Good writing is when the author of the written piece shows his or hers opinion about something clearly, and can support his or hers idea specifically. In many cases a person is writing about something that is arguable. A lousy piece of writing can not be understood, and only states an idea with no backup evidence. A good piece of writing is supported by specific examples and the author's voice is shown clearly throughout the essay. It also has to draw the reader in. Listing example after example can get boring, which is why good writing has a sense of the author's personality in it. Not only do you state an idea and list the evidence, but the author must list the reasons why he or she believes this. Anybody can come up with an arguable idea, but good writers can list many reasons and examples on why he or she has a good point.