something. Such a critical but intangible need.
Yes! To be entertained is my one and only! As I’ve gotten older (and my attention span shorter), I’ve put away those obsolete beliefs that I MUST clean my plate, I MUST finish every book that I’ve started. And yet sometimes, I still hold onto hope that I won’t regret my decision to persevere and slog through a novel only to grumble afterwards at all the things I COULD have been doing instead.
Very intriguing blog I write a lot about the Bible, but it’s coming to my attention then in expressing the thoughts I read that I need to tell a story, in other words tell a story of what the Bible is saying. It’s been a process and I’m learning, but also trying to add fun and enjoyment that will keep people‘s attention. Thank you for this interesting and intriguing blog. its part of the process of learning for me
It needs to be a page turner…
As always, you hit the nail right on the head. I’m surprised how few books these days are really GOOD. That is, they don’t pick you up and carry you away like a good book should. It seems like so many authors miss the point. I used to force myself to finish books, but I don’t anymore. Life’s too short. If it’s just not doing it for me, I move on to the next one. I think Stephen King said something like, I’m getting older, and I simply don’t have time for the bad books.
soooooooo sooooooo true!!!!!!!! way to go!
Thank you so much h my friend
An element that’s is also worth mentioning is that if you’re writing a ‘text’ book or a magazine piece rather than a story, the same thing applies, you’re competing with the readers attention span, as well as other sources, such as the interweb in its various forms. I hadn’t really considered that attention span thing, I’m going to revisit some articles which are WIP, they may benefit from a fresh read!