What is Good Writing?

I'm a writer.
I think I know what good writing is.
My opinion comes more from reading than it does from my MFA.
This came up yesterday and this morning with my boyfriend and this application
he's putting together where he needs to write a personal statement.
The thing to know about my boyfriend is that he's very smart and well spoken.
He went to the University of Virginia. THE University.
So he's a brain and very impressive.
And he has a command of the language and loves big words.

This is the thing that I, personally, know about writing. And I'm only speaking for myself.
I believe good writing is economical. For me, it's not about how many five dollar words you use or even how many words you use, period. It's more about how
much feeling can you pour into expression using the least amount of words possible.
But the most important thing is that it sounds like you.
But just a real expensive, more articulate
version of you.
It's kind of like being Carrie Bradshaw.

And I love how my boyfriend expresses himself...
Well, I love HIM, so when I looked at his personal statement,
I wasn't excited.
Because it sounded so remote. And abstract. Nothing about
the language he was using felt like I wanted
to get to know more about him. Mainly because
there was very little about him personally in that statement.

Well, then I have to have that conversation.
Actually, I get out of the conversation by sending
the less uncomfortable email
because I'm a coward.
But I sound very authoritative in my cowardly email.

And he comes back with something that sounds so professional,
but so personal at the same time. And that to me is good writing.

I love vernacular. I love voice patterns.
I love how people aren't aware of what's coming out of their mouths,
but their body language gives them away.

That's why I love certain reality TV shows because
it's such a great dramatist's lesson.
I know, it sounds blasphemous. But it's "real" life being played out.
And by the time people are filming multiple seasons,
they are no longer guarded about having breakdowns or
"private" conversations on camera. It's a real master class sometimes.
For real.
Ha ha.

Good writing is writing that you aren't always aware of.
Just like good directing or good acting.
It makes you feel and it's clever,
but it's insightful in a way that
feels familiar and fresh at the same time.
It's language that brings us closer, not by
commanding but by persuading.
It doesn't always draw attention to itself.
But can when the moment is necessary.
It says things that everyone can understand
and makes everyone feel a bit more
insightful for agreeing with the sentiment.
It's just good.

Now back to the good writing that I'm trying to work on.