Good writing, in my opinion, is dependent on a few qualifications. Things such as the description of the setting are nice, but not nearly as important as its effect on you. By that I mean the meaning. the emotions. The complexity. I don't want to sit and read about how something looks or sounds; I want to know how it feels, the thoughts and emotions that come hand in hand with the described experience. To me, the knowledge of something is nothing compared to the understanding of it.
This quote from Ernest Hemingway is a perfect example. It's a story full of emotion and tragedy, perfectly conveyed in six short words:
"For sale: Baby shoes, never worn."
There is no description. There is no extravagant diction. However, in spite of this, it might quite possibly be the most pure representation of feeling possible. It has the power to make one choke up, to make one lament. This expresses perfectly how unimportant diction and description can be in the face of blinding emotion and meaning.
Very nice work. The Hemingway quote you use really helped to covey your point that emotion is at the heart of good writing. Next time I would love to hear the rest of the qualifications you believe are necessary for good writing.
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